|
As a Father of Daughters
I’ve been thinking a lot about the statement “coercion is not consent” in light of these allegations against Rocco Siffredi. As someone who’s survived abuse myself (details aren’t your business), I get why people say coercion isn’t consent—especially when you’re young or unaware you can escape. But once I realized I could leave my own bad situation, it changed how I see this. If you’re able to walk away and don’t, is it really coercion—or just a choice you regret later?
Let me be clear: rape is wrong. Physical force is wrong. I once woke up to neighbors asking me to protect a stranger—my future wife—from two men trying to harm her. If she’d let them “talk” her into something, I’d say that’s on her. Courting is about persuading someone to say yes willingly, but there’s a line. When I looked up “coercion,” I found it’s about pressure—sometimes threats, sometimes subtler manipulation—that makes someone act against their will. That’s stuck with me.
Here’s where I’m at: if you’re being coerced but can leave and don’t, I think it’s worth asking why. As a father of daughters, I’ve taught mine to be smart, to avoid trouble when they can. It’s not their fault if someone hurts them, but it is their responsibility to not put themselves in harm’s way if they’ve got a choice. If you keep stepping into danger, you can’t always blame others for what happens.
That said, these allegations—like performers saying their “no” was ignored—make me wonder. Power, fear, or pressure can mess with your ability to just “leave.” Maybe it’s not as simple as I’d like.
What do you think—where’s the line between responsibility and coercion?
|