As discussed in my exploratory paper over the possibility of a rape culture existing in the U.S., the conversations surrounding this idea often splits feminists (and other advocates) over the label’s legitimacy. The general consensus of the debate surrounding rape culture seems to rest on two sides: some feminists believe we have aspects of society that normalize sexual violence, particularly rape, while other advocates and feminists believe that while the U.S. has barriers to overcome in decreasing sexual violence, rape culture is an exaggerated way to label those barriers. In my research, my loudest proponent of a rape culture existing in the U.S. is Kate Harding, whose book Asking for It: Slut-Shaming, Victim-Blaming, and How We Can Change
The defining aspect of a rape culture is often the blaming of victims. Too often victims are confronted with a reproachful line of questioning that shifts focus from the perpetrator of the sexual assault, but on the victim. In the book Asking For it by Kate Harding, she explains if “ if rape is the violation of a person’s autonomy, the use of another person’s body against their wishes, then it shouldn’t matter what the victim was drinking, how much sexual experiences she has before, and the signs of struggle on her body.” This trend of blaming victims also occurs on college campuses. Many college counselors tasked with the job of representing and protecting students use language to suggest the victim is somehow at fault. For example, a student police officer told a student rape will always happen continue to happen as long as women It does not go unmistaken that this could be one of the many reasons why sexual assault and particularly rape go unreported; there is not a stable environment where victims feel compelled to speaking about their
In everyday life we are exposed to the stories of celebrities evading the prosecution of rape and even going to rehabilitate their images. For example, director Roman Polanski admitted to raping a thirteen-year-old girl, and Woody Allen, who took pictures of his partner’s underage daughter, or Bill Cosby who now has over twenty accusations of rape. These three celebrities have managed to still maintain a fan base and support despite the allegations of their crimes. In a way we are constantly trivializing sexual assault to make us feel better about. For instance, when we all enthusiastically sing along to Robin Thicke’s as he continuously claims he knows this girl wants it or as Rick Ross raps “put molly in a girls’ champagne/ she ain’t even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that/ she ain’t even know it.” In the circumstances of movies and television sexual assault/rape have been used to move along a storyline. Both Game of Thrones and American Horror Story have scenes where characters are raped seemingly only for shock value. What sis our pop culture implying as we are bombarded with images trivializing sexual assault or rape? Does this trivialization allow in a way for there to be a “grey area” in discerning what constitutes as rape and what doesn’t? As Sally Kohn, notes in her article for CNN, many instances of sexual assault involved multiple bystanders, but not one intervened to halt the crime,
3. Rape culture in the US does exist, and isn’t limited to “just women”, think of jokes about prison rape which make it seem comical when it isn’t. The term “rape culture” was coined to bring to light how society normalizes rape and aggressive sexual behavior. In the 70’s when it was first coined it focused on aggression towards women, who at the time (and currently) face higher rates for sexual assault than men, but currently has been expanding to describe society’s views on rape as a whole. Just because it highlights aggression towards women doesn’t mean it totally disregards men- keyword culture- but any way you slice it, women have a higher chance of getting assaulted, and acknowledging that shouldn’t make men uncomfortable if rape culture doesn’t exist right? That’s basically like saying paying more attention to your sick
Firstly, Rape culture can be defined as the normalization and excusing of sexual violent behavior towards women in everyday media and culture (marshall.edu). Rape culture can also be the over sexualization of women’s bodies and misogynistic attitudes. These images and attitudes may not seem like they are obvious or even present but they are subtly weaved into many of the symbols and daily interactions in society. This is what causes rape and rape culture to be normalized. For example, if a young woman is sexually assaulted in a club, instead of asking details about the person who committed the act, the questions are reversed onto the victim. There are questions that arise such as, “what was she wearing?”, “was she drunk?”, “was she flirting with him/her at first?”. These questions are problematic because they suggest that the victim is the one is at fault for being sexaually assaulted. This idea is pushed by the symbolic interaction that if someone is trying to get lucky the other individual has to follow through, especially in party settings. I often see this especially in music and movies where stalking and harassing a person to the point of being uncomfortable is chalked up as a heated “romantic” pursuit.. For another example, women’s bodies (and often men’s too) are oversexualized. The is especially in the advertising industry and again in the media.
