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DRESSED IN BLACK, thousands of Argentines took to the streets yesterday to protest the brutal rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl, the latest case of violence against women to shock the country.
The protesters — mostly women, but also some men — marched in memory of Lucia Perez, a high school student who died on 8 October after drug dealers allegedly raped her and impaled her on a spike.
“If you touch one of us, we all react,” said signs carried by many of the protesters, who staged an hour-long strike starting at 1pm local-time.
It was the latest in more than a year of mass marches to protest violence against women in Argentina, where according to government figures domestic violence kills one woman every 36 hours.
Perez’s killing was just the latest horrific episode.
Last year in June, protests broke out nationwide over a trio of gruesome killings. The first where a kindergarten teacher whose estranged husband slit her throat in front of her class.
Another where a 14-year-old girl whose boyfriend allegedly beat her to death because she got pregnant.
And another when a woman whose ex-boyfriend stabbed her to death in broad daylight at a Buenos Aires cafe.
“The case of Lucia Perez acted as a trigger to demand justice for all women who suffer sexist violence,” said one protester in downtown Buenos Aires, Gabriela Spinelli.
Organisers said the goal was to condemn not only Perez’s killing, but a culture that values women less than men — which they said can be seen in statistics such as the unemployment and poverty rates.
Brutal rapes are the product of a society where boys are not raised to respect women, said demonstrator Karina Munoz.
“A rapist isn’t a monster. He’s not sick. He’s a healthy child of this system, which produces men who don’t respect it when women say no,” she told AFP.
Despite a rain storm that likely dented turnout in Buenos Aires, demonstrators managed to block off several avenues in the capital, as supporters applauded from office buildings.
In Spain, hundreds of women protested in solidarity in Madrid and Barcelona. Demonstrations were also held in various cities across Latin America, including Lima and Mexico City.
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There are men posting here who seem to spend half their lives giving out about feminists. Well, sorry folks, we need feminism. Cop yourselves on. Good lads.
The men who commit these acts have mothers. It is imperative that mothers and fathers raise their sons to respect women.
A mother is the first voice, the baby hears. The first female influence on their lives.
You don’t need to be a feminist just teach the kids some damn morals.
Yes, it’s vital that we all learn to hate men. All men are responsible for the crimes of every other man
Sorry, but until women reach full equality, you do need to be a feminist. At the very least, don’t spend your life smearing feminists.
“Yes, it’s vital that we all learn to hate men. All men are responsible for the crimes of every other man”
Said nobody. Ever. *facepalm*
“I feel that ‘man-hating’ is an honorable and viable political act, that the oppressed have a right to class-hatred against the class that is oppressing them.” – Robin Morgan
“Rape is nothing more or less than a conscious process of intimidation by which all men keep all women in a state of fear.” – Susan Brownmiller
“And if the professional rapist is to be separated from the average dominant heterosexual (male), it may be mainly a quantitative difference.” – Susan Griffin
“As long as some men use physical force to subjugate females, all men need not. The knowledge that some men do suffices to threaten all women. He can beat or kill the woman he claims to love; he can rape women…he can sexually molest his daughter…. The vast majority of men in the world do one or more of the above.” – Marilyn French
We need an effective and fair criminal justice system. We do not need feminism.
Hi Petr,
I called you a troll once (maybe two years ago) since then I’ve agreed with nearly every comment you’ve made. I’m
Sorry I said you were a troll.
And I’ve never agreed with you more than your comments here today. Especially the first one.
@Petr Tarasov:
“Sorry, but until women reach full equality, you do need to be a feminist.”
So where in Western society is the systematic oppression of women then?
Where are the laws that forbid entry for women into the workplace? Where are the laws that forbid voting? What laws enshrine gender roles? What laws guarantee a “patriarchy”?
There’s no reasonable justification for the existence of Feminism in Western society.
Petr Tarasov: yeah good man, your the piece of shi #t who wants to import thousends of people to europe who view women as inferior to men, who think it’s ok to sexually assault and rape women, arrange marriages, honour killings……yeah you support women alright ye clown
@Jason Culligan: “So where in Western society is the systematic oppression of women then?” – lower wages for the same positions, a strong female boos being called bitchy or hormonal, a woman wearing shot skirts being called a sl@t, … I can go on forever here….
“Where are the laws that forbid entry for women into the workplace? Where are the laws that forbid voting? What laws enshrine gender roles? What laws guarantee a “patriarchy”?” – without going into too much detail, the 8th…
“There’s no reasonable justification for the existence of Feminism in Western society.” – that’s because you are a man!!!!!!!!
“I can go on forever here”
Of course you can, you’re listing lies and things that have nothing to do with equality. I mean, being called bitchy? Seriously? Aren’t men called things too? Isn’t it true sometimes?
“The 8th”
…..has nothing to do with equality. Women have far greater access to, and control of contraception. Women have the option of choosing not to be a parent via adoption – something men do not have. They also have automatic rights to be parents – something men do not have.
