Barbro Hedvall: the Time is past when shame meant that women found themselves in rape

Ah, this word's power over the idea.

It has interfered with the discussions around the christmas buffets, turned neighbor against neighbor, cousin against cousin. And informed the unexpected alliances – and let akademiledamoten mr Engdahl and monsieur Arnault be Horace and Jean-Claude with all and sundry.

the Words control the tank. It gives us a picture, not all the words but the strong, clear words. RAPE is one such.

VIOLENCE – muscle, arms, hot, power, pain, yes, the connotations are many. QUARRY makes us think the verb cover, which is used in many contexts, and whose charge is more neutral. But composed in the word RAPE may verb a spooky, concrete content – a man to be restrained, covered by a superiority.

But now it is so with the words, they change meaning, more meanings, in new contexts. Words that been frighteningly strong, almost unpronounceable begins to be operated. A certain area, certain conditions are drawn up in the light. What was once written about, underförstods, can be described in a way that says what it's about. So it is with RAPE.

And this applies to all the large, complex field of SIX. Or as you once called it: ”könslivet”.

a Long time, it was about getting people to stop being ashamed for they are human beings with human passions and urges. And not least, it was the enlightenment – the ignorance of the human body and its sexual functions was great. And so it should be considered the ”novelists” forces. I need hardly remind preventivmedelsförbudet, the long struggle to get rid of the regulated prostitution.

morals for the sexes and the classes. Men were considered to have instincts that must be satisfied = prostitution. Preventivtekniker was known in the higher social classes and applied; in the subclass, however, came the girls ”in the accident”.

the double standard and hyschandet belong to the past but its the mentality casts long shadows. The color is still discussion on the våldtäktsmål.

The sexual liberation then? The as in the 1960s, the baby boomers. Certainly, it provided a new morality: a free sex life for both men and women, whose and even feeling and desire would determine. No condemnation either from the society or family. The new preventivmedlen, mainly pills, also made this new morality possible.

but it imposes certain requirements on the personal ability to take responsibility (read: take your pills and don't cry when he stands) and to predict (for example, what can happen if you drink too much at a party).

was embarrassing, devious, had the new right a lot of the ”the in the deck should the deck be able to withstand”. Neither was fair, equitable. The woman was the most vulnerable. It was she who bore the responsibility to act virtuous, it was she who could read the game right. It was she who could get the ”bad reputation” when she missed the rules in the code.

a yes is A yes, a no is a no. Infringements will be prosecuted.

today is both dubbelmoralens time and the freedom of the 60's past. What fifty years ago was cheerfully and cheekily, has received a new – some would say new and old – approach. Responsibility and sincerity are kodorden under the new samtyckeslagen. It emanates from love is free – the sexual life should be based on both want to.

a yes is A yes, a no is a no. Infringements will be prosecuted.

on these grounds there is nothing to object, they fit well with the principles of individual freedom and right that is our society's foundation.

Legal rights, economic opportunities, political power is thus achieved, then they shall be translated into everyday life, in the home and in the workplace. And it is here we feel that new standards collide with the old.

to live the ”equal” life. And it will be very difficult.

in The last few decades have woman after woman told us about the excessive use of force from a related party. We have been learning a lot about the psychological mechanisms of addiction, if the behaviour of a third party appears to be mind-boggling.

About how sex life sometimes becomes a combat zone, how easy it is for a stronger party over a weaker.

the Requirements on the amended legislation, on the society's support to abused women, the attention surrounding the heartbreaking trials, all the evidence shows that women's emancipation and claims to be regarded and treated as people with human rights still arouses opposition, yes, aggression.

So was the law to the end if. Relief in many places, surprised criticism on the other.

legislation that goes deeply into the privacy. It lends itself to reasoning of the type ”so”, ”so then I would never do it”.... ”behave you, so you have to blame yourself”. That is to say, the remains of the old double standards are bubbling up.

And so it is, then, the terminology, this word's power over the idea. Rape – no, not if two people meet, go home together. Not if the woman is waiting to tell and notify. And at the very least if she hits the man again. No, it can't be rape.

It is possible, however, to force themselves on a woman without using strong physical force. And it goes to humiliate a woman physically and mentally, without external threats and downright violence. There is no news. Such experiences became long – in the marital bedroom as well as in the konferenshotellens bars. The shame and olusten afterwards meant that women found themselves.

Women's liberation has some way to go, to just the bedroom. Any form of sexual coercion is now a punishable offense.

It occurred should be called for what it is – an outrage, an assault, a rape.

Many find it difficult to take this to heart and will have it for a time.

The power of the idea may be strong, but it is also the law.

Read more: ”I want to get people to discuss prejudices about sex”