A thing I keep seeing in the discussions around this blog is how much is talked about "weaponizing". Usually in one particular context: "Weaponizing sexual assault".
I'd like to ask. Why is it that for some groups, sexual assault is acknowledged as an unspeakable trauma, while for others it is a "weapon" they wield? Why are the ones hurting others by getting raped?
If being raped is apparently such a powerful weapon, how come more cis men are not getting raped to bag all those benefits? Is the rapist not the one "wielding" the sexual assault against their victim instead? Is committing rape not an expression of power over someone? If cis men are the primary pertetrators of rape of trans women, what's with the strange fixation on making endless amounts of hateposts describing deadly violence against trans men in particular that you see everywhere...?
omg anon you are touching on the exact paradox that makes my head spin every single day.
the reason it’s framed as "weaponizing" is because people who want to protect their faves (or protect their own status in the community) need a way to minimize the abuse without outright saying "i don't believe you." calling it a "weapon" is the ultimate gaslighting move. it turns the victim into the manipulator so the community doesn't have to face the ugly reality that someone they like is a predator. it’s the classic move to protect optics over survivors.
and you're 100% right! if it were actually a "powerful weapon" that came with all these magical benefits like support, money, and social capital, why aren't people lining up for it? the framing is deliberately designed to ignore that rape is, first and foremost, an expression of power and control by the perpetrator over the victim. the rapist is always the one wielding the violence, period.
the fixation on trans men is the quiet part that they usually don't say out loud, but it’s so obvious. there is this weird, gross desire to see trans men as "fair game" or as "targets" for that violence, and seeing those posts is a constant, exhausting betrayal. it makes me feel like so many people in these "activist" spaces prioritize their own comfort and their weird power dynamics over actually keeping human beings safe.
it’s all about who the community decides is "innocent" and who they decide is "expendable." and unfortunately, for some, protecting a reputation is worth way more than believing a victim. it’s a total nightmare and i’m so sorry you have to see that garbage everywhere too
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