It is not a topic that is brought up often, especially at schools or at gatherings, yet it is crucial that everyone be educated, or at least informed on a topic that affects women every day. “Given that sexual violence continues to occur at high rates in the United States, it is vital that we understand attitudes and cultural norms that serve to minimize or foster tolerance of sexual violence” (Aosved, 481). Growing rates of sexual violence goes to prove that it is not taken seriously by many, especially when myths excuse the actions of the perpetrator and instead guilt victims into thinking they are responsible for the horrible act. Burt (1980), in her article titled, “Cultural myths and support for rape” attempts to make sense of the importance of stereotypes and myths, defined as prejudicial, stereotypes, or false beliefs about rape, rape victims and rapists- in creating a climate hostile to rape victims (Burt, 217). Examples of rape myths are such sayings as “only bad girls get raped”; “women ask for it”; “women cry rape” (Burt, 217). This only goes to prove that rape myths against women always blame and make it seem like it is the women’s fault she was raped and that she deserved it for “acting” a certain way. McMahon (2007), in her article titled, “Understanding community-specific rape myths” explains how Lonsway and Fitzgerald (1994) later described rape myths as “attitudes and beliefs that are generally
What do you think and feel when you hear the word rape? Do you feel uncomfortable? Maybe even angry? Your certain feelings and emotions towards this word is a result of rape culture. Rape culture, essentially, is how a society as a whole sees and reacts towards rape or instances of rape. In 2013 rape was defined by the FBI as, “Penetration… of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.” (Division’s Crime Statistics Management Unit 1). The definition was finally changed after the old definition deemed inappropriate by today’s standards, which beforehand, stated that physical force needed to be used for rape to be considered rape. This is good news for men and women who have been fighting for the definition to be changed, but unfortunately this does not mean that state laws are being changed the same way. Even though the FBI may acknowledge the older inappropriate definition, most states do not. Sexual assault is a commonly unreported crime, where only an average of 36% of sexual abuse is actually reported to the authorities (Planty 7). Some forms of rape can include physical harm, threats, and even death of the victim, and most victims do not want to tell others for fear of criticism, self-blame, or even the fear that their attackers will carry out on their threats. In many cases, victims do have a reason to be afraid. When someone is brave enough to come forward and say they were sexually assaulted, they are putting themselves in the position of being in not only a long legal process, but also having their motives questioned and misunderstood, which is the last thing they want after their experience. The legal system in the United States...
According to Marshall University, Rape Culture is defined as “an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in media and popular culture.” In American society, it is not hard to find examples of rape culture. In popular movies, music, and current events there is an undeniable notion of victim blaming, and sympathizing with male perpetrators. People have begun to use the term rape as a casual adjective. For example “I just raped him in that game,” could be used to describe two people playing a game and one winning easily against the other. American society uses pop culture and current events to promote and justify the prominent rape culture.
It is very troubling to hear that 1 in 5 women in University will be victims of sexual assault, and even more so that less than 60% of cases get reported. The purpose of my paper is to put emphasis on how important it is that more people be informed about rape culture, but to also explain how men are just as important in working towards prevention as are women.
Victims often find that they have to deal with a lot of harassment even after being shamed. For example, some men will come onto girls who have a reputation of being ‘sluts’ because they think the girls are going to be ‘easy’ and ‘into it”; thus, slut shaming can ruin how people, especially men, perceive and treat a woman. Slut shaming can also increase rape culture by discrediting a women’s allegation of rape due to her sexual history. In so many cases where rape is reported, officers and lawyers attack the victims by questioning how they were dressed prior to being rape, how they acted, were they being ‘promiscuous’, or were they flirting with their rapist; if any of the above questions were answered “yes” they would claim the victim was “asking for it”. In the Steubenville rape case, a 16 year old girl was recorded being raped by two football players at a party. The footage was later sent to other classmates and quickly spread throughout the whole school; as a result of the “stigma surrounding sexual assault, she [the victim] was labeled as a slut and viciously tormented by her classmates,” (Nelson, 3). In cases like these, girls are slut-shamed for being victims of sexual
accused and, in reality, it is [the victim] who must prove [their] good reputation, [their] mental soundness, and [their] impeccable propriety” (215). This is still true in today 's day and age. Victims of rape still have to decide if they are going to report their rapes or not. They are forced to deal with the many traumatic side effects. Some of those side effects are physical, some are emotional and some are a chaotic combination of both. Also the victims of rape have to handle the sometimes crippling stigmas associated with being a victim of rape,including being blamed for their own assault. A rape stigma as defined in the Encyclopedia of Rape, “ is the negative perception of a rape survivor’s reputation, manifested in insinuations or
Rape is first and foremost an act of aggression, not an act of sexuality. Sexuality is simply used as an expression of this aggression. Rape occurs in different forms to express different forms of aggression, resulting from different underlying causes and motivation. In fact, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), one in six American women is a victim of sexual assault; about 44% of rape victims are under the age of 18, while 80% are under the age of 30. More than half of all rapes are never reported. Date rape is the most common form of rape and occurs in 78% of all rape cases. Although girls and women are more often the victims of rape, 7-10% of victims are boys and men. One in 33 American
When rape is such a serious crime, it is strange to wonder how it has become just a punch line in American culture. Why do so many people take it so frivolously? In the United States, rape culture endures because of sexual objectification, patriarchy, and gender roles. These main factors in rape culture are all intermingled, and are passed down through the ages. However, would it even be possible for these underlying causes to be untaught when society continues to think and to train each new generation to think in these ways from birth?
