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Ingrid Betancourt’s Struggle to Resume Life

2:01 pm By Maegan La Mala · Colombia| Controversia| Justice| Women

11 Jul 2008

ingrid%20betancourt.jpg Amid rumors of a failing marriage, Ingrid Betancourt spoke to the press about how difficult the transition from captive to freed woman has been for her:

A collapse is coming, she said.

“It’s like the roaring of the waves, I know it’s coming, and it’s getting closer,” she said softly. “So I know it’s time for me just to stop. I don’t want to be submerged by depression.”

Pay attention to how the article hints at the possibility of rape:

But she also is trying to avoid describing the details of her ordeal as an attractive woman in captivity in the jungle, a time when she was often chained, physically tortured and humiliated by armed and angry men, whose behavior, she said earlier, was “so monstrous I think they themselves were disgusted.”

Although I guess I can understand why the press would only want to hint at rape until it’s confirmed, the insinuation that female “attractiveness” inspires armed and angry men to rape is a bit problematic. There are other known instances of FARC using rape as a weapon against women and girls, would it be possible to reference those interactions rather than add the sensational and simply wrong inferences that “attractive” women inspire rape?

2 Responses to Ingrid Betancourt’s Struggle to Resume Life

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Maegan la Mala Ortiz

July 11th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

Well is the same thing with Clara Rojas. It was mentioned over and over that she had a child while in captivity without much discussion as to how that happened, either in a relationship or through rape.

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Julia

July 14th, 2008 at 7:24 pm

It does seem that this article is trying to titillate. Besides the hideous sexism of implying “attractiveness” attracts rape (I think it’s just having a vagina that does that), it doesn’t seem to be trying to portray her (as yet presumed) experience in terms of her rights being violated, but in an “observer” kind of hungry-for-dirt kind of porn.

Hola!

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