Zerlina Friedman's Rape Culture Is Real

684 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Rape culture today

Rape Culture Is Real

“Simply put, feminists want equality for everyone and that begins with physical safety.”
The text “Rape Culture is real” by Zerlina Maxwell begins with this statement, which is not any different from any other feminist. It is the same story every time. According to the feminists, they are the only one who wants to make the world a better place.
It is like one of those Facebook pages “Like if you are against rape” – just because you do not like the page you do not automatically become a rapist. Nevertheless, women has a desire to speak up and state the obvious.
Rape is illegal by law and it is unjustifiable – people know that, but is it only men to blame? Rape is generally presented as something that only (or almost always) happens to women. Why? There are …show more content…

Kitchens says, that she cannot see the tolerance for rape and states that rape is a horrific crime and rapists are despised. Furthermore, she says that there is no evidence that rape is considered a cultural norm.
Jaclyn Friedman, the author of Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and A World Without Rape, backs up Zerlina Maxwell and adds: “What we really despise is the idea of rapists: a terrifying monster lurking in the bushes, waiting to pounce on an innocent girl as she walks by”.
Friedman says: “But actual rapists, men who are usually know to (and often loved by) their victims? Men who are sometimes our sports heroes, political leaders, buddies, boyfriends and father? Evidence suggests we don’t despise them nearly as much as we should.”
In Denmark the laws against rape were ambiguous. The range of penalty were different and much lower if the raped victim knew the rapist or if the victim was unconscious. This ambiguity in the laws against rape was only changed after 15.000 persons in a petition from Amnesty

Show More
Related

  • Good Guys Don T Rape: The Influence Of Gender According To Pascoe

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    In today’s society, there is evidence that gender roles hold high standards in forming an identity, whether that gender is male or female. These standards put pressure on either gender to uphold them and commit to specific behaviors/actions that validate their very being. For men, this includes being considered masculine, or portraying the sense that they are authoritative over others, in which this includes displaying attitudes that contribute to female subordination. According to Pascoe (2016) in his article “Good Guys Don’t Rape” men are given the opportunity to challenge rape yet reinforce rape attitudes at the same time that are contained within rape culture and masculinity considered “norms.” Pascoe, illustrates that rape can be seen

    Read More

  • All Men Are Created Equal: Except Women

    1347 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most horrible things that has erupted from the subjugation of women is rape culture. Rape culture is the downplaying of the crime of rape to appease the violator, the accusation that the victim made a choice that led to their rape, or even jokes that suggest rape. According to Jessica Valenti’s, “In Rape Tragedies, the Shame Is Ours,” in today's world many people give in to rape culture by participating in these acts that somehow change our mindsets into believing that, “it is more shameful to be raped than to be a rapist”. Once ...

    Read More

  • Rape - The Plague of the Modern World

    2187 Words  | 5 Pages

    Rape is a virus that infects every nation, culture and society. It is constantly referred to as “the unfinished murder”, because of the deep state of despair the rapist leaves the victim in. There is no common identifiable trend that determines who will be a rape victim. Women are not assaulted because of their attitudes or actions, they are attacked simply because they are present. With rapists, just as with their victims, there is no identifiable trend. The old myth that only “sick, dirty, old, perverted men” commit rapes is a lie that society tells itself in order to sleep better at night. The startling truth is that most rapists work under a veil of normalcy. In order for the percentage of rapes to decrease, we have to change our ideas about rape and let go of the old myths of the past. And until this happens, rape will continue to plague our world at large.

    Read More

  • Rape Myth Acceptance: The Blame On Women

    1166 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The Rape Epidemic

    1810 Words  | 4 Pages

    In this source it elaborates on how men are being rape just as much as women are. Even though it seems more common for only women to be rape both genders are affected. This source supports my claim that rape needs to be taken more seriously. I used this source to support my claims.

