[AGL] Seduction--pet name for rape

[Michael Eisenstadt]

Frances wrote::


>  I came to my conclusion about what constitutes rape when I read "Against 

> Our Will" by Susan Brownmiller. She posits that it is seduction/rape 

> whenever it isn't the woman's idea first. I believe that since we are the 

> ones with the wombs it is up to us to determine when and with whom we have 

> sex. I admit to being alcohol impaired every time I got raped. Jumping to 

> a victim conclusion does come rather easily.


Frances,

Would you elaborate a bit on "when it isn't the woman's idea first." After 
the desire is awakened in you, what exactly do you ask yourself before 
deciding to proceed? Perhaps the thought is that the desire now lodged in 
the woman is somehow there against her will. Hegel, on the other hand, says 
that the highest level of erotic desire, available only to humans, is one's 
desire for the desire of the other.

Does your last sentence mean that you are now withdrawing from what you 
wrote earlier? That in some way the victim is enjoying it. This is known in 
the literature as rape fantasizing (with a grey-eyed stranger) which is 
considered normal and sells a lot of Harlequin paperback novels. Jumping to 
the victim conclusion melds into rape fantasizing during the actual act. 
Neat idea!

Best,

Mike