After attending the rape culture seminar it really got me thinking. First of all i learned about what rape culture is. Rape culture is essentially the objectification, and possession of a woman 's sexuality by society. It is why ignorant fools think that cat calling a woman is an appropriate way to approach someone. It is why victims of rape who go to the police report feeling like they have been raped again by the system. It taught me that an astounding 25% of college women are victims of attempted rape. That 5-10% are successfully raped, and only 5% actually report rape. It also seems like being a victim of rape makes a woman somewhat of a pariah. With near certainty i can say the the number of unreported rapes, and attempted rates are even
Victims often find that they have to deal with a lot of harassment even after being shamed. For example, some men will come onto girls who have a reputation of being ‘sluts’ because they think the girls are going to be ‘easy’ and ‘into it”; thus, slut shaming can ruin how people, especially men, perceive and treat a women. Slut shaming can also increase rape culture by discrediting a women’s allegation of rape due to her sexual history. In so many cases where rape is reported, officers and lawyers attack the victims by questioning how they were dressed prior to being rape, how they acted, were they being ‘promiscuous’, or were they flirting with their rapist; if any of the above questions were answered “yes” they would claim the victim was “asking for it”. In the Steubenville rape case, a 16 year old girl was recorded being raped by two football players at a party. The footage was later sent to other classmates and quickly spread throughout the whole school; as a result of the “stigma surrounding sexual assault, she [the victim] was labeled as a slut and viciously tormented by her classmates,” (Nelson, 3). In cases like these, girls are slut-shamed for being victims of sexual
First, every two minutes someone in the United States is sexually assaulted, according to the rape crisis center. “Girls ages sixteen-nineteen are four times more likely to get raped than general population.”(RCC) I can’t even imagine what some of these women are going through. These men take these women peace of mind and hope away by having them to always look back and over their shoulder when walking down the street or even to the mail box. Being rape makes these women not want to even leave the house because it makes them think that it may happen again. Most females either abuse alcohol, drugs, or commit suicide after being raped.
I developed patterns of trying to please… tolerating verbal and emotional abuse,” (Goldblatt). Rape has profound psychological effects on the victims such as these. The victim's confidence levels start to crumble and their self esteem withers, all because they went through a trauma. The victims often feel as though they can’t trust other people and that no one will understand. About 80% of victims enrolled in postsecondary institutions (colleges) and 67% of victims not enrolled don’t speak up or report the incident because they’re afraid of being labeled as “over exaggerating” or “asking for it” and because they don’t think their attacker will be brought to justice (Estimated). It took Janet Goldblatt 30 years before she finally felt like she was able to speak up about what happened to her. She also says in her article, “I hoped if I pretended it hadn't happened, the complexity of feelings would dissolve,” (Goldblatt). Rape victims mental health is declining and the government isn’t doing much to help. The crime of rape leaves almost all victim’s feeling humiliated and ashamed. It can be so uncomfortable for people to discuss, that in most cases, news organizations such as The New York Times will often not provide names when discussing a rape case. According to the article written in the New York Times itself titled “When Rape Victims Speak Out,” they do this because most of the victim’s feel that society blames them for the attacks. Once society starts to realize that rape is a violent crime caused by a violent criminal and not by the victim, then more people will start to speak up and get the justice they deserve
Rape is defined as the unlawful compelling of a person through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse. This act knows no bounds. It is not color restricted and can touch a woman of any age. Now, this kind of issue does happen to adult women, but does not happen as often as it does in younger women. Statistically speaking someone is being raped every two minutes, which means that women and adolescents are left being traumatized. Men are not free from this horror. Most rapes of men occur in adolescent years as opposed to adulthood, but it does happen. However most men do not come forward and admit any thing which makes it hard to put together statistics on the male gender. So for the remainder of this paper my information will be about how rape victims such as women.