    Read More

  • Victimition In The Male On Male Rape By Michael Scarce

    1103 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rape is an issue that usually occurs to females and is more likely executed by males than females. Nonetheless, a female’s position in rape can and does go further than being the victim. Considering that women can be the perpetrator in this sexual assault, who are their victims? Rape can occur to anyone by anyone. In the same way a female can be a victim of rape, so can a male. According to RAINN, an anti-sexual assault organization, “About 3% of American men have experienced attempted or completed rape as of 1998, an estimated 4.5 million as of 2010” (Who Are the Victims?). However, men are not necessarily the victims of solely female-on-male rape. In fact, the majority of males who are raped are the victims of male-on-male rape and

    Read More

  • Rape Culture

    1619 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rape Culture Many of the attitudes, beliefs, and mistaken ideas about rape have been with us for centuries. By looking at myths, such as “women ask for it,” and “it would do some women good to get raped,” from a historical perspective, leads us to better understanding how they evolved. Women are still seen as the property of men, and are protected as such. Men and women are still taught to occupy very different roles in today’s world.

    Read More

  • Rape Culture

    2482 Words  | 5 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Rape and Sexual Violence

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...apidly our world today. There are hundreds of places people may go and visit for help or more information about rape and sexual violence. It is very important that when and if it happens, the victim needs to report the crime to authorities immediately. People must know the truth about rape and sexual violence and what to do about it.

    Read More

  • Gender Bias in Everyday Life

    976 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the modern United States, biases are found in almost every social institution. These discriminatory practices hurt everyone involved. One of the more evident of these is discrimination based on someone’s gender. Gender bias, also known as sexism, refers to a full range of attitudes, preferences, laws, taboos and behaviors that differentiate and discriminates against the members of either sex. These may be the position of male dominance and female subjugation in modern society. It may also be in the form of sexual stereotypes between men and women, which are commonly experienced or encountered in employment, especially on the positions they occupy and their earnings or income. A final instance where discrimination is faced is within the academic environment where in certain programs and courses, the male to female ratios are out of sync, therefore pressuring women and men to go into certain fields of study instead of doing as they please.

    Read More

  • Rape: A Living Nightmare

    3121 Words  | 7 Pages

    The society we live in is rape-conducive, rape-friendly, if you will. Despite the anger I feel joining those two words together, I know the sad paradox holds within it a great deal of truth. We are a violent society that has shrouded rape in mystery and shame. To stop this nightmare’s venomous crusades, all people must wage a private war to eradicate their own acceptance of the savage crime. While it is only a minority of men that actually commit rape, it is everyone’s silence that tells them it’s ok.

    Read More

  • Abortions Should Be Allowed For Rape Victims

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Rape and Sexual Violence Are Serious Problems.” Opposing Viewpoints in Context. 2008. Web. 24 Jan. 2014.

    Read More

  • Rape Culture and Victim Blaming

    1350 Words  | 3 Pages

    To find rape culture in today’s society all you need to do is look to the radio. Musicians such as Robin Thicke and his song “Blurred Lines” show how pop culture is laced with bad messages for today’s media consumers. The definition of rape is forced sexual intercourse, meaning unconsented vaginal, oral or anal penetration (“Who Are the Victims?”). Unlike other well-defined crimes, rape comes up in today’s culture as something that has many grey areas between rape and sex. These ‘blurred lines’ lead to a prevalence of rape culture and victim blaming. Victim blaming and turning a blind eye to victims of rape and sexual assault cases is not only supporting rape culture but is also dangerous for the mental state of the victim.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Rape Culture in Modern Society

    1108 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even though the first amendment states freedom of expression, statistics show rape and sexual assault numbers have risen due to the presence of rape culture in modern society. Rape culture promotes more assaults and violent acts, not only towards women but also towards men. Some evidence rape culture is present in today’s society are rising statistics showing that only three out of a hundred rapists see jail time and that over 17 million American women are victims of sexual assault every year. Rape culture is seen in every aspect of daily American life, even if people do not realize it.

    Read More

  • Rape in Society

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    A cause of rape culture is the objectification and domination of woman. Men are taught to assert their dominance and superiority, and some will do that with or without consent. Men see women as objects waiting to be used and conquered whether it is at home, the work place, or in the media. A woman’s body is not her own, but merely used for the pleasure of a man. A solution to this problem would not be, telling women what to wear, how to act and what they can or cannot do; but it is teaching males at a young age to not rape women by discussing it with them, telling them how that affects people, the consequences of it, and telling them that it is never okay.

    Read More

More about Zerlina Friedman's Rape Culture Is Real

Open Document