Germaine Greer condemned for equating rape trauma with her fear of spiders
Written by News on 18/09/2018
Germaine Greer has sparked outrage by comparing the trauma felt by rape victims to her fear of spiders.
The author and veteran feminist told Australia’s ABC Q&A programme she felt sympathy for her attacker after she was raped at the age of 19.
Asked to clarify whether rape is or isn’t traumatising, the Female Eunuch author replied: “Trauma is something that is dictated by the sufferer.
“I can’t bear huntsman spiders. It’s not their fault. It’s my fault. I’ve decided to be frightened of them.
“It’s interesting to me that women are encouraged all the time to be terribly, terribly frightened, and nearly always of the wrong thing,” she added.
Her remarks were condemned as “horrendous” and “demeaning” by a number of people online.
Will Black tweeted: “Germaine Greer should have quit while she was ahead – around about 1970.
“Becoming a Hatie Slopbins style provocateur is dangerous. Suggesting being raped is a bit like fearing spiders got HER attention but does nothing for those subjected to that crime.”
Kate Sanger described the comparison as “ridiculous and hurtful”, while Maia Newley posted: “I worry for her sanity”.
Greer appeared on the Australian show to promote her essay On Rape, which has provoked controversy around the world.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said rape by a stranger may not be as bad as constant “unconsiderate” sex with a partner.
The Australian said: “I think it is important we don’t diminish the effects of constant unconsiderate use of a woman’s body by the man she loves.
“In some ways, it is worse to be abused and treated without consideration by the people who are at the centre of your life.
“Stranger rape is bloody bad luck, for sure, but it is like being run down by a bus. You don’t have to internalise it and
look at the structure of your whole life from that point of view. It is way out there on left field.”
Ms Greer is no stranger to controversy.
This year alone she has offended people by claiming some rape cases should be thought of as “bad sex” and punishments for it should be lowered.
She has also said transgender women are “not women” and described attempts to outlaw female genital mutilation as an “attack on cultural identity”.
(c) Sky News 2018: Germaine Greer condemned for equating rape trauma with her fear of spiders
