The Second Rape

Every 45 seconds a woman is raped

Our sexist culture allows no escape

The is violent crime is far from obscurity

When the rate of victims is one in three

Society conditions men to be rapists

And our indifference perpetuates it

With derogatory language that tends to dehumanize

Making it easier for men to victimize

And the pornographic images that help portray

Women as legitimate sexual prey

When sexism is embedded in our judicial system

It's no surprise why the courts won't listen

And the role of attacker and survivor become distorted

So the majority of rapes are never reported

The threat of rape is always there

It's like a poison that saturates the air

A society stricken by a cancerous disease

Where men know they can do as they please

You tell me the punishment for rape

You tell me how much jail time it will take

When one out of three women will be raped

You tell me what it's going to fucking take

Do you see me in my low cut shirt

Or high heel shoes or a miniskirt

Woman is the victim you desire

You say you can't resist your predatory fire

You tell me why I stand guilty and accused

You tell me when I'm beaten an abused

When it's my body that's been raped and defiled

You tell me why I'm the one on trial

Defense attorney?: Do you know the man who "allegedly"

attacked you?

Victim?: Yes I know the man who raped me.

Defense attorney?: And isn't this man a friend of yours?

Victim?: Well I thought he was a friend of mine.

Defense attorney?: And were you drinking that night he

'allegedly" attacked you?

Victim?: I had a drink or two but is that a crime?

Defense attorney?: I'll ask the questions if you don't mind!

-What were you wearing: How did you act?

Victim?: My wardrobe isn't an invitation for a man to attack.

-I didn't act in any way to bring this on. Why am I on trail?

What did I do wrong?

Defense attorney?: Could you tell the jury why you let this

happen?

Victim?: I was in shock. I couldn't stop him.

Defense attorney?: You claim that you were raped but how do we

know?

Victim?: I said no, I said no, no, no!

Defense attorney?: Isn't it true you're just a woman scorned?

Victim?: I'm a woman who's been raped and torn.

Defense attorney?: Your honor, I demand that this case be

dismissed,

-it all comes down to her word against his!

I may not have bruises all over my body

But when I went to his room I never would have guessed

That he would force my no to mean a yes

You tell me why I'm guilty of this crime

You tell me why the responsibility is mine

When women suffer a second rape during trial

Courts help rapists to violate and defile