When are men held accountable?

October 14, 2012

Women are told that if they don’t want to be offended they shouldn’t go to a comedian’s show, sit on a hearing on birth control or dress so weirdo stranger could take pictures of them. Rape jokes, being called a ‘slut’ or having their photos plastered on some creepy website is what they get for…what? Being women? Speaking up?

Yet, men are eager to defend the comedian, the guy with the radio show, the popular moderator of a site. The men who actually have a platform of power. They cry ‘free speech’, when they’re cornered, but free speech does not and will never leave them free from the consequences of their words. Free speech is only when the government chooses to censor you. Not when women tell you you’re an asshole.

It’s telling that despite creating a dangerous space, not just for the particular woman these attacks were aimed at, but for all women, these guys are surprised when their personal lives are attacked. Tosh, offers a non-apology apology and whines that people are calling for his show to be canceled. He didn’t care that he created a situation where that audience member and/or her friend could have actually been raped. Limbaugh whines that people are calling advertisers to drop his show, but he didn’t care that he created a situation where Fluke receives death threats and nasty emails. Brutsch whines that his job could be at stake, but he didn’t care about that when he posted racist forums and pictures of underage girls.

They should be held accountable for their words. After all, free speech isn’t only for people with penises.