Using euphemisms like "taking advantage" to describe sexual violence masks responsibility and enables victim-blaming. Naming it explicitly as rape or sexual assault forces people to recognize the seriousness and compels bystanders to intervene, not blame the victim.
And simply, Mike, what's the difference whether I call it taking advantage or I call it sexual assault? Watch the difference we all react to. You're at a party, somebody walks up and goes, hey, I'm not sure, I'm not positive, but it looks like Jesse might be trying to take advantage of Aaron. You use those words, someone will do this. Well, then Aaron should have been drinking that much. Whoa, whoa, timeout. Let me get this straight. You're blaming the person the crime's being committed on instead of the one who's intentionally setting up the crime? That's what happens when we don't call it what it is. Watch what happens when I call it what it is. Somebody walks up to you at a party, doesn't have to be a friend, and simply says, hey, I'm not sure, I'm not positive, but it looks like Jesse is setting up Erin to be raped or sexually assaulted. If somebody said those words to you at a party, you don't even need to know them. Every one of you would be like, what? Where? Because when you call it what it is, no one in this room can deny their responsibility to do something.
