We live in a society who feels the need to have safe zones and ask for protection from the government from ourselves. We have become so dependent on blaming everyone else for our problems and shortcomings that it has become almost impossible to say anything without offending, hurting, or somehow discriminating against someone. Is this really the type of society that we want our children to grow up in? A society in which we ourselves want to live? It is not my purpose in writing this to make us less sensitive to others or to make people feel like they can not feel safe anywhere, my point in writing this article is to discuss the idea of the sanction of the victim.

The sanction of the victim is an idea that discusses the fact that we create our own world. What we see, live in, and react to is all our own. No one else will ever live in the same world as you because they will never see it the way you do. Now if we go off of this idea about our own reality, that means that no one can give us grief, pain, or misery without our permission. Our society has been teaching that we are not responsible for the life we live. It does not teach this idea of sanction of the victim. My theory is they use this fear, pain, and misery to make us believe that we need the government or other people to make us safe and happy.

It should be taught to everyone at a very young age that you do have to give people permission to hurt you, that you can just not care and ignore them. If you can find the will power and the self respect to be able to let things go, life will be happier and easier in the end. Once people realize that they can not offend you, they will stop trying. Most people are bullies because they want a reaction. If you refuse to give a reaction they have nothing. The need for safe zones will disappear because everywhere will be a safe zone as long as you refuse to become a victim.

This idea works for more than just verbal abuse. You should teach your sons and daughters to protect themselves from this rape culture we are living in. Do not teach your daughters that they should just accept that they will always be a victim to men. Let them know that they have control, that they can be smart and safe and still have fun. I do not want anyone to get the idea that I am writing this with the belief that I understand why the rape culture is what it is, or that the only way solve it is to follow my suggestions. I am only stating what I have seen and how I understand it. I just want to let everyone know that it is good, and it is right, and it is necessary that everyone should feel empowered and able to go out and be who they are. That they do not need the world's permission to do so and they especially do not need to feel as if they are victims for doing so.