Rape Culture Research Paper

Rape culture is an issue that has gained moment through the feminist movement within the last couple of decades. Rape itself has been around since the beginning of time and its definition has changed over the years. In the United

Rape culture is prevalent on all college campuses, and many fail to realize this and what rape culture is. It is in the party scene, athletics, in dorm rooms, and everywhere else around campus. It is the acceptance of sexual jokes, saying “she was asking for it because of what she was wearing,” not taking sexual assault seriously, and so much more.

Although the term Rape culture wasn’t coined until the 1970’s the practices associated with the term have been used to mistreat women for several centuries. Rape culture refers to the several aspects of culture such as art, science, and history that tolerates the sexual assault of women; people often mistake rape culture as something that is only seen through music or in the past, but the act of using vituperating language towards women and telling sexual explicit jokes are examples of rape culture. The political, social, and philosophical practices of the American society contