This article is to address the issues raised by the comic printed in the Orientation Issue of Salient. The comic depicts a first year female student’s progress through her first year at university. And the main concerns have been sparked by the third panel of the column, captioned “Contraception: Narrowly avoids impregnation by rugby team during Orientation”. The image shows the first year student, wearing a short strapless dress, holding the door shut, with a look of fear on her face, as a rugby team violently attempts to burst through.
To be honest, I think there has been enough space taken up in Salient discussing whether or not the cartoon should have been published and what the intention of the cartoonist may or may not have been. Let me just say: I think the concerns raised by many students regarding the affect this may have on many students are completely valid; but I understand how the issues may not have been felt by the cartoonist or by Salient. Those of us who believe that one of the greatest issues in regards to the attitude of our society toward sexual violence is that many do not understand the extent of its effect on the survivor, should also understand that unfortunately, people may not realise the effect of such a cartoon if it does not touch them personally. The whole cartoon bases its comedy on stereotypes and unfortunately, the stereotypes of a rugby team attempting to rape a young girl in a short skirt are stereotypes not unfamiliar in our society, however incorrect, offensive and upsetting they may be toward females, survivors of sexual violence, rugby players or the general public. The two real problems here are with the general attitude of society toward this very serious issue and the effect that the cartoon may have had on some of its readers.
This article will discuss how the cartoon may be interpreted, with an attempt to clarify why readers may see it as upsetting and offensive and highlight the support services available to survivors of sexual violence in our community.
There are issues with this cartoon because:
Although the subject should be taken seriously, the overall tone is comic. The panels are light-hearted, such as the student wearing a knockoff Louis Vuitton bag. Therefore we can assume that the panel depicting the student fending off rape is also attempting to be a joke.
The way that the woman is depicted shows her wearing a short skirt and she is having to hold the door shut herself, suggesting that it is her personal responsibility to avoid being subjected to sexual violence.
That this is shown as just one part of “the daily grind of a first year” suggests that such attacks are an everyday occurrence, and that if you are a girl wearing a short skirt, you should probably be prepared to physically fend off violent attacks by a pack of males.
Sexual violence is a serious issue in our society. It does happen, and as this comic shows, when it does, it is often not taken seriously. Our laws to do not allow for how difficult it is for someone to prove that they were attacked or that the attack was forced upon them, nor do they allow for the emotional and psychological harm that may be a result of such an attack. This means that many survivors of sexual violence find that friends and authorities do not take their personal stories seriously, or do not believe them at all. Survivors are often subjected to long and painful enquiries or led to believe that the event was at least in some part their own fault. All these subsequent problems can lead to more psychological difficulties for survivors as well as discouraging many from reporting the event in the first place.
When such a damaging event is included in a comic it can bring back painful memories for survivors, causing them to relive traumatic experiences. It also reinforces to them the ridicule that they may be have been exposed to in the event itself or afterward, when trying to seek help. It shows how unseriously the issue is taken by society and that there is probably no point in reporting such an event, because who can you tell, when all your friends laughed at the comic in the student magazine?
If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual or psychological violence, there are a number of support services available to you in Wellington.
You could talk to:
A friend or family member
The RA in your hostel
The VUW Counselling Service: (Kelburn/Te Aro: 04 463 5310, Karori: 04 463 9537, Pipitea: 04 463 7474, counselling-service@vuw.ac.nz)
WINZ (if you have a case worker)
The Police
Women’s refuge (0800 REFUGE)
Rape Crisis (04 473 5357)
Family Planning (04 384 4349)
Your Doctor
Sexual Health Clinic (0800 188 881)
Student Health (04 463 5308)
And if you are just looking for some friendly faces and a safe environment to hang out with or in, on campus there is the Women’s Group and the Women’s Space.
As many of those who have written to Salient have expressed, the good thing about the printing of this cartoon is that it has raised awareness of the issue of sexual violence and has provoked discussion on the topic. Of course, in a perfect world, we should be able to have discussion before a negative event occurs itself. Rather than focusing our attention on whether this cartoon reflects the vindictive intentions of the cartoonist or any individual, let’s put our energy into considering the ignorance and lack of sensitivity in our community as a whole and how we can work toward a safer environment.