Joker’s disturbing language

Last July 5, the Inquirer reported former senator Joker Arroyo as saying that ‘‘Congress allowed Malacañang to usurp its powers like a ‘willing rape victim’’’ (News, 7/5/14).
I was greatly disturbed by the comparison. For the record, there is no such thing as a ‘‘willing rape victim.’’ It is a major oxymoron. If you are willing, then it is not rape.
I raise this concern and am calling the former senator’s attention because using ‘‘willing rape victim’’ unwittingly trivializes the tremendous suffering of anyone who has gone through rape; it also reinforces ‘‘rape culture.’’ Moreover, this kind of statement emphasizes, if not promotes, victim-blaming, implying that the victims are to blame for the fact that they are raped.
I hope that the former senator, being an influential personality, will be more careful with and circumspect in his use of language.
NOREEN BOOTS GOCON-GRAGASIN,
Office for Human Resource Management
and Development; chair, Internal Gender
and Development Concerns, Civil Service Commission Constitution Hills,
Batasang Pambansa Complex,
Diliman, Quezon City