Rape culture has become a huge issue where our social attitudes has the effect of normalizing sexual assault and abuse. Stereotypes and expectations of gender roles has an effect on who we see as the predator and prey in a rape incident, often times in a situation where sexual harassment has occurred between a male and female, the female is commonly seen as the victim of the situation. In the article, “Why Nice Guys Finish Last” Julia Serano, a transgender woman, shares her beliefs about rape culture. Julia Serano recounts her perspectives and experience as a male before transitioning into a female. Serano describes the main issue of rape as “unilateral sexism” meaning that men are seen as the dominant hand while women are most commonly seen as inferior in our society. “Unilateral sexism” is the idea in which Serano argues has been engraved onto the rape culture. This may be due to our cultural society having established female to be feminine as well as portraying female as submissive towards males. Pop media has also contributed to the stereotype of females being sexual objects. Serano argues that this “predator/prey mindset” has been engraved into our society by …show more content…
people's actions and perceptions. People feel like they need to act upon what society expects. This system affects people’s mindset to see that all men are sexual aggressors and all women as sexual objects. Informal socialization is made up of meanings and expectations that are projected onto women and men. Although I agree with Serano partially, I cannot accept her overall point that the stereotype of males (predators) is just as harmful as that of a female (prey) stereotype. According to Serano the predator stereotype of a male makes it difficult to navigate through the world(417). In contrary to her belief it’s evident that the difficulties of rape culture are more severe for a female. Accidents such as rape or sexual abuse are commonly towards females. The only difficulty males may encounter with the predator stereotype is feeling discouraged when dealing with certain tasks or daily interactions. Serano includes an example where her innocent interactions as male bodied with females or children led to misinterpretations as “unsolicited sexual advances”(417). I understand some men may feel discouraged to do certain tasks that seem unlike-men however to compare the feeling of a male being looked oddly to a woman feeling a serious life threat is uncomparable. A woman’s sensitivity is much more serious as she probably has been through a terrible accident and is aware that attacks towards women are more occurring. The feeling of discomfort compared to a feeling of trauma is not comparable. Woman carry a completely different mindset when they are out alone in public than men. A woman has to be more alert of her surroundings due to history of men taking advantage of women who are alone and in some cases have led to kidnap or rape. In our society and especially in other countries women are looked at as less worthy than of a man, therefore they are seen as inferior. It is unfair how a woman are looked at inferior to men solely because of their gender and expectations. The troubles of a male's stereotype may not be as difficult as that of a female but it does have it’s challenges. Certain tasks have become difficult for men to do because such tasks leads to unwanted attention which results to weird looks from people. An acquaintance of Serano shares and describes her story as she transformed genders from female to male. She asserts that as a female teacher she had the privilege to interact with children in a friendly affectionate matter however when transformed into a male that privilege was quickly strapped away. As a male Serano’s acquaintance noticed parents throwing weird looks at him when interacting with children which he later had to distance himself(417). This example is evident that people see all male interactions as “unsolicited sexual advances”. This stereotype of the male might have caused the issue for parents to give odd looks to the teacher. I only agree that the “predator/prey mindset” has played harmful issues towards society resulting unnecessary obstacles for both male and female.
These stereotypes carry different situations which begin at a very young age. Males tend to refrain from doing anything “feminine” because they are afraid of being labeled as “gay” or “too feminine”. Social media and movies have all influenced this “Predator/prey mindset”. For example this mindset of being a boy is usually portrayed as strong and athletic while women are stereotyped to be less athletic than a man and weak. These labels have progressively influenced to the bigger issue we face today. Women suffrage is an example of issues women must deal with and like today's world the main dispute for women of equal pay is result of the predator/prey
mindset. One of the partial arguments I agree with Serano is that the rape culture mindset has played a harmful game in our society.Serano hopes for this mindset to be dismantled in her plan to enlighten people of this issue. Many times we don't think about social issues that are happening right before our eyes. It is important for people to become aware of these issues in order to begin the dismantling. To dismantle a problem first of all people need acknowledge how these issues affect them. Self interest is the main barrier to break in order for the dismantling to begin. People must learn that these issues affect them in order for them to change the way the view the world. This rape culture has become this cultural system we seem to follow without recognizing that we are all contributing into social issues. Serano asserts many times that females are not the only ones affected by the rape culture but also men. Asserting that these issues affect both gender will lead people to dismantle rape culture for what they think is their own self interest but really for everyone. Acknowledging social issues such as rape culture is important. The issue begins as young as elementary onto teen and into adult life. Rape has become one of the many disputations of who is the responsible to blame for rape. Many times courts will debate of who the victim is in a rape situation depending on certain issues. The real reason is clearly not from the male or female but both genders for following this system we are not fully aware of. We are victims to the rape culture that we make of and it is possible to dismantle this issue. We must first learn about the problems resulting the rape culture in order to achieve a life where no matter what gender or age we will no longer have to worry about being looked at as a unwanted label, predator/prey. In doing so acknowledging these issues will also help dismantle this rape culture.
Oftentimes, the things individuals take for granted as preexisting facts are merely the products of social construction, which exert tremendous impacts on belief and action. Men and women are socially constructed categories inscribed by norms of masculinity and femininity that enables rape to occur. Catharine MacKinnon claims that rape is defined in a male perspective, which lacks the account of female experience. On the other hand, Sharon Marcus argues that rape is a constructed language that scripts the female body. As bell hooks points out, black men celebrate “rape culture” as a mean of expressing patriarchal dominance and endorsing female subordination. In order to redefine rape and to develop effective rape prevention, it is crucial to deconstruct the predetermined assumptions about men and women. Rape is socially constructed, through the ways how individuals possess misogynistic ideologies and endorse patriarchal power, turning the erotic fantasy of male dominance into “reality”.
