Every once in a while, I read something that shocks me. Last week while I was checking the headlines, I read this. “Rapelay virtual rape game banned by Amazon.”

I think it goes without saying that I was surprised that there was a virtual rape video game. I clicked the link and read the very disturbing article.

The basic facts of the game are this:

Players are instructed to rape a mother and her two daughters at an underground station, before they are allowed to rape any female in the station. If a players victim becomes pregnant, players attempt to force them to have an abortion. If their victims have the child, the player is thrown under a train.

There’s also a feature that allows multiple players to gang rape a single woman.

This is what passes for entertainment? This is fun? Really?

The best part: a Japanese (the game was made in Japan) ethics watchdog group approved the game for distribution.

The more rational side of me is saying that Grand Theft Auto also encourages gamers to commit an illegal act.

But this game just riles me up. It seems once again that we’re trivializing violence against women.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, one in every six American women will be a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. Think of your daughter, wife, girlfriend and five of her friends. Statistically, one of them will be a victim.

Every two minutes, someone in the U.S is sexually assaulted.

And, only six percent of rapists will ever spend a day in jail.

By making and playing games like this, we trivialize a very serious reality for millions of women across the country. We minimize what victims of sexual assault are put through. We make it just a game.