You’ve refuted nothing Jason said and all the exclamation marks!!!!!!!!!!!! in the world won’t change that
@Barbie InIreland:
“lower wages for the same positions, a strong female boos being called bitchy or hormonal, a woman wearing shot skirts being called a sl@t, … I can go on forever here….”
The gender pay gap has been thoroughly debunked by academics Barbie. In fact the people who coined the original “American women make 77 cents to the dollar” report admitted that their methodology (taking the average income for all men and comparing to the average for all women) was flawed and should not be used as a conclusive report. Every investigation into an actual pay gap has turned up nothing. As for insults, guess what? It happens to men too which should come as a complete shock to nobody but yourself.
“without going into too much detail, the 8th…”
The 8th affects both men and women and rightfully the majority of the country wants it repealed. Even still, abortion is not universally seen as a right that people are automatically entitled to.
“that’s because you are a man!!!!!!!!”
Yet here was me under the impression that Emma Watson’s “open invitation to men” at the UN to become Feminists meant that men could be Feminists too.
The real reason why I see no need for Feminism is because we have achieved legal equality of the sexes. We have legal frameworks in place fully guaranteeing equal opportunity for people of every race and sexual orientation. Feminism has done it’s job, it’s time to hang up the towel.
Men and women react with outrage to this despicable act. The world is going backwards.
Appalling violence against women..that’s so sad
“A rapist isn’t a monster. He’s not sick. He’s a healthy child of this system, which produces men who don’t respect it when women say no,”
This is the reason why Feminism in the modern era is a dangerous dogma. It teaches women to believe that men are naturally programmed to be rapists from birth and need to be ‘re-educated’. It instills a belief that all men ,even broken veterans suffering from PTSD while sleeping rough, hold some sort of invisible veil of privilege over even the most powerful and wealthy of women.
It’s founded on beliefs that are no longer relevant and backed up by statistics that don’t hold water.
Feminism had it’s place in the 1950′s up to the 1980′s. It’s about time this dogma stepped aside and let Egalitarianism take the reins.
A woman is literally raped to death and it’s feminism that’s dangerous? What is wrong with you, seriously?
@Laura Walsh:
My comment relates to the comments from one of the protesters and her viewpoint that all men are automatically brutal rapists like the men responsible for this horrible attack.
@Laura Walsh: Nice strawman, Laura. Feminism is not necessary in the western world, I’m sure you’ll find a good cause for it in Mid Eastern countries and third world regions where women are literally 2nd class citizens and rape culture actually exists.
Ah yes, rape culture doesn’t exist in the western world, where a man running for president of the US belives he can ‘grab women by the pussy’. And where women can walk the streets at night without fear of being attacked. Where a woman could serve more jail time for aborting her rapists baby, than the rapist would receive for raping her.
Laura Walsh: what do you think about a woman being forced to marry someone? What do you think of a woman who is made to conceal her face? Is treating women as 2nd class OK in your eyes as long as you have dark skin? Didn’t realise there was a rape culture in western society, as far as I was aware we all know rape is wrong.
@Jason Culligan: You entirely missed the point. She specifically isn’t saying all men are rapists, she’s saying that rapists are CREATED, not born. “A child of the SYSTEM. “
Where a man walking the streets at night is more likely to be attacked but still walks with less fear than a woman.
Ian, at what point did I say there wasn’t a problem with sexism in the middle east? I’ll be the first to put my hand up and say there’s a problem with sexism in Islam. But just because it’s more severe sexism over there, doesn’t mean sexism doesn’t exist here.
@Laura Walsh:
“Ah yes, rape culture doesn’t exist in the western world, where a man running for president of the US belives he can ‘grab women by the pussy’”
A rape culture requires these sorts of attitudes to be considered acceptable or even commonplace. The level of ridicule that Trump has received for these comments prove that this is not the case.
“And where women can walk the streets at night without fear of being attacked.”
http://www.themix.org.uk/crime-and-safety/personal-safety/safety-for-men-9068.html
According to stats in the UK, men between the ages of 18-25 are twice as likely to be attacked on the streets as women are.
“Where a woman could serve more jail time for aborting her rapists baby, than the rapist would receive for raping her.”
In most western countries, abortion in the case of rape is perfectly legal. In Ireland it is illegal, however it is perfectly legal to travel to the UK to have an abortion in this case.
So you’re 0/3 at this point.
The maximum sentence for rape is life and no woman has ever spent a second in jail for abortion in this state
Jason, Whilst Trump was widely criticized and ridiculed for his comments, he still has support in large numbers and is well in contention of winning the election, and also received an outpouring of support. THAT is rape culture. Interesting statistics, can you provide the stats on the number of male versus female perpetrators in violent crime? And your answer to Ireland’s sexist abortion laws is for women to ‘travel to the UK’, rather than actually address our own laws? So its the UK’s problem to deal with, and the female victim? So you’re 0/3 at this point.
Jason we’re two very different people, I’m a person who reads this story and feels sick to my stomach and horrified. You read it and use it as an opportunity to attack feminism and turn men into victims. So I’m out of this argument, there is no arguing with your blind ignorance.
@Laura Walsh:
You haven’t really rebutted any of my points.
