How do you think it should have been handled? What is the appropriate response to the kind of thing that had apparently been happening for years, sometimes worse than the one in the news, and that resulted in women being vocal about their mistreatment?
Studies conducted from 1974 to 1997, the University of Michigan reports, show factors contributing to sexual violence include sex-role socialization,
rape myths, lack of sanction for abuse, male peer support groups, and all-male membership groups such as fraternities and sports teams. (And, I would say it makes sense to add, the military.) What would be the best way to ingrain in such a group that that kind of behavior is simply not tolerable?
It is a little unfortunate that there's a fear, I guess, of telling sexist jokes ("off-color" can also have to do with death, race, or politics, but I'm guessing those wouldn't pose a problem), but isn't there something to the idea that all these little things - sexist jokes, songs about raping women (what if the songs were about raping men or beating the crap out of someone? would they be received as well, or is it just rape of women that doesn't elicit a "WTF?" reaction?) - add up to an unwelcome environment for women and a feeling of entitlement among those who treat women that way. It's never one thing, it's all the little things.
So, really curious - how would you fix it? And why do you think assaults have gone up? (I mean, what do you think the cause is?)