Bari Weiss: Why Are Feminists Silent on Rape and Murder?

One hundred days ago, the world changed. October 7 has proven to be many things: the opening salvo in a brutal war between Israel and Hamas; an attack that could precipitate a broader, regional war; the beginning of a global, ongoing orgy of antisemitism; a wake-up call regarding the rot inside the West’s once-great sensemaking institutions; a possible realignment of our politics.

One of the things it has also been is a test. A moral test that many in the West have failed. That test of moral conscience is a continuing one considering there are still 136 hostages in Gaza. Two of them are babies; close to 20 of them are young women.

Across the Western world, these hostages have faded from view. And when it comes to the fate of the many young women abducted by Hamas and taken to Gaza, the silence from some corners has been deafening.

Today on Honestly, Bari argues that the groups you would expect to care most about these women and hostages—the celebrity feminists who are always the first to speak up in times of crisis, the prominent women’s organizations who protested loudly when it came to #MeToo, Donald Trump, or Brett Kavanaugh, and the international, supposedly “nonpolitical” human rights organizations—have said and done next to nothing about the murder, kidnap, and rape of Israeli girls.

What explains their silence—or worse, their downplaying or denial?

When Michelle Obama, Oprah, Malala Yousafzai, Angelina Jolie, Kim Kardashian—and the rest of the civilized world—saw the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls in Nigeria by Boko Haram in April 2014, within days they took to Twitter and demanded “Bring Back Our Girls.”

Why isn’t the world demanding the same now?

It’s been one hundred days in captivity: bring back our girls.

[quinnfletcher]

Keep in mind that these same Feminists who are quiet on the issue are the same ones that say "Silence is violence".

[hollysielaff]

When people show you who they are believe them. The people calling for context, remaining silent, or out right denying this happened have shown you exactly who they are! As a woman and a mother my heart breaks for these girls, boys, women, men and their families. The fact people are supporting this evil or even turning a blind eye is wickedness on display.

[CTID]

Since October 7th my faith in humanity was destroyed. Celebrities, content creators and colleagues I've known and loved for so long have shocked and appalled me beyond belief. I don't trust my own instincts anymore. The most obvious, hideous wrongs have got to be shown, explained, argued like it's a matter of opinion. What the hell?

[prisonersdilemma]

As an Israeli, who currently studying abroad. Thank you, thank you so much. And thank you for your support in the comment section.

[wendyannh]

Beautifully said, Bari. The silence is appalling.

[zeke]

Thank you for calling out Briahna joy, her rape denying episodes and tweets were sickening and really unbelievable!

[lyndadavey]

I’ve been a feminist the best part of my life. What happened to these young women is just too horrible. The deafening silence of so-called feminist groups has betrayed their total lack of genuine concern for women who are suffering.They’ve nailed their support to the mast of left wing political ideology - nothing more. Shame on them!

[daveoatway]

As an old US white soldier I completely agree with the need for protection of all people, especially girls. Rape can never be rationalized. All women must be protected. I cannot understand the lack of compassion for these women. The antiwomen and antisemitism is unthinkable in this era! Thank you for your strong voice. It needs to be heard on all media!

[gregbosley]

I am proud of you Bari for having the courage to call out the hypocrisy of women & women's organizations, and anti-semitism of so many of my fellow Americans. I have never before felt so ashamed

[Herbie-in-CA]

I really didn’t want to watch this and had the suppress the urge to turn to something else several times. Thank you for speaking up for the girls and women who no one else will speak for. What a dark moment in time.

[timsherman]

Bari. Keep speaking the truth The hypocrisy of the left in our country makes me so sad

[christines]

Thank you, Bari. The silence has been deafening. I'm sickened by these so-called feminists and women's rights groups.

[cassylane]

Lets face it, when the perpetrators are Muslims, people are too terrified to speak out and as such, the silence is transmissible. Bari, your voice is SO needed!

[markgrunebaum]

My mind cannot even fathom the horror. As the father of two girls now 22 and 20 my heart screams for justice, ny mind reels in horror. I look to a concert of sympathisers for voice, but it is eerily silent. I am empty

[adampeaston]

It's a sickening and terrifying moment in history when this degree of endemic moral confusion and cowardice is exposed. Thank you for your bravery Bari, it could not be more important and necessary right now ❤

[michaelmonro]

This is so disgusting. Rape is a vile act. But rape in this context is beyond anything I would think possible. Not only should women's groups be screaming out. But mens groups also. 😢

[russellpass]

Each time I hear what was done to these poor girls and women is as painful as the first. Thanks for the indispensable, irreplaceable work you do, Bari

[hl]

Thank you. I can't stop shaking seeing this. I knew a girl who was murdered at the nova bloodbath. I was terrified of learning how she died. She was a beautiful 22-year-old, I didn't want her last moments to mean more than all the wonderful things she did during the rest of her too short life.

[bazooliz]

Since October 7, I realized that women's feminist organizations had gone bankrupt. Shame on the international community for keeping silent about the truth about what happened in Israel. Thank you for your review of the events and for telling us what happened. Here in Bucha it happened exactly the same. Ukrainians understand this situation very well and take events in Israel to heart. God bless all the kidnapped people 🙏 and God bless Israel 🇮🇱

[ambiepather]

This comes from the pits of hell. So painful to see this. God give all the hostages strength. Keep them in the palm of your Hand, comfort them and their loved ones. From South Africa.