Why are women blamed for getting themselves raped?

The two rape incidents at the Latitude festival sparked a response from both the organisers and the press.

Two women in two different incidents were raped – a 19-year-old woman told police she had been attacked by a group of men on Thursday, after becoming lost while looking for the toilets in her campsite and a 17-year-old girl then said on Saturday that she had been raped in a tent on the campsite the previous night. The incidents do not appear to be connected so we are talking about at least two men attacking two women.

Two criminals loose amongst us.

So a reaction from the organisers and the media was undoubtedly warranted and sure enough, there was a response. Melvyn Benn, the chief executive of Festival Republic which runs Latitude, said, "it is fair to say that in the future we will be making much more high profile the issues of being alone at night, particularly if you are a girl – definitely".

"Police have urged people to stay with friends while at the event"

"We are also reminding individuals to be vigilant and are advising groups of friends to stick together and look out for each other."

These were comments included in the newspaper reports, but then there were comments left by some readers:

"The rules for ladies/girls at festivals is that you never go anywhere alone after dark. I'm sorry but if you were at home would you seriously ask a bunch of guys for directions? So why would you you do it at a festival? Poor incredibly naive girl."

"They should understand that they should not put themselves at risk - you just can't trust others to look after you and behave well."

These are just a couple of the multitude of comments.

I could not even bring myself to put my thoughts down about these at first because of how angry I am. A week has now passed and I have had time to be more considered in my feelings.

As I said earlier, two criminals are wandering around, but it seems the organisers, the police, the newspapers and the readers have decided who the criminals are: the two women!

Yes, they are blaming the two women. If they had followed the rules “that you never go anywhere alone after dark” or if they hadn’t “put themselves at risk” or if they had “stay[ed] with friends” and, of course, if they were more aware of “the issues of being alone at night, particularly if you are a girl” then they would not have been raped.

HELLO!!!!

Who is at fault? The women? I don’t think so. Let’s think again.

Two separate incidents in which men used their strength (and numbers) to pick out a lone female and rape her.

Who did what to who?

The MEN raped the women. The MEN are responsible.

It is not the responsibility of women to prevent men from raping them; it is the responsibility of men NOT TO RAPE!

There is nothing complicated about it. Men should not rape. Blaming the victim shows how low our society has sunk.