LETTERS: All sexes can support women's rights

To the Editor: Paxton says, "This is the one bloody night of the year that we ask you, as men, to shut up and listen." Then she vehemently discourages men from attending by saying, "I don't need you to be there, okay? I don't need you to hold my hand." This attitude is very self-defeating and has a negative impact not only on men but on the very women that she is attempting to protect. The event is designed to lend support to rape, incest and abuse victims and to educate other people by having the survivors share their traumatic experiences. The crimes we are fighting in the event are perpetrated by males, so how can we have them listen to us if they are not even allowed to attend? Not to mention Paxton is only alienating the men who actually care and have enough respect for women to show their support. I highly doubt Take Back the Night is a popular event for rapists. Most men shy away from "feminist" activities simply because they think it is a lot of male-bashing and Paxton only validates this thought. Feminism is about supporting women and the promotion of equality among the sexes -- not a fight about who's stronger, better or smarter than the other. Take Back the Night is specifically about female empowerment, but Paxton makes it into a power struggle, which is just the problem that the event is fighting. I applaud any man who attended the event. After Thursday, I bet not only do you understand more what it feels like to be a victim (not that anyone other than a victim could truly understand) and know that as women we are more vulnerable to such a crime, but hopefully if you are in a situation where you might be tempted to take advantage of a woman you will remember the testimonies of the survivors. I hope Paxton is right when she says you were there to hold my hand, because I assumed that was the reason why all of us were there. Melissa Goldate College '97