The Courage of One's Convictions

Jessica Valenti had an op-ed in yesterday's Washington Post where she wrote the following:

When I speak on college campuses, students will often say they don’t believe that a woman’s attire makes it justifiable for someone to rape her, but — and there almost always is a “but” — shouldn’t women know better than to dress in a suggestive way?

What I try to explain to those students is part of what the SlutWalk protests are aiming to relay on a grander scale. That yes, some women dress in short, tight, “suggestive” clothing — maybe because it’s hot outside, maybe because it’s the style du jour or maybe just because they think they look sexy. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Women deserve to be safe from violent assault, no matter what they wear. And the sad fact is, a miniskirt is no more likely to provoke a rapist than a potato sack is to deter one.

Valenti doesn't provide any evidence concerning attire and the likelihood of sexual assault. But, she was asked about the issue on today's Morning Joe. Newsbusters has a transcript:

BRZEZINSKI: To go into the uncomfortable area of this conversation, would you want your daughter to go into the city at night wearing those clothes?  If the answer is "no," why?

VALENTI: You know, I think I'm going to have to answer that question once she's of that age.  I think it's a difficult thing.

JOE SCARBOROUGH: Huh!  Once she becomes a teenager?  Let me help you with that one.

BRZEZINSKI: My answer is "no," because I don't want her to have unnecessary risk.

In her op-ed, Valenti said it's a "fact" that attire doesn't add to risk, but when asked about her daughter, she wouldn't answer. Does she believe the "facts" in her own op-ed?