The Definition Of Rape Culture

1038 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Gender and violence in the media

Rape Culture “What is rape culture” is the question that has been repeatedly asked since its emergence in the 1970s. From our lecture, we have learned that the thing about Rape Culture is that it doesn’t have just one definition, but the simplest way to define it may be to say that rape culture is the society that accepts and even promotes sexual violence in one form or another. This includes, TV shows that make rape look sexy; you know the kind: guy pushes girl down, throws open her blouse, exposing her breasts, and even though she is saying no, everyone watching is saying yes. Rape culture is when a college student goes to their Dean and tells them they have been raped, and the first question the Dean ask is “what were you wearing?” Rape culture is saying “that exam just raped me” instead of “that exam was hard”. Rape culture is the most popular, catchy songs these days have lyrics like “I know you want it”. Rape culture is the party girl image, the “she was asking for it”, the “boys will be boys”, the slut shaming, the victim blaming, and the most concerning, rape culture is denying the fact that sexual assault is a problem in today’s society. One in six women and one in thirty-three men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. In the United States alone, that …show more content…

These novels tell the dark love story between Bella Swan, an average, somewhat shy high school student, and Edward Cullen, a mysterious and strong vampire. Rape culture is evident throughout these four novels. For example, when Bella’s best friend Jacob kisses her against her will, she tries to fight it and then gives up “acting on instinct…I opened my eyes and didn’t fight”. Charlie, Bella’s father, asked Jacob why Bella hit him, and when Jacob said “because I kissed her”, Charlie said “good job kid”. At another point in the novels, Bella admires the bruises on her skin after having sex with

Show More
Related

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Christine Seifert's Twilight

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    In bite me or don’t: twilight as abstinence porn, Christine Seifert from Westminster college in Utah, analyzes the twilight saga. Describing twilight saga as an abstinence porn saga. Christine agrees with twilight fans about the lost of abstinence and sexual tension in breaking dawn. Christine is a feminist writer from the Bitch magazine she emphasizes most of her critics towards Bella describing her as weak and with no control over her body (348). Seifert believes that Edward is in control of Bella’s protection, humanity and virginity.(348)Christine uses rhetorical strategies during her discussion, persuading the reader about the life of Bella as a teenage mom and how twilight transmits a message of abstinence.

    Read More

  • Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Spade

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    First, Boswell and Spade describe how rape culture is a set of values and beliefs that provide an environment conductive to rape (217)..As they do a study, the list indicates a host of factors that distinguish higher risks of rape and some examples of setting were the highly distinct ratios at parties (Boswell, Spade 219). They observed 2 opposing fraternities at the same school and noted the distinctions of high and low risk parties in which they generated sexually assaultive behavior by observing interaction between men and women.

    Read More

  • The Pervasiveness Of Rape On College Campuses

    1315 Words  | 3 Pages

    “I felt his hands start to move down towards my shorts as if he was trying to unbutton them or pull them off. I was still crying at this point and felt so scared that I couldn’t move” (Henneberger, 2012). These are words written by a college freshman after she had been raped, but they are true for many others as well. According to the Rape Crisis Center of Medina and Summit Counties, “every two minutes someone in the US is sexually assaulted” (Get the Facts). “Girls ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the than the general population to be victims of sexual assault” (Get the Facts). These women may be described as slut, cheap, or ready for action, rather than victim, sufferer, or survivor. Rape myths encourage these demeaning terms for women and conceal the reality of rape culture. I will describe the pervasiveness of sexual assault on college campuses as well as the systems and procedures in place to address it. Power plays a role in this issue, including the powerful men on campus such as athletes and fraternity members as well as the administrators in power who regulate the punishments and actions that are taken against the perpetrators. The influence of those in power often goes overlooked in our society because it has become so intertwined with our culture.

    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

  • Sexual Assault In College Essay

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    Often times, a college board and society will lay blame on victims of sexual assault, inherently accepting male sexual violence as innate and natural. This is otherwise known as rape culture. Rape Culture is more broadly defined as a complex set of beliefs that reassure and naturalize male acts of sexual aggression, and consequently supporting violence against women. Sexual violence against women, even men, can be attributed to varying factors. However, the traditional response is to claim that men are biologically inclined to have oppressing sexual desires. To implicate men and their masculinity as dominant and sexually aggressive, is to withhold rape culture. The theory of sociobiology is applicable here, as it is the belief that “both reproductive and social behaviors are powerfully influenced by biological forces” (Kilmartin 57). As understood from the theory sex-linked social behaviors, such as male dominance and sexual assault, has a biological survival value for the individual as a method of a reproductive strategy. Rape, therefore, is a socially deviant behavior that is seen as an extreme strategy for reproduction. The sociobiology theory’s belief that all males are biologically programmed to exert sexual dominance, fails to recognize that less than “8% of men in college commit more than 90% of sexual assaults” (The Hunting Ground).

