Fox's Stacey Dash has apologized for her comments implying that "bad girls... who like to be naughty" are to blame for sexual assaults on campuses.
Last week, Fox's Outnumbered show discussed a report that University of Virginia sorority members had been told by their national chapters to avoid fraternity parties that weekend. Dash weighed in with the following comments:
The other bad girls, bad women, are the ones who like to be naughty – might go out and play and get hurt and then - you know, but the other thing about this is that it then blames the alcohol instead of the person who overdrinks. So, you know, it’s like the same thing with guns. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Alcohol doesn’t get you drunk, you get yourself drunk.
Not surprisingly, the comments went viral on the internet.
Yesterday, Dash apologized on Facebook:
Good for her.
(H/T Media Matters)
Not buying it.
Nor do I buy her “apology” that the universities’ focus on alcohol isn’t as important as the objectification of women. Well, there’s a real problem in the fact that the universities CAN control alcohol far more easily than they can “objectification of women.” Unless the universities are going to enforce Taliban-style dress codes on the female students and block all outside television and publications and internet, the “objectification of women” isn’t going to be something the universities can do anything about. (And I haven’t really heard any guys “defending” their actions by blaming it on the booze—compared to the idiot’s “very serious issue of men blaming alcohol for their vile behavior” comment. Most of the time, what I’ve heard has been the right-wing basically saying “girl shouldn’t have drunk so much at the party”—which blames the girl for whatever happened to her.)
Also, it’s worth pointing out that, in the wake of all the sexual assault stories that have come out over the past few years, when women’s groups have suggested that the men responsible for the deeds be held accountable for their actions, they’ve been attacked—and mostly from the talking heads at FoxNoise and other right-wing groups. Women are still being told that THEY are the ones who are supposed to be “careful” when dealing with fratboys. Girls, don’t drink to excess when near guys. Girls, don’t wear skimpy clothing when near guys. Girls, don’t flirt with the guys around you. Girls, don’t be sexually active if you’re not married. ALL the rules are directed at the girls/young women—NOT at the men. The right-wing rules don’t say “Guys, treat all women with respect” or “Just because that girl’s flirting with you and is three sheets to the wind, that’s not reason for you to have sex with her if she’s not really interested.” Nope. It’s ALL on the girls. And the girls who don’t follow those rules to the letter, well, they’re sluts who deserve whatever they get.
Does Dash acknowledge any of this? Of course not.
Furthermore, since Dash made her outlandish comment on TV, the apology should be on TV—not her fucking Facebook account. How many of the people who heard her make the outlandish, even outrageous, comment follow her on Facebook or would know about her “apology” on Facebook? I’m betting less than 1% of the folks who heard her on Outnumbered know she’s now “apologized.” (Much like the typical newspaper screw-up. Print the outlandish claim on Page 1, above the fold. Print the apology at the bottom of page 14 in a little box right next to the quarter-page ad for the 25% off sale on lawn care products at Uncle Sally’s Home Store.)