There has to be a way

There has to be a way to talk about how potential rape victims can mitigate their risk.

No - the use of the world "fault" is not a good thing - it implies blame, which is also not a good thing. No one wants to be raped.  But answers to such questions that say "How about teaching men not to rape, telling them it is not okay" are so far off in fantasy land that they are even less helpful.  Would that we lived in a world where all we have to do is tell people to stop doing something and it would be so. Of course, rape, murder, assault are all already against the law and I cannot imagine that there is any one who does not know that and that they are wrong.  Still, all of those crimes persist.

Is it blaming to victim to tell women (and men) how they can mitigate their risk of assault, sexual or otherwise?  While Ms. Hynde chose the wrong words to convey it (fault), is it blaming the victim to say it is not wise to walk around inebriated, in a state where one increases the probability of being a victim?  As an instructor in personal protection, I would advise anyone I am training to not go where trouble is likely if you do not have to go there.  If you have to go, then go there sober, do not flash money, do not stand out, keep your head on a swivel, do not relax, do not increase your potential victim status.

I am not blaming any victim of crime for their misfortune and would not be if I told any women I knew not to engage in behaviors that enhance their likelihood of being victimized.  It is little consolation, I would think, to be able to assert, after the fact, that one should be able to do and go wherever they want without being victimized.  I would think we should prefer being safe to being righteous.  Let's lower the rape rate in effective ways  - think about your own safety - for now and deal with the cultural and crime issues as we can.

You are not responsible for a rapist's behavior, but it is your job to keep yourself safe.

Do not leave that to others.