    Read More

  • American Rape Culture Essay

    794 Words  | 2 Pages

    Every two minutes, an American is sexually assaulted. According to the U.S. Department of Justice's National Crime Victimization Survey, there are an average of 237,868 victims of rape and sexual assault every year. 9 of every 10 rape victims were female in 2003, and 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of rape in her lifetime. The question people have to ask themselves is why rape is so common. It is time to accept that the rape epidemic is not just about the crimes themselves, but the cultural and political willful ignorance known as rape culture. Rape culture is an environment where rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. Rape culture has become so common that it is nearly invisible, but it present and strong in everyday life.

    Read More

  • Negative Effects Of Rape Culture

    1542 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are many notable examples of rape culture, one being the lyrics of the popular songs such rap song “U.O.E.N.O”, which is an acronym for “you don’t even know”. In the song rapper Rick Ross states that he “put Molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it. I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.” For weeks the popular rapper’s lyrics were in the news and feminists around the world were in uproar over the ‘rapist-like’, sexually-insensitive lyrics. The lyrics embodied rape culture, because Ross’ lyrics made it seem morally sound to drug a woman and have sex with her without her consent. This was an international incident.

    Read More

  • Bill Cosby's Rape Allegation And Culture

    489 Words  | 1 Pages

    Marc Lamont Hill wrote an article about Bill Cosby’s rape allegation and the culture that currently evades the subject of rape in society today. Discussed are six signs which, “refer to the ways that our society and its institutions normalize, promote, excuse, and enable sexual violence against men and women” (Hill). The article indicates the signs are lack of belief, until there is a male voicing an opinion on the issue, nonbelief of a particular person being a perpetrator because of the perception society has of them, placing the blame on the victim, myths about how and when rapes occur, the downplaying of the act itself, and the view that the rapists are actually the victims.

    Read More

  • Conflict Theory: The Functionalist View Of Rape

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    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

  • Research Paper On Rape Culture

    1065 Words  | 3 Pages

    Did you know that ninety-seven percent of rapists will never spend a day in jail? (RAINN) This fact is depressing considering the large percentage of rape victims. Things like rape and violence have a severe impact on the mentality level of people. Their lives will change forever after going through an intense situation such as being molested, beaten, or anything along those lines. It has caused people to commit the same crime, become severely depressed and suicidal, as well as many other unfortunate events. People look down on those who have gone through such events, some may say things such as, "you probably deserved it”, “you were dressed provocatively" or "how did you not enjoy that?” As such, rape is an underexplored

    Read More

  • Rape Culture: Are Women Asking for It?

    1702 Words  | 4 Pages

    Merril Smith’s Encycolpedia of Rape defines the term “rape culture” as “one in which rape and other sexual violence against women . . . [is] both prevalent and considered the norm” (174). Rape is not a new subject in today’s society, its origins reaching far back into history. What causes rape, though? Is it the primal drive of men to exhibit dominance over all women, or do the women share the blame because of the way they dress, act, or do their makeup? Modern American culture would place the blame on the woman who “provoked” the attack; however, a woman should not have to park closer to the building she is entering, nor should she have to carry protection just in case a sexual predator decides that she is his next victim. Men are just as much to blame for rape as women.

    Read More

  • Rape Culture Was Manufactured To Wage An Unjust War Against Men Analysis

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the 2013 article, “Rape Culture’ Was Manufactured to Wage an Unjust War Against Men,” posted on the infamous blog site ReturnofKings.com, the author, whose name was only displayed as “Frost,” argues that “rape culture” was created by feminists and perpetuated by the fact that women falsely accuse men of rape, even if the evidence suggests otherwise. Frost dives into several key points, the dominant one being that women, feminists specifically, “use rape for their own political ends.” He claims that feminists created a mythology around rape, which came to be known as “rape culture” and that they use this as a tool for empowering themselves. While it’s entertaining to read this article as he attempts to make such drastic claims, I can’t help

    Read More

  • Normalization Of Rape Culture

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rape culture has a big effect on society. It gives out the normalization of sexual violence on media such as music, television, movies, ads, and so on. Rape culture is not a phrase you can find in a dictionary, but it has a clear meaning. In Lindsay Dahl’s article, “What is ‘rape culture’ and how does it affect you?”, she used Wikipedia’s definition to explain what it means. “Rape culture is a concept that links rape and sexual violence to the culture of a society, and in which prevalent attitudes and practices normalize, excuse, tolerate, and even condone rape. Examples of behaviors commonly associated with rape culture include victim blaming, sexual objectification, and trivializing rape.” Essentially, rape culture is not only about rape. It is about the sexual violence towards individuals, men and women alike. It affects society because it normalizes sexual violence towards women and the objectification of a woman’s body. By allowing this to happen, many rape victims are blamed for their actions, like if they were drunk when they got raped, and

    Read More

  • Rape Culture In America

    1137 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are 195 countries in the world and America ranks 14th when it comes to the reported rape incidence rate. Why? Easy. Two words: rape culture. America has promoted rape culture by creating an environment in which rape is normalized and excused. We see it in our social media, pop culture, and political figures. Although it more commonly affects female victims, this does not exclude male victims. We perpetuate rape culture in our society through misogyny, victim blaming, and the lack of action taken.

    Read More

More about The Definition Of Rape Culture

Open Document