The Effects of Rape Culture in Modern Society

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Recommended: Sociological principles of rape

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.

What is rape culture? Rape culture, a term created by feminists circa 1972, ‘…is best defined as a culture in which rape is prevalent, pervasive, and is sanctioned and maintained through fundamental attitudes and beliefs about gender, sexuality, and violence…” (‘The Rape Culture: An American Epidemic’) this quote basically states that rape culture is a culture in which rape is seen as inevitable and common place , examples of rape culture include derogatory advertising , slang, jokes , and tolerance of sexual harassment . Actually, before feminists had coined the term the common belief in society was that rape, incest, and domestic abuse never happened. In a rape culture, ending the crime of rape is rarely talked about, and seen as taboo. In these cultures, society is tolerant, normalizing, and even condoning of rape through certain attitudes such as the examples above or by excusing a rapist and de validating a victim’s accusation due to the way they were dressed at the time, how much alcohol of drugs they had consumed or the victim’s general attitude to the rapist. Other examples of enforced rape culture are; sexual harassment, trivializing r...

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...he nearest RAINN crisis center. This is the best resource to combat rape and help rape victims and sexual abuse victims find help.

Works Cited

Carter, Mary A. "Unmasking Rape." N.p., n.d. Web.

"FORCE: Upsetting the Culture of Rape." FORCE: Upsetting the Culture of Rape. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

"How to Make a Rape Joke." Jezebel. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

Leopold, Todd. "What's so Funny about Rape Jokes?" CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

N.p., n.d. Web.

PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

"The Sitcom Season in Rape Jokes." Vulture. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

"Tosh Point No: Rape Jokes Aren't Funny." The Progressive. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

"What Is Rape Culture?" WAVAW Women Against Violence Against Women. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

"Women's Center." Womens Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

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