End Metallophobia (previously named 'Fear of a metal planet')

This is something a young woman published about how the myths surrounding rape and assault are perpetuated.

This is the actual article that was in the New York times that sparked outrage from writer Melissa Cambell of Sparksummit.com (pardon the pun). A note was made about how the victim was dressed and how she behaved around boys, though it was quoted from the neighbours of the victim. It was like, “Where was her mother? What was her mother thinking?” Only a short mention was made of the attackers' backgrounds (some of which were from more priveleged back grounds, while others already had criminal records). Understandably, such an incident would divide a community, but the comments about the boys was like, "how could their young men have been drawn into such an act?" and “These boys have to live with this the rest of their lives.” As if the welfare of the assailants mattered more to that community than that of the victim. And while I am an 'outsider looking in', reading this article (and know nothing first hand of this incident), my initial answer to the first question...

All, My friend (who calls herself Vera Metallum on Facebook and used to call herself Pagan Baby on Yahoo) has just entered the Miss Alternative 2010 'Beauty' Pagent.  Her decision to enter this competition prompted her to ask herself what is the definition of 'alternative'. This is a long 'essay' that she published on Facebook regarding the 'ins and outs' of being 'alternative' and what it means to be 'alternative'.  The essay begins with a definition of 'alternative'. Citing from http://www.dictionary.com/ , she states that an alternative (as a noun) is a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, as of two things, propositions, or courses of action, the selection of which precludes the other possibility. one of the things, propositions, or courses of action that can be chosen. A possible or remaining course or choice. While as an adjective, it means Affording a choice of two or more things, propositions or courses...

I found this site when I was reading the article about whether or not gay males are necessarily more abusive then straight males, and it caught my attention. In fact, what I thought was a web site about gay males is actually about males (ie men and boys) in general.  While I consider myself a 'feminist', I am *not* anti-male, as some would believe; and sometimes services that are 'available' to females, aren't always available to males.  Things like sexual assault clinics or 'refuge' facilties for those who may experience intimate, domestic or family violence, medical services for 'men's health' or even counselling services where guys can feel free to get things off their chests if something is bothering them (so they don't have to go to the pub and get sloshed). I don't know for certain, though the overwhelming statistics indicate that women are overwhelmingly on the receiving end of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, more likely ...

A Study Proves That Media Can Subtly Induce Society To Justify Violence Against Women I actually found this article via the 'Psydir News' blog, but it was originally written in Medical News Today. The article states that when a violent crime is committed by a male against a female, and is reported in the media (ie, the newspaper), there are often 'rationalisations' behind the crime, ie what 'provoked' it. The author(s) state a number of 'reasons' or 'causes' behind the crime, eg, drunkeness/alcohol, jealousy, arguments or situations of prolonged unemployment - to explain the aggressor's behaviour. In other words, the aggressor seen as a 'victim of circumstance' or a 'victim of society' when he commits such crimes. Or, if they are pinpointing what the victim had done to 'deserve' it, it would be like "the aggressor had asked her to marry him and she refused". In other words, she is portrayed as 'a bitch...