Only with help will a woman come to see that she bears no responsibility for her rape, that she can turn her anger outward and effect social change. She must break through her fear, re-establish at least a rudimentary sense of invulnerability, and accept her own power before she is able to act constructively. In fact, most women break through society's myths and lead normal lives. But the woman's life is changed and she needs others to affirm and support her own positive growth after her pain.
Third world women find themselves in a worse situation since they are exploited both for their color and their sex. Western culture legitimizes this attitude with myths of the unusually erotic and sexually insatiable Asian, Black or Hispanic woman. The image of Third World women as animals of special sexual prowess pervades literature, art and the media and is totally false.
Just as men can help themselves by supporting women in their challenge for a safer environment, the community in which they both live--must also combat crime and the fear that accompanies it. The University has made significant strides in both areas. Within the last eight years, Harvard established the shuttle bus, the escort car, the double-locked door policy, the blue light phone system, increased security guards, and better lighting. Recent improvements and policy changes include the establishment of the permanent College Committee on Security, the weekly "House Blotter"--a new HUPD publication describing all crimes that occur each week, and the requirement that all police cruisers drive students home between the hours of 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. We laud the efforts of the police department; however, women are still being raped, assaulted and harassed.
The University can do more, both on a direct and indirect level. It can provide floodlights and extend patrol hours. It can also encourage women themselves to take basic steps to overcome the threat of violence and recover their independence--by providing free and easily accessible self-defense courses. The present self-defense course given by Arthur Fitzhugh of HUPD offers a glimmer of hope. However, it is not regularly given and depends on the student's ability to rent necessary equipment, secure a room and guarantee attendance of twenty people.
The above suggestions are only temporary solutions. The permanent solution is to alter the power structure and attitudes that lead to violence against women. This includes replacing the present institutional sexism with institutional support of women. One example of Harvard's sexism is the two token women on the police force, brought in to deal with the "woman's issue" of rape; just as women are not token elements of society, women on the police force must not be mere tokens. Harvard must reach out to women, make women students confident and comfortable in seeking their education.
In this Saturday's H/R Take Back the Night march, students have a chance to dramatically present their objections to campus life and to demand for women the same autonomy that men already have. The march is designed to empower women, to encourage them to assert themselves. Women can and should provide emotional, intellectual, and artistic inspiration for other women. This can happen during the march and hopefully can continue for a long time afterwards.
Elisabeth Einaudi '83 and Peggy Mason '82 are members of the Harvard/Radcliffe Take Back the Night committee. Elisabeth Einaudi is president of H/R Students Organized for Security. Peggy Mason works at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.