The following are copies of email correspondence between myself and one of the authors of the book, Craig Palmer. While I wrote to both authors, Mr. Palmer is the only one who has responded.
I have not heard back from him since my last email to him on January 28th....maybe he's too busy out promoting his book on every television show and newspaper that will give him his 15 minutes of fame.
Fortunately, by the looks of it, his 15 minutes are almost over.
Date:
Wednesday, January 26, 2000
From: Laura Hartley <laura_lea_72@yahoo.com>
To: Craig T. Palmer <cpalmer@brain.uccs.edu>, Randy Thornhill <rthorn@mail.unm.edu>
Subject: Questions Regarding Your Book
Mr. Thornhill and Mr. Palmer,
I belong to a mailing list for rape and sexual assault survivors called Ripple Back to Me. It is associated with Welcome to Barbados, a rape and sexual assault awareness web-site. Our mailing list currently has over 200 members, ranging in age and backgrounds, both male and female.
One of the members on our list mentioned hearing about your book, 'A Natural History of Rape: Biological Bases of Sexual Coercion,' on a television show recently. She was under the impression that your book suggests that men are genetically predisposed to rape, and that women should consider adapting their appearance or behavior to prevent being raped. As I'm sure you can imagine, this was extremely offensive to many members of our list, myself included. As none of us have had the opportunity to read your book yet (I see that it is scheduled to be released in April), I went to Amazon Books and found the description below.
I was wondering if you could briefly address our concerns and I would like to share your response with the members of the mailing list. Based on the brief description provided by Amazon, it does appear that your book suggests women take a role in preventing their own rapes by dressing differently or changing their social behavior? This is quite contrary to the beliefs that we as a group share. For example, the Welcome to Barbados web-site makes the following statement to survivors "It wasn't your fault. It doesn't matter what you did or said or wore. It was not you who acted inappropriately."
While I assume your book doesn't go so far as to blame women for being raped, if your book suggests that women should be careful in regards to dress, appearance and social behavior, then the implication is that women have some responsibility in preventing their own rapes. I'm curious as to what your position is on this.
In addition, I wonder how this applies to the many women and men on our list who were raped as children? Would your book suggest that children modify their dress and behavior as well?
The description below says that your book "recommends that young women consider the biological causes of rape when making decisions about dress, appearance, and social activities." This statement is troublesome to me. Isn't the implication here that if women only dress carefully and modify their social activities they will avoid being raped?
What then, of the thousands of women who are raped who were dressed conservatively? Women who are raped in the safety of their own homes by strangers and not during a "social activity?" Would your book suggest that if all women simply wore unattractive, non-revealing clothes and stayed away from bars that rape would be eliminated? Should we raise our daughters to dress in plain clothes and stay home, in fear that if they don't, they might arouse a man to rape?
I realize that my understanding of your book is very limited as I have not had the opportunity to read it. But if the description below is accurate, I doubt that any of the survivors on our list would be interested in reading a book that diminishes a rapist's responsibility by labeling his crime as "biological," or suggests that women are in any way responsible for preventing a crime against them. It is of course possible that the description Amazon is providing is inaccurate. If so, and I am incorrect as to the position your book takes, please let me know and I would be very interested in purchasing and reading your book once it is available.
I would very much appreciate a response regarding your thoughts. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Laura Hartley
Description from Amazon Books:
"In this sure-to-be-controversial book, Randy Thornhill and Craig Palmer use evolutionary biology to explain the causes of rape and to recommend new approaches to its prevention. According to Thornhill and Palmer, evolved adaptation of some sort gives rise to rape. The authors claim to demolish scientifically, many myths about rape bred by social science theory over the past twenty-five years. The popular contention that rapists are not motivated by sexual desire is, they argue, scientifically inaccurate. Although they argue that rape is biological, Thornhill and Palmer do not view it as inevitable.
Their recommendations for rape prevention include teaching young males not to rape, punishing rape more severely, and studying the effectiveness of "chemical castration." They also recommend that young women consider the biological causes of rape when making decisions about dress, appearance, and social activities. Rape could cease to exist, they argue, only in a society knowledgeable about its evolutionary causes. The book is sure to stir up discussion both on the specific topic of rape and on the larger issues of how we understand and influence human behavior."
