Mary-
I’m still seeing an unresolved conflict here when you write that “bad sex” is “sex that is later regretted” and then comment of MacDonald, ” [s]he wants to criticise women’s “sluttish” behaviour, by claiming it leads to bad consequences. But it doesn’t, or at least not to consequences felt by the women themselves to be bad.” Either it’s regrettable and therefore bad, possibly worth avoiding, or not. Such regrets aren’t like rain that falls on all. They’re common and mostly survive-able, even laughable, but hardly an inevitable circumstance.
The talk about booze-fueled hookups doesn’t relate primarily to the real crime of rape, but rather to regrettable instances that may be within a woman’s control, as rape isn’t. If those instances are really what’s principally happening, and if young women regret the events enough, they can take the steps MacDonald notes or others of their own devising. They could choose to see the exercise of their own sexuality in another way. Or not. As can young men.
But as long as sexual violence and pregnancy inordinately impact females, they will be making decisions from a different perspective than men. I don’t think that has to necessarily mean bearing unequal responsibility for the exchange, but players who face the greatest consequences must take the game most seriously. If all consequences are equal, game on!
