Male Predators and Female Prey: Gender Roles and Rape Culture

The socio-cultural model views the social or environmental context of rape as an explanation of aggressive behavior. The socio-cultural view of rape is a result of a patriarchal system that is characterized by an ideology of male authority and different

According to Marshall University’s Women Center, the definition of rape culture is “an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture.” (“Rape Culture.”) This can be found in ideas such as victim-blaming, trivialization of assault, and pressure for individuals to adhere to strict gender roles. This culture is

Many individuals might wonder, what is rape culture? “Rape Culture is an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.” Most women limit their behavior because of the existence of rape. (Marshall University)

My inbox was instantly filled with hate-mail from feminists who were literally calling me every single name in the book while trying to inform me that I was a sexist. Mind you, all I had done was posted a list of things that women could do to protect themselves from being raped. Knowledge is power, I thought. Apparently, the tip-sheet that I shared was originally written by James Fenske, and he was concerned with the uprising of rape. Not as a sexual and sexist victimizing crime, but as a criminal act of violence. As he took it, with any other act of violence, rape was something to be defended against. So, he continued on, writing about things that women could do to protect themselves and gave little insights about the psychology of a rapist. The tip-sheet included when rapists attack, who they attack, and why they attack. By knowing all of these things, women are better prepared. Does this mean that women are helpless treasures that require constant male supervision? Absolutely not! Does this mean that it’s not a logically smart idea for a woman to walk around aimlessly or by herself in a place she is unfamiliar with at night? I think so. His tip-sheet coincides with my findings of FBI rape profiles and psychologist typology of rapists which are that most rapists strike at night, especially between the hours of 8 pm and 2 am, which are all prime-time “going-out” hours. It is also important to note that while rapists do pick specific targets, they

(US Department of Justice- Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2014). While the numbers are startling, what is most alarming, is that it took eighty years for the government to change a definition that was wrong from the beginning. Moreover, this attitude of ignorance and apathy towards rape victims has trickled down and can be seen in the attitudes of the American population. While many feminists have suggested that rape is a tool used by a patriarchal society to maintain a status quo, and rape myths are tools used to justify this violence against women, what I believe is that rape myths are more pervasive than this explanation. Rape myths and their acceptance is in fact a part of the status quo, determined by the gender role construct reflected in current American society, Without a radical change in views towards gender roles rape myths will continue to be widely accepted, and victims will

America has a proud history of being a country that has many different ethnicities and cultures living within its borders. But one of the most prevalent cultures is one that transcends race or country of origin, rape culture. The term used by modern day feminist and gender activist defines a culture which normalizes rape and sexual assaults because of the deeply rooted societal attitudes towards gender and sexuality. In a rape culture the instances of rape are accepted as everyday occurrences and even as the prerogative of men, resulting in the stigmatization and blame placing of rape victims. Although the phrase “rape culture” is relatively modern, the

The term ‘rape culture’ was coined by feminists in the United States in 1970. The term itself was designed to illustrate the ways in which society blamed victims of sexual assault, and how the normalization of male sexual violence was acceptable. Rape culture can stem from the acceptance of rape as a daily occurrence, manifested as a male prerogative. There is a hesitation by the authorities to go against the patriarchal cultural norms, hence linking nonconsensual sex to the cultural disposition of society. The patriarchal perspective of rape culture, embedded with gender inequality and misogyny are passed through generations which ultimately leads to the extensive institutional and social acceptance of rape. Actions which advocate sexist ideals are utilized to justify and validate normative misogynistic perceptions. Rape culture sexualizes violence inflicted upon women, as it serves as a continuum of a society which views a women’s body to be sexually available by default, deriving from the overall domination and objectification of a female. The underlying cause of rape culture is localized as it based upon the social aspects of culture. For example, countries with a prolific ‘war culture’ tend to emphasize violence and masculinity, and therefore rape is viewed as a normal facet of society. I intend to parallel the element of rape culture to the enforcement of social rules and the conditioning of gender roles. I plan on analyzing the notion that within the encompassment of

Gender roles and rape myths attempt to legitimize rape by blaming the victim as a part of society’s acceptance of sexual violence as a whole. “Boys will be boys” encourages boys to be rough and masculine, while at the same time suggesting girls should be submissive. Although school grounds are thought to be a safe heaven for nurturing the growth and development of young minds, progress is stunted by the shadows of sexual assaults in the background. Society’s tolerance of sexual assault is encouraged by the sociological factors of conflict theory, the bystander effect and symbolic interactionism.The integration of learning opportunities and reporting systems will be fundamental in the future of universities and colleges in order to maintain

“Rape Culture is an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture” (1a) Today you can't turn the television on without hearing references to rape culture. Jokes about sexual abuse plague every sitcom and news channels question rape victim’s every move. Even entire shows are dedicated to the topic such as Law and Order SVU. The media trivializes rape leading to a rape culture in America.

In a society where rape culture is normal, and people are taught from a young age not to go out on their own at night and to be cautious of the people around them rather than being taught not to rape or to oversexualize and objectify normal body parts, rape is a commonly trending news topic. A new common stressor has been added to subsequent intimate relationships: the trauma of rape or other forms of sexual assault. In a study of violence against women in North America, Robinson (2003) found that over forty percent of women have or will experience violence in their life including but not limited to rape. This trend is likely to be attributed to a fight for power. People holding positions of power over someone might take advantage of that control they have, leading to

Rape Culture is an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety (Rape

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

Rape culture is often dismissed as hysterical feminist theories getting out of hand. For most, rape is an uncomfortable topic and is avoided in conversation all together. That is the problem at hand. I am here to tell everyone that rape culture is a serious issue that we need to be more educated about. In order to stop it, we need to have a better understanding about what it means to live in a rape culture. The term “rape culture” refers to a culture in which attitudes about rape are tolerant enough to be an enabling factor in anything ranging from sexual harassment to actual rape. (Rape Culture) An example of rape culture would be when women who come forward about being sexually assaulted are asked about what they were wearing. As if clothing has anything to do with the fact that they were raped. A phrase used commonly by rape culture perpetrators is “she was asking for it.” Blaming the assault on what the victim was wearing, or how she was acting is a prime example of ‘victim blaming’. We need to take a stand against objectifying women and normalizing harassment.

Feminist scholarship has argued that rape ideology encourages and justifies sexual coercion, trivializes sexual violence and demeans and devalues women who have experienced sexual assault. The foundation of this argument is based on women's experiences in patriarchal societies. Due to the fact that

Rape culture is an environment in which social attitudes have the effect of normalizing sexual violence against women and excusing it in the media and other popular cultures. Rape culture attempts to rationalize a continuum of sexual violence that range from sexist remarks to unwanted sexual touching, and rape itself. Rape culture has become so desensitized by society that perpetrators may not be aware of their wrongdoings and victims may not realize they are being victimized. It is a culture in which victims are suppressed when they decide to speak up about their traumatic attack, because they are seen as being dramatic or untruthful while the perpetrator's actions are left unpunished. While the majority of victims are women, rape culture is not solemnly an issue of female oppression, it is a general disconnect between human beings. It is a culture that many of us refuse to accept exist, however there are numerous examples that normalize rape and sexual assault on a daily basis. Rape culture is not a new topic. The term was first used back in the 1970’s by a group of feminist to raise the awareness of the normalization of sexual violence in society. In recent years the topic has become a popular, controversial issue and has come to permeate virtually every aspect of our lives through media, song lyrics, and everyday jargon.