Date: Thursday, January 27, 2000
From: Craig T. Palmer <cpalmer@brain.uccs.edu>
To: Laura Hartley <laura_lea_72@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Questions Regarding Your Book
Dear Ms Hartley,
Thank you for your interest in our book. Hopefully I can clarify a couple of points. First, in regard to the claim that men are "genetically predisposed to rape" an evolutionary explanation of behavior does not imply that genes play a more important role in that behavior than does the environment. Obviously given certain environmental factors some males commit rape.
Second, in regard to the issue of dress and behavior. Two questions must be kept separate. One question is who should be blamed and punished when a rape occurs. Our answer to that it is the rapist and only the rapist.
The second very distinct question is whether there is anything a person can do to decrease, but obviously not eliminate, the chances of being raped. We say the answer to this is yes. Wouldn't the opposite position that there is nothing you can do to decrease your chances of being raped again be terrible news to a rape victim? On the other hand, identifying the factors that may increase or decrease the chances of being raped is to provide knowledge that can empower all people in their efforts to eliminate the terrible act of rape.
In general please remember to avoid the naturalistic fallacy: to say something is natural in no way implies that it is good or acceptable. Also please realize that only those people who take the time and effort to learn evolutionary theory will be in a position to fairly evaluate our book. I sincerely hope that you are one of those people.
Sincerely,
Craig Palmer
Date:
Friday, January 28, 2000
From: Laura Hartley <laura_lea_72@yahoo.com>
To: Craig T. Palmer <cpalmer@brain.uccs.edu>, Randy Thornhill <rthorn@mail.unm.edu>
Subject: Some Thoughts
Mr. Palmer,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my email. I shared my original letter to you along with your response to the members of the mailing list. For you to understand where I'm coming from, I thought it would be helpful if I shared with you some of the feedback I received in discussing your book. The following are excerpts from emails shared through our list in the past 48 hours:
"It seems that there a 100 different ways of accusing survivors that it is our fault and it is really troubling to me, as well as this book and this author's response."
"Does he realize the social impact of a book like this?"
I'm thoroughly disgusted with this book. Can you imagine the potential this book could have on the legal system? "Oh, rape is natural...it's not really his fault."
"This scares me. It's already so hard to get people to believe you...it's so hard to admit to yourself that there was nothing you could do... now this...now this."
"Of course there are things women can do to stay safer, but there are not things women can do to prevent rape, because women aren't making the choice to be raped."
"I will NOT be purchasing this book. There is no way in hell that I am going to contribute to this man's idiotic ideas in any way."
"Does he realize that only those people who take the time and effort to learn about this topic, its effects, and social impact should be in a position to fairly write about the subject!"
"I've taken a class in evolutionary biology, do you think that qualifies me to bitch about this book?"
"If there are environmental factors that can be changed that make rape less of a threat, it follows that they should be targeted to men, NOT women."
"This book suggests that women are the ones who should be held accountable for something that is not their choice. The man chooses who or when to rape, not the woman. The only thing a woman can be accused of is interacting in society. That's it. The man is the one who is completely in control of the events leading up to the rape."
"The author's response back to you fired me up but the more I think about it, the more this book offends me. To suggest that women are in any way responsible for a horrific act on them by a man acting totally on his own is ludicrous and offensive."
"This past summer, about June, I finally accepted that what happened to me was 100% not my fault. Before that it was always "it wasn't my fault. But if I'd only done this or not done that." But this summer I got past that and realized no matter what I did or didn't do it was not my fault. But now, learning about this screwball book and reading what one of the authors had to say to one of us, I feel like I've been pushed back to the "if I'd only done this or not done that" part. And I just feel sick about it. I feel like I've been set back in healing because of this dork and his stupid crap (aka evolutionary) theory."
You said in your email to me "only those people who take the time and effort to learn evolutionary theory will be in a position to fairly evaluate our book." The members of our mailing list come from a diverse and impressive background, having themselves studied psychology, anthropology, biology - many come from the same fields as yourself and Mr. Thornhill. While I'm sure you have done a lot of research while writing your book, I would like to suggest that we, as women who have survived rape, have a special kind of insight that you and Mr. Thornhill could not possess.
If you are not a woman who has been raped, you don't know what it is like to be violated in the most intimate way, and then deal with the aftermath in a society that is quick to shift blame to the victim. If you are not a woman who has been raped, you have never stood in court and answered questions about how much you had to drink that night or what you were wearing. If you are not a woman who has been raped, you don't know what it's like to not only be questioned by the very legal system that was supposed to be defending you, but also by friends and family.
