Deck 7: Alcohol and Rape

Question 1

Describe the sort of case about which Nicholas Dixon and Katie Roiphe would disagree. (That is, Dixon would say that it was wrong to have sex in those circumstances, whereas Roiphe wouldn't.) Explain their disagreement, and then either (a) take a side and justify your choice or (b) offer a perspective on the case that differs from both Dixon's and Roiphe's.

Answer 1

Describe a case in which Dixon would say that one party fails to meet the "communicative sexuality" standard, and so is wrong, whereas Roiphe would say that having sex is OK. (Example: a casual sexual encounter involving a moderate amount of alcohol where both parties are giving strong nonverbal signals in favor of wanting to have sex, but there is no explicit question and answer about having sex.)
Explain why Dixon and Roiphe disagree (Dixon thinks the standard for securing consent alters when alcohol is involved; Roiphe thinks that we're at risk of denying female sexual agency).
Reasonably explain agreement with Dixon or Roiphe or offer an alternative perspective.

Question 2

People do lots of things when they're drunk that might violate their "more lasting values." However, whether or not we judge drunken sex morally wrong, we seem especially troubled by sexual encounters that violate our lasting values. How come? Do you think that we should care as much about what we do sexually while intoxicated? Alternatively, do you think we should care more than we do now? Either way, why?

Answer 2

Include-and offer some evidence for-a plausible hypothesis about why we seem especially troubled by the relevant sexual encounters.
Include a thesis that's focused and appropriate given the assignment.
Clearly and succinctly state the main argument for the thesis.
Correctly identify and defend the argument's controversial premises using sound reasoning, well-chosen examples, insightful analogies, etc.

Question 3

Consider the following questions. First, how much are you responsible for what you do when you're drunk? Second, how much are you responsible for what happens to you when you're drunk? Defend your answers.

Answer 3

Include theses that are focused and appropriate given the assignment for each question.
Clearly and succinctly state the main argument for each thesis.
Demonstrate some awareness of the issues that Dixon (and Roiphe, if assigned) raise concerning these questions.
Correctly identify and defend each argument's controversial premises using sound reasoning, well-chosen examples, insightful analogies, etc.

Question 4

What is the point of the "fraternity gang rape" case?

A) It's wrong to have sex with someone who's unconscious
B) Fraternities promote rape culture
C) It's a mistake to think that we can fix rape culture by banning fraternities
D) It's rape if you're so intoxicated that you can't give meaningful consent
E) Gang rape is a very bad thing

Question 5

What is the point of the "regretted sexual encounter" case?

A) We can't always give meaningful consent-even when we're sober
B) People don't need to explicitly say "yes" to sex to give meaningful consent
C) People do need to explicitly say "yes" to sex to give meaningful consent
D) Regretting a sexual encounter doesn't mean that you were raped
E) If you regret a sexual encounter, then you were raped

Question 6

What is the point of the "impaired sex" case?

A) It's wrong to have sex with someone who's unconscious.
B) People don't need to explicitly say "yes" to sex to give meaningful consent.
C) You can explicitly consent to sex without meaningfully consenting to sex
D) If you explicitly consent to sex, then you've meaningfully consented to sex
E) It is wrong to consume any amount alcohol and then have sex

Question 7

On Roiphe's view, women are autonomous adults, but they aren't responsible for the consequences of their use of alcohol and other drugs.

Question 8

The "Central Park mugger" example is supposed to show that:

A) You are responsible for what happens to you when you make foolish decisions
B) You aren't responsible for what happens to you when you make foolish decisions
C) You are responsible for what happens to you when others make foolish decisions
D) Whether or not you are responsible for something is unrelated to your decisions
E) Making responsible decisions is a very complicated task

Question 9

When Dixon acknowledges that "we should respect women's status as agents," he's saying that:

A) Women are partly responsible for the consequences of heavy drinking
B) Women are entirely responsible for the consequences of heavy drinking
C) Women aren't even partly responsible for the consequences of heavy drinking
D) Women aren't even partly responsible for drinking heavily
E) Women aren't at all responsible when it comes to heterosexual relationships

Question 10

On Pineau's model of "communicative sexuality," when doubt exists about consent ________:

A) The burden is on the man to ask
B) The burden is on the woman to deny
C) The ambiguity makes having sex permissible
D) The partners have already done something wrong
E) None of the above

Question 11

On Pineau's model of "communicative sexuality," it is never reasonable to assume that a woman consents to "aggressive noncommunicative sex." What does this mean?

A) A man can't assume that a women is interested in sex if he hasn't explicitly asked her whether she's interested in sex
B) A man needs to be sensitive to the nonverbal cues that indicate whether a woman is interested in sex
C) A man can't assume that a woman is interested in rough sex if she hasn't explicitly expressed interest in rough sex
D) A man can't assume that a woman wants to take a passive role in a sexual encounter
E) A man is going to have a hard time understanding if a woman consents to sex if he can't verbally communicate with her

Question 12

On Dixon's view, as long as a man is careful to get explicit consent from a woman who has been drinking heavily, it is morally permissible for him to have sex with her.

Question 13

On Dixon's view, restricting men's sexual freedom is justified by:

A) The goal of maximizing women's sexual freedom
B) The goal of preventing the perpetuation of rape culture
C) The goal of preventing regretted sexual encounters
D) The goal of preventing communicative mistakes
E) The goal of preventing the enormous harm of rape