What was she wearing? Was she by herself?
These are the questions you should never hear about a sexual assault case.
Take Back The Night is an international event dedicated to enforcing that. It sends the message women shouldn't be in the wrong by forgoing a male escort and walking home alone at night.
We understand the march historically has been female-only to enhance solidarity. Including the opposite sex would contradict, to an extent, a march about being able to walk alone at night.
The candle-lit portion of the march down Jeff Hill honors sexual assault victims, a group composed mostly of women. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 18 percent of women in this country are raped during their lifetime.
More than symbolism, the march gives women a forum to gather and vent - something rare in a patriarchal society that lumps feminists with anarchists, green mega-crusaders and advocates of legalizing marijuana.
For all its merit, however, the march doesn't address the cause of sexual assault: the power imbalance between men and women. Rapists aren't relieving sexual desire; they're quenching a thirst to dominate someone weaker.
In addition, the way the march is now, we don't know why a man would want to subject himself to it. The feeling can be anti-male, with chants such as, One
two three four
I am not your fucking whore. Five
six
seven
eight
why don't you go masturbate? The chant misses the point; Sexual assault is about power, not sex. These words can be seen as divisive, and solving this problem will require men to join against it.
Now in its 31st year, the march has had its fair share of incidents. Post articles about the event have recounted men heckling the marchers in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Among the more offensive comments were, Women are worthless
and I want to use you for sex.
While we understand why women would want to deny male participation after being disrespected by men during the march, perhaps greater inclusion in events would dissipate the ignorance that spurs sexist attitudes. Having a men's roundtable is a start, and the week's programming overall is constructive. But the main event is the march that still pushes men to the fringes, denying them full involvement.
At its best, the march is cathartic for victims of assault and a symbol of empowerment. At its worst, it uses men as a scapegoat and further isolates those in the march from men and from women opposed to excluding men.
It is necessary to attack the underlying structure that keeps women in a subordinate position. Fierce debate about whether men should participate in the march does nothing to take back the night.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post's executive editors.
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