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
Masculinity is always associated with power and control, while femininity is associated with passivity and weakness. As Allan Johnson states, this is related to the fact that “male dominance creates power differences between men and women” (248). So because of the fact that men hold positions of power, they seem more superior to women, creating these stereotypes about each gender. The reason this is important is because when there is an idea of someone being better and people believe it, then it actually happens.... ...
Susan Griffin’s Rape: The All-American Crime touches on many issues within American society. She begins by recounting how she was taught to be afraid of strange men from such a young age that she had not yet learned what it was she was so afraid of, and then goes into her experience with harassment, an experience shared by every woman at some point in her life. Griffin recounts the belief that all rapists are insane and the proof that they are just normal men and dispels the myth that rape is normal activity that is prohibited by society. However, she goes on to clarify that our culture views rape: “as an illegal, but still understandable, form of behavior” (Griffin 514). It seems that the wrongness of rape is determined by the situation in
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 ...
When stereotypes about women are thrown down on paper many women (usually called feminist) take offense to them. They don't believe women are the weaker sex, or think the man is the worker of the household. They don't believe a male should put women on a pedestal, they just want to be equal. They starve for equality and criticize those with different perspectives on how it should be
Nowadays women should be treated equally, but some very common stereotypes are still used. For example, in my last birthday, I received a gift from my friend in a pink bag. Then, I asked my friend, why he picked a pink bag, he simply replied "all women like pink," but actually he did not know that my favorite color was blue, and that does not mean that I am a boy. On another occasion, I was taking care of my little cousin, he began to play soccer, and when I asked him if I could play with him, he answered me, "not because girls do not know how to play football," his answer surprised me, so I take his soccer ball, and I showed him that he was wrong, because women can play different sports.
Stereotypes are an inevitable aspect of any society. It would be lie if you said that you have never been victim of or used a stereotype. In more recent years, gender biased stereotypes have become the focus of modern debate. Are they right? Wrong? The stance on this type of stereotype usually depends on who you are. Who are you? Not just personality wise, or race, religion or culture, but genetically, chromosomally. Are you XX or XY? The answer to that question is what will reveal your stance on gender stereotyping. In many instances the word stereotype has a negative connotation, but is it always bad? Men are expected to eat a protein filled diet based around meat, and women are expected to eat dainty, light foods. By maintaining these stereotypes, the image of men an women remains the same in society.
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, lead us for better understanding how they evolved. Women are still seen as the property of men, are protected as such. Men and women are still taught to occupy very different roles in today’s world. Men are usually more aggressive, and women are seen as passive. (Vogelman) This socialization process is changing, but slowly.
Gender stereotypes are ideas simplified, but strongly assumed, on the characteristics of men and women, that translates into a series of tasks and activities that are assign in each culture. Along life, family, school, and environment, Society thought us what is right and what is not in being men or women. Starting with the form we dress, talk, express, behave, to what we can play or what sport to participate. The margin of the biological endowment differences males and females; the fact of being women or men implies a long process of learning and adaptation to the rules established starting with work, personality, love and desires. In the movie "The Ugly Truth." you can see different situations that reflect what society is teaching us for
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 “women secretly enjoy rape,” from a historical perspective, can lead us for better understanding how they evolved. Much stems back to the idea that 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. Men a...
First we need to examine the cases where this is present. Less obvious stereotypes are those of women. Women?s roles in society have changed throughout the times. Are the...
In America, there was, and still is, many stereotypes that are placed upon men and women. For example, men have emotional stereotypes placed on them, just simple, they shouldn't show any emotions, other than ones that are sexually charged, or they should carry all the muscle in the family. More physical stereotypes are ones among the lines of them having really defined muscles or that they should like cars or anything having to do with grilling, they should be all about. In contrast, women, are suppose to carry the emotions, and not have any feelings toward being sexual creatures. More physical ones include, makeup or having big butt or boobs. Stereotypes have been developed throughout history and have never really
Webster’s Dictionary describes rape as the crime of forcing another person to submit to sex acts, especially sexual intercourse. Rape is a crime in which most women cannot defend themselves. The fear of rape plagues every woman at some point or another in her life. The traumatic effects of rape vary from mild to severe, from psychological to physical. This paper will evaluate rape, as well as the effects it has on women, the theory behind male dominance and patriarchy, and differences in demographics.
Society has stamped an image into the minds of people of how the role of each gender should be played out. There are two recognized types of gender, a man and a woman, however there are many types of gender roles a man or a woman may assume or be placed into by society. The ideas of how one should act and behave are often times ascribed by their gender by society, but these ascribed statuses and roles are sometimes un-welcomed, and people will assume who they want to be as individuals by going against the stereotypes set forth by society. This paper will examine these roles in terms of how society sees men and women stereotypically, and how men and women view themselves and each other in terms of stereotypes that are typically ascribed, as well as their own opinions with a survey administered to ten individuals. What I hope to prove is that despite stereotypes playing a predominant role within our society, and thus influencing what people believe about each other in terms of their same and opposite genders, people within our society are able to go against these ascribed stereotypes and be who they want and it be okay. Through use of the survey and my own personal history dealing with gender stereotyping I think I can give a clear idea as to how stereotypes envelope our society, and how people and breaking free from those stereotypes to be more individualistic.