And worst of all, if you are not a woman who has been raped, you don't know what it's like to question yourself. The self-doubt and guilt are enough to destroy you. It makes you unable to trust the world, or yourself, ever again.
I was raped 3 years ago by a stranger who, in the blink of an eye, grabbed me off a busy street corner and threw me into a waiting car as I waited to cross the street. I wasn't wearing anything particularly revealing. I had gotten separated from my girlfriend, but the street was busy and crowded, you would think it was "safe." I had never met the man, so nothing I did in social interaction made me more susceptible than any of other woman standing on that corner that night. Yet it was me, not someone else, who was raped and beaten for 5 hours that night. To this day, I wonder what I could have done differently. Shouldn't there have been something I could have done?
You said to me "wouldn't the opposite position that there is nothing you can do to decrease your chances of being raped again be terrible news to a rape victim?"
I would like to suggest that there is nothing more terrible you could say to a rape survivor than to suggest that she failed to take adequate measures to protect herself. The idea that a woman could do something to prevent being raped suggests that if she is raped, maybe there was something she could have done to prevent it.
You stated "On the other hand, identifying the factors that may increase or decrease the chances of being raped is to provide knowledge that can empower all people in their efforts to eliminate the terrible act of rape."
I would like to suggest that there is nothing a woman can do to decrease her chance of being raped. We are raised, Mr. Palmer, to try and avoid being raped. We are careful. We try not to go out alone at night. We take self-defense classes and carry mace. When our car breaks down, we are likely to sit in the car and cry, petrified to get out, because we don't want to be raped. Yet day after day, women are raped despite the extensive measures we take to try and stay safe.
RAINN lists statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice. 1 out of every 4 rapes occurs in a public place. 68% of the victims knew their attacker. 1 in 2 rape victims are under the age of 18. In 29% of rapes, the offender used a weapon.
Welcome to Barbados lists that 40% of rapes occur with more than one assailant. About 1 in 7 women have experienced rape or attempted rape by a spouse. Many rapes occur at the victim's home, and it is estimated that ¾ of all rapes are planned - however, you are probably familiar with these numbers.
We are raped in our homes. We are raped in public places. Most of us know and trust the person who raped us...it may even be a spouse, or a father. Half of us are under 18 years old. Many times, we are overpowered by a weapon or multiple assailants. We have been told our entire lives to be careful, not wear certain clothes, and yet 1 in 3 women will be raped in her lifetime.
I would like to suggest that we ARE careful, Mr. Palmer, and we are still raped. But society continues to focus on what the victim did wrong, what she wore, where she went and this is what we fight against. The focus needs to be put back where it belongs, on the perpetrators and the perpetrators alone. We are tired and offended at the notion that we share in the responsibility of preventing rape.
We can be careful. We can try our best to be safe. But if your book suggests that women can prevent being raped, then I would like to suggest that your book is wrong.
I realize that it is impossible to evaluate your book without reading it. With this in mind, I was wondering if you had a copy available that you would be willing to send to me. While some of the members of the mailing list are interested in reading more on your work, as I'm sure you can imagine, they have expressed hesitancy in purchasing a book that appears, on the surface, to perpetuate an on-going societal tendency to shift blame to the victim.
I am anxious to read the book in it's entirety so I can adequately understand your "evolutionary theory" in regards to rape, but I understand it will not be available in stores for another 3 months. If you would be so kind as to forward a copy to me, I will read it and share my understanding of it with the other members of the list. As you can see from the comments I shared with you, your book has touched a nerve with us on a topic we take very personally. If we have misunderstood the content of your book, I would like to be able to reassure these women that this is the case, and I would be interested in learning more about your work.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Laura Hartley
Date: Friday, January 28, 2000
From: Craig T. Palmer <cpalmer@brain.uccs.edu>
To: Laura Hartley <laura_lea_72@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Some Thoughts
Don't your find your statement that there is nothing a person can do to lessen the chances of being raped a very depressing thought? Also, do you really think that statement is true? I hope you will be able to clarify the numerous misunderstandings reflected in the e-mails you have received. We address these and explain why they are misunderstandings in the book. Once these misunderstandings are clarified you might find that we are actually on the same side in all of this-- the side of wanting to stop rape.
