Lombardi

POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Legislator Robert Rolison and members of the domestic violence and sexual assault services community gathered in front of the Dutchess County Office Building in Poughkeepsie Friday to raise public awareness about a Japanese video game entitled “RapeLay”. This game was released in April 2006 and its purpose is to encourage the player to physically, emotionally, and sexually assault women.

“The more women you violate, the more points you get,” said Rolison of the game. Games like that “desensitize” the public to violence against women. He praised Amazon.Com for pulling the game as soon as they realized exactly what they were marketing. eBay has also blocked sale on its auction site.

That type of product contributes to violence against women, said Judy Lombardi, executive director of the Grace Smith House. She is outraged at the idea of software like this on the market.

Lombardi said she purposely has avoided terming the software a “video game,” because the word ‘game’ suggests fun, amusement, and innocent harmlessness. Whether we call this product interactive pornography, toxic media, or the rape and torture of women, let’s be clear that this is no game.”

Lombardi said, “The sexism and misogyny present in this software that says that women are less than men are the same beliefs that cause domestic violence,” said Lombardi. In 2008 battered women’s services assisted over 2,400 women and took in over 11,000 hotline calls. Grace Smith House provided shelter 140 women and 105 children in both of its shelters.