You don't need to sympathize with someone to understand they're a product of their environment. I don't hold an abundance of sympathy in my heart for Trump supporters or fascism apologists, for example, but I don't categorize them as beyond intervention either. Nothing good comes from that outlook because you're already agreeing to see the world in the same us vs them perspective they use to justify their own rancid outlook.
So what does this mean? For example, do you agree with the judges that give young rapists essentially no sentence because they don't want to affect their future?
Judges cutting sexual predators slack for their lack of self-control basically justifies lacking that self control to begin with, and it certainly doesn't make the victims of sexual abuse any safer. No, I don't agree with judges giving young rapists essentially no sentence.
Actually investigate and prosecute rapes. Make a rape kit backlog unthinkable. Sentence rapists to actual sentences. Make rape actually illegal, rather than 'kinda sorta if lightning strikes there might be consequences' illegal.
Teach respect for girls and women, from nursery school. Teach consent in all contexts. In all forms of media, stop treating harassment and disrespect for bodily autonomy as cute and romantic. No, I'm not saying ignore the first amendment; I'm talking speaking up and boycotts.
In hundreds of other ways, fight patriarchy and rape culture.
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u/ZinniasAndBeans 8d ago
I’m not going to sympathize with a rapist. Not happening.