“Jason, Whilst Trump was widely criticized and ridiculed for his comments, he still has support in large numbers and is well in contention of winning the election, and also received an outpouring of support. THAT is rape culture.”
According to the Washington Post, Clinton is only leading the female demographic vote by 9 points. So apparently women aren’t that upset with Trump’s personal viewpoint on women.
“Interesting statistics, can you provide the stats on the number of male versus female perpetrators in violent crime”
This is irrelevant to the point that I raised. You said that women are afraid to go out at night and I showed that men are twice as likely to be assaulted on a night out compared to women. Who perpetrates said attacks is irrelevant to the point.
“And your answer to Ireland’s sexist abortion laws is for women to ‘travel to the UK’, rather than actually address our own laws? ”
I’ve been an avid advocate for a repeal of the 8th Laura, however the presence of the 8th does not change the fact that women are free legally to travel if they wish to have an abortion. As Emeralds pointed out, no woman has served a prison sentence for abortion.
Pathetic attitude in the comments here always. Horrifying to think we have this element in our society.
“According to the Washington Post, Clinton is only leading the female demographic vote by 9 points. So apparently women aren’t that upset with Trump’s personal viewpoint on women.”
And the latest polls ,Jason,which puts nearly a 20% gap between them ..Yeah,I ‘d say they’re pretty pi$sed off him alright..
Typical. Instead of uniting in our horror at such awful events, the handful of anti-feminists come slithering out from under their rock to warble “stop blaming men”, “women have it all what are you complaining for?” “What about me?” Cop yourselves on- you sound like petulant children. We should be coming together in our grief at what is becoming of the human race.
@Anonymous Education:
In fairness, when the protesters are coming out with lines like ‘men are educated to rape’ then it’s kind of hard not to be an outspoken anti-Feminist. If you want to unite people in anger over a terrible event, don’t accuse half of the population of being the exact same as the people who commit such crimes.
Jason, just because *some* protesters go to the extreme rhetoric doesn’t't mean it’s not a cause worth supporting
@Anonymous Education:
The issue is that it’s not an isolated view.
Take sexual consent courses which are popping up in universities across the western world as a fine example. Men are being forced across a growing number of universities to attend sexual education courses simply because other humans with the same set of genitals have committed rapes before. The main driving force behind these courses are Feminist organisations on campuses and in lobby groups.
You have a fair enough point there anon but it could also be argued that just because *some* men act this violently doesn’t mean all men should be tarred with the same brush. People are right to say that this person has gone too far with what she said. They are equally correct saying that this assault is a horrendous thing to have happened. It is shocking and disgusting.
Looked at another way – an unspeakably violent crime was carried out by some repulsive criminals and some commentators saw fit to use it to grind their axe with half the world
And some of us disagreed with them
Of course it can be looked at from another side, as can be done with any argument but I feel your missing my point. It sends that everytime something awful happens to a woman at the hands of a man, the same people come out to defend the good name of Men. Can it not be a place where we share our horror at the events and not a battleground for “what about me” gang
Of course, if all men are going to be judged because of what one man does then the good name of men in general has to be defended. It would be like if all feminists were judged based on the types who discuss reducing men to 10% of the population, people would be defending more moderate feminists by saying not all feminists. And they would be right to.
Well Anonymous, you know when certain people seize upon the crimes of a black person and use it to blame all blacks people; what do we do?
Do we share their horror at the crime or call them racist?
@Anonymous Education:
The reason why it has become a battleground is because protesters who are encouraging us to share in this horror are making sweeping generalisations about men while they protest. It’s obvious that a number of protesters are using it as nothing but an excuse to vent their anger at men and the media is giving them a podium to do so. Read this quote again:
“A rapist isn’t a monster. He’s not sick. He’s a healthy child of this system, which produces men who don’t respect it when women say no,”
How can that not be construed as open hatred towards men? It’s outright dangerous to be saying things like this as it encourages women to believe that all men in society are rapists in waiting.
Its not hatred towards men. Its criticism of the system. But don’t let that knock the chip of you shoulder.
See the list of quotes I provided above. It’s hatred of men.
@Emeralds: A few out of context quotes , some of which are actually fabricated. None of which actually demonstrate hate. Hmmm. Sold!
Jason you’re beneath contempt.
What context would excuse those quotes? And I can provide plenty more
@Petr Tarasov:
Why is that? Is it because my opinions are the polar opposite to yours or is it the fact that you never seem to be able to come up with an actual rebuttal to my points?
Having thrown probably a hundred insults my way, you should know by now that insulting me has never driven me away from a discussion.
You know. Speaking as a man. Nothing makes me hate men more than a visit to these pages. A child being raped to death isn’t actually all about you and your feelings. Lads. Its not that women hate you for being men. its that you are entirely deserving of hate. You hare a hateful bunch of individuals. Stop being such utterly awful excuses for human beings and you’ll find all that hatred you perceive disappears like magic.
@babaloo maloo:
“Its not that women hate you for being men. its that you are entirely deserving of hate.”
When Feminists cease using every atrocity as an excuse for labeling all men as ‘rapists in waiting’, there won’t be a need for comments here defending men.
have your say