Media must protect privacy of rape victims

I was very pleased to read Kavitha Rajagopalan's op-ed about rape ["The silence around rape hampers prevention," Feb. 11]. I agree with most of what she said. Rape has reached epidemic proportions in our country, and must be treated as the serious crime that it is.

But the media should not reverse its policy when it comes to disclosing the "names and histories" of rape victims. Rape prevention must focus on the perpetrators who are responsible for their crimes, not the survivors. A victim's history is completely irrelevant; everyone deserves to live free of violence of any kind. The stigma of rape belongs on the perpetrator, not the survivor.

Speaking openly and candidly about surviving rape can be an important way to reduce the stigma and shame survivors feel. But the decision to go public about one's experience belongs to the survivor alone.

Arona Kessler

Port Jefferson Station