Sincerely,
Craig Palmer
Date: Friday, January 28, 2000
From: Craig T. Palmer <cpalmer@brain.uccs.edu>
To: Laura Hartley <laura_lea_72@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Some Thoughts - Part 2
I forgot to mention that the book is in stores now or will be within the next week. I look forward to hear from you once you have read the book.
Date:
Friday, January 28, 2000
From: Laura Hartley <laura_lea_72@yahoo.com>
To: Craig T. Palmer <cpalmer@brain.uccs.edu>
Subject: To speak of that which we have not experienced is to speak without understanding
'We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.' -Anais Nin
Mr. Palmer,
Only a man, blessed to be sheltered from this experience, who has not himself been brutally violated in this manner could be so naive to presume that the victim has control over preventing her own rape.
Naivete in grownups is often charming; but when coupled with vanity it is indistinguishable from stupidity. ~Eric Hoffer
You asked, "Don't your find your statement that there is nothing a person can do to lessen the chances of being raped a very depressing thought? Do you really think that statement is true?" I suppose you could claim that a woman can lessen her chances of being raped, but to what extent? As women, we already spend our entire lives in fear, taking precautions, being careful - yet 1 in 3 of us will still be raped. Do I find that to be a very depressing thought? Yes, Mr. Palmer, I do, more than you could begin to comprehend.
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and consciencious stupidity." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
While at first your naivete on this topic was offensive to me, I must say that I realize it would be unreasonable for me to expect you to understand fully the topic your book addresses. It appears that your background is in anthropology, while Mr. Thornhill's areas of study are zoology, entomoloy and biology. The basis of your understanding comes from literature and research, and in that sense, it is limited.
You have not personally experienced rape. You have never tried to fight off a 240-pound asshole who beat you senseless and raped you for hours. Nor have you spent years after such an assault going over and over what happened, trying to determine what you could have done differently, only to come to the realization that there was NOTHING you could do.
You have not looked into the eyes of a man who was raping you, searching for answers, only to see an animal more beast than human, without a soul or a conscience. You say rape is "natural.". I have been there, I have looked into those eyes, and I will tell you that there is nothing natural about it.
You said to me "You might find that we are actually on the same side in all of this-- the side of wanting to stop rape."; If you believe that women can prevent being raped by changing their clothes, you and I are NOT on the same side Mr. Palmer. Stopping rape will only come through tougher legislation, better education, and a major shift in society's perception of this crime.
I thought we were done asking women to change their dress and social activities as a response to rape. I thought we were moving towards a society that recognizes that true change will come from holding the perpetrators responsible, from raising men to be accountable, and from taking a firm stand in the judicial system. Perpetuating the myth that a woman's appearance and social interaction provoke rape is a dangerous and destructive road.
"I am learning not to say I was raped, but a man raped me. Grammatically, this is the difference between the passive and active voice. As I often tell my writing students, the active voice is preferred unless you are trying to hide responsibility." ~Patricia Weaver Francisco
Your book seems to me to be a step backwards in combating violence against women. It is unoriginal, full of the same theories but wrapped in slightly different packaging. We have been fighting these misconceptions about rape for years, and with your book on the shelf, will continue to do so.
I would like to thank you, Mr. Palmer, for reminding me of what we are up against. Discussion of your book has moved me to re-evaluate where I thought society was headed in regards to rape. I feel motivated to take a more active stand in fighting the fallacies your book perpetuates. I could not be as effective, however, without a full understanding of your book.
Therefore, I have contacted the local Borders bookstore and explained to them my dilemma. They have offered to give me a copy of your book once it becomes available next week so that I won't have to purchase it myself. I have spoken with the District Manager of both Borders and Barnes and Noble to discuss their policy on choosing the books they select for their stores. I not in favor of censorship, however, both stores assured me of their firm commitment to customer satisfaction. If customers are unhappy about the content of a book, both stores take that into account when making marketing and display decisions. I feel that your book should be made available to those who choose to read it, however, surely the book stores I give my business to do not have to aid in your profiting on a book that promotes viewpoints so damaging to women.
I am also getting in contact with both local women's organizations and international groups, such as RAINN, NOW, The President's Interagency Council on Women, Men's Rape Prevention Project, Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women, Men's Rape Prevention Project and The White Ribbon Project to share with them our thoughts on your book and our renewed interest in working towards a society that places responsibility where it belongs - the perpetrator.
Sincerely,
Laura Hartley
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