Sex, capitalism and commodity fetishism: The tragic cases of on-campus sexual abuse

Radical feminism is not feminism. This is a statement I stand by and will continue to stand by as a young AFAB gender non-conforming individual who advocates for a redefinition and diversification of feminist theory, yet also frequently feels somewhat excluded and alienated from such discussions on the matter.

 This can be largely attributed to the constant sense that misandry is being used by many women to give off a false sense of empowerment and seemingly strength in fighting misogyny, as opposed to what it is in actual fact: a more socially accepted form of sexism which is seen by women to make their preconceived fears and prejudices justified, and that preserves and acts mutually exclusively to misogyny other forms of sexism, while also appearing to belittle the non-gendered struggles many face with regard to their sexual vulnerability, and also have very clearly transphobic undertones. All of these only serve to further alienate and isolate people within their struggle, thus moving them further apart within revolutionary efforts, hindering potential societal change, and thriving off of the mentality that capitalism and this alienation that continues to arise as a result of these positions in question. It is instead through the encompassing of all individuals within society in a movement against the repression they experience to bring about change by ensuring they all have equal rights, crucial steps to this beginning through tackling sexual abuse and violence along with misogyny in its pure forms within society.

In light of the tragic case of Jane Doe at Cornell University, one can observe the patriarchal system ruled by power, class and preservation of hierarchical ideas that aim to present a heavily male biased approach to sexual abuse and gender based violence, that favours the elite ruling classes it was set about to represent. This being, not least, through the victim blaming of Jane Doe herself, and the pushing of narratives against vulnerable women participating in events, such as the party she attended at the frat house, in which these criminal activities could likely become more apparent. However, this is very much aside from the point and the exact reason in which there continues to be very limited and inadequate rape laws put in place to protect victims. Indeed, it was seen to be that if one is voluntarily imbibing in drugs and alcohol, they were responsible for their situation considering they could not be in the position refuse and so were enabling sexual assault and rape, thus meaning that this logic was adopted as a means of effectively blaming Jane Doe for the abuse she had to endure. This is simply illogical and counterintuitive as well as being an all round distasteful and rape enabling attitude. Particularly considering that, if a whole group of many young women who were dressed in a revealing way and were intoxicated took to the streets at night, not one of them would end up being raped unless, of course, there was a rapist amidst them. This thus makes it clear that there is a clear class related issue surrounding sexual repression creating something reminiscent of commodity fetishism as a means of objectifying on one hand, yet weaponising and exploiting the suffering of sexually abused women to fulfil the individual agendas of members of the elites. The same can be applied to abortion in that this is inaccessible to many low income individuals in states in which this is outlawed causing widespread inequality, as well as beyond this, it is silencing the rights of women to the life affirming and lifesaving healthcare that they require, and in turn also making their offspring and families likely suffer. This creates an unequal balance of power between them thus, in Hegelian terms, creating something similar to the dynamic between the bourgeois and proletariat, and placing emphasis on individual elite's religious and cultural beliefs going before meeting the rights of the people themselves. This can thus prove to present something very similar to the ideas reflected in the radical feminist dialect to which I and many others abhor, and so also continue to put a heavily divisive and polarising take on acting on the systemic issues of sexism and misogyny, thus explaining the clear failings of the state laws on Jane Doe's distressing situation of rape and violence. It is through this that one can clearly see that revolution in its many forms is the only way to end this, and shift problematic narratives on sexism, misogyny and sexual abuse. As a student myself at a university in which incidences such as this could continue to take place, remain overshadowed and poorly dealt with with the victims failing to receive correct justice (as has previously happened), I feel that an understanding and action on these systemic issues is vital, and a crucial force for stimulating these important steps towards this necessary change.