Rape myths discussed by British kids

LONDON - Rape myths like “women enjoy rape” and “women ask for it by wearing short skirts” are being debated by children as young as 11 as part of a campaign in Britain to stop violence against women.

Rape Crisis, a charity, is distributing teaching materials that dwells upon subjects like domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriages, prostitution and human trafficking, The Telegraph reported Monday.

Students are told to debate claims that “women enjoy rape” and discuss the myth that “women ask for it by wearing short skirts, drinking alcohol etc”.

“It’s not from an angle of supporting sexualisation or pornography but examining the link between those things and sexual violence,” author Laura Colclough was quoted as saying.

She said teachers have to use their discretion over what was taught. “Gone are the days when young people are not sexualised. Most if not all see the music videos, they see the culture, they surf the internet.”

However, the effort has come in for flak from campaigners who feel that the lessons were “too explicit for schools”.

Nick Seaton of the Campaign for Real Education said: “It is irresponsible because it is certainly not suitable for young children and probably not for older children either.

“Just because these things happen does not mean that children need to have them rammed in their faces. Sensible parents will be extremely perturbed that their children are being introduced to this sort of information at a young age.”