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Jordyn Stump
Dr. Parker
Feminist Visions of Justice
10-9-2015
Masters Critical Summary
In My Strength Is Not for Hurting, Masters researched several anti-rape websites to
investigate how they address the topic of sexual assault. Current statistics report that 20% of
women are rape survivors, usually at the hands of an acquaintance, showing the dire need for
such websites (398). The websites target men in particular, especially those outside of the
college-aged demographic. The goal of many websites is to significantly reduce the number of
rapes that occur, with the larger aim of eventually ending rape altogether. Different websites take
varying approaches to do so. The language that websites use differ: some discuss rape in terms of
ending or stopping it, while others more passively discuss preventing or reducing it (399).
Some argue that anti-rape practices are solely the responsibility of men, as males are the more
frequent perpetrators. Other websites, however, encourage both men and women to work
together as allies in rape prevention.
While the overall goals of the sites, to reduce and end rape, are commendable, the
strategies and arguments they implement to do so are still problematic. The websites aim to
redefine masculinity, but the new definitions are still laced with sexism and male superiority. For
example, one website proclaims: There comes a time in a guys life when he has to act like a
man, not a wimp (401). While it is encouraging men to not sexually assault others (a helpful,
necessary message), it still reinforces stereotypes of what a true man is. Someone who refuses
to engage in sexual assault or rape should not be commended for acting like a man but simply
for acting like a decent human being.
Another troubling aspect about a few of the websites was how a few of them insinuated
that rape and sexual assault occur due to a communication breakdown (402). Since
communication takes place between two people, this viewpoint gives the impression that rape is
not just the perpetrators fault, but also the survivors (the women in most cases). In a culture
where women are already blamed enough for the verbal and physical assault they experience, I
thought this was a dangerous claim to make. When women are taken advantage of, violated, and
coerced into sexual activities without proper consent, it is not simply a miscommunication. This
view was not one expressed by all websites, thankfully. Many sites understood that assaulters
were making coherent and power-wielding choices to control and harm their targets.
Lastly, the medium that these messages are being sent through is incompatible with its
mission. Websites are self-selective, meaning that people have to choose to visit them and must
be motivated to heed any advice found on them. Men and women who are interested in ending
rape will surely visit these sites, but what about the men and women who actually need the
education most? Men and women who perpetuate sexual assault, rape, and sexism in general are
not likely to visit such websites by their own will. Other measures are needed in order to ensure
that the correct populations are being targeted. While the internet is an expansive information
resource and the websites themselves are a good start, further action needs to be taken. Sexual
assault prevention is becoming more prevalent on college campuses, but should also be a topic of
conversation in other areas of society. Educating men and women of all ages in school, at church,

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and in extracurricular activities about sexual assault will make eradicating rape a more attainable
goal.

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Works Cited
Masters, N. Tatiana. My Strength Is Not for Hurting: Mens Anti-Rape Websites and Their
Construction of Masculinity and Male Sexuality. Feminist Frontiers. Boston:
McGraw-

Hill, 2009. 398-404. Print.