So there's a criticism of @ant33ater starting the #MakeSchoolASaferPlace hashtag to talk about the rape apologist, probably-most-definitely-a-rapist phys ed teacher that still strikes me, because it's so repetitive, and the arguments against it are worth repeating:

that she should not have taken to social media to talk about this issue. She should have gone through the proper channels to bring attention to this wannabe-rapist teacher (and her wannabe-rapist classmates). Essentially, she should have "asked nicely."

Any grownup watching in real-time how this kind of thing goes down knows that if she HAD gone through the proper channels, she would have been: interrogated about whether she had misunderstood the wannabe-rapist; made fun of for being sensitive and unable to take a joke; ignored.

The last one's the best-case scenario. The first two is what she's going through right now in a public sphere, except writ large for a wider audience to watch and respond to. Going through the "proper channels" would have kept the problem quieter.

No one would have questioned why the school was more invested in maintaining the teachers' authority (and right to make jokes about rape, and influence on the next generation of boys to think of their peers as meatsacks for their misogyny), because no one would have known.

Going through the proper channels is a guarantee that you will be wrung dry with little social support. By the time the channels are done with you, the fight would ideally have been beaten out of you, socially and psychologically.

When @ant33ater tweets about her classmates avoiding her now, don't imagine that if she had gone through the proper channels and kept it quiet that things would have gone her way and she'd have her classmates' support. They still would have considered her pariah.

Proper channels are a way for institutions to cover their asses and avoid scrutiny for how they allow corruption in their very ranks. Female teachers will let male teachers continue with their misogyny because challenging that misogyny means challenging authority itself.

Authority based on fear and empty respect is a house of cards and none of them want it down on their heads.

"Why did you have to talk about it on social media??"
Well, why the fuck not? If you are truly going to make amends, and fire the teacher, and stand up for your students, wouldn't you want the world to see you take that stand?

Except, ofc, they don't want to.

The protection of students is a wonderful thing to talk about, but ultimately, it is a moral burden that is a heavy weight, compared to the authority of the institution lent to the individual. We are taught to covet that power and authority.

Those boys laughing along with rape jokes? They are taught to covet the power that misogyny will grant them:

the ingrained arrogance that their desires will supersede the autonomy of women around them; the carelessness towards the personhood of their peers; the confidence to walk unimpeded because the women around them are in fear.

Is it really a big deal? Really?

As a thought experiment, why don't we teach young women to slap men who touch them wrong, to kill men who become violent?

That would be mighty uncomfortable, wouldn't it!

But it's OK for boys to become psychological terrorists.

That's why it's absolutely right for @ant33ater to talk about this publicly: because it allows for a public discourse that will interrogate the authority we grant to educational institutions.

Because TRUE authority and respect must be EARNED. And it's clear her school ain't earning it right now.