The culture of blaming victims

I was astounded by a statement made this week by an executive director of a non-governmental organisation that apparently promotes the rights of girl children in Balaka.
She said: “The biggest challenge we are currently facing is that of enrolling pupils in school at an older age; hence, tempting teachers to be in relationships with girls since they reach upper classes after puberty stage.”
I have heard this lame excuse a number of times, but I didn’t expect it to come from an organisation that claims to promote the rights of girls.
Perhaps the executive director and other members of her organisation have not heard stories about male teachers who defile five year old pupils. What would they say about these victims? Did they reach puberty at five?
With this type of reasoning, what will happen to female pupils, who regardless of their age, mature quickly? Should these be withdrawn from primary schools to save them from irresponsible teachers?
And what are we saying about male secondary school teachers whose classes are filled with female students who have reached puberty. Are they at liberty to coax these pupils into relationships?
There are funny excuses that are routinely cited as an incitement to the abuse of women or children. And without thinking critically about them, we sometimes absorb them, perpetuating a somehow silly myth that provocative clothing or some behaviours ignite voracious behaviour against women.
A man rapes a woman wearing a mini skirt and someone seems to empathise with the rapist when he says he could not resist the ‘temptation’ from the displayed feminine legs.
And, so, we hear many warnings being issued to women regarding their dressing and how men can easily pounce on them if they expose some body parts.
But who said sexual arousal should lead to sexual violence? Isn’t sexual violence simply a wrong behaviour by a criminal who seeks power over his victim to satisfy his sexual urges?
If that has anything to do with how a woman exposes her body, then how would we explain rape cases in some Muslim countries where women cover themselves from head to toe? What of cases where men defile babies or toddlers?
It is sad that someone still thinks if women and girls did all the ‘right’ things, like dressing modestly and enrolling in school at tender ages, then they would never be abused.
But this is not true, yet we continue peddling these cheap arguments, giving rapists and foolish teachers excuses for their irresponsible behaviour.