Horrible happened. #centerforrespect #mikedomitrz #victimblaming #comparison #newperspective
In this excerpt, speaker Mike Domitrz argues that the practice of distinguishing between “rape” and qualifiers such as “acquaintance rape” or “date rape” leads listeners to subconsciously rank assaults, which in turn causes differential treatment of survivors and amplifies victim‑blaming. He illustrates how people may view a case labeled simply as “rape” as the worst scenario, while a case described as “date rape” is perceived as less severe, even though both are forms of sexual violence. Domitrz recommends abandoning these graded labels and consistently using the broader term “sexual assault,” noting that rape is a subset of sexual assault. By using a single, inclusive term, society can avoid unnecessary comparisons and focus on the harm itself rather than the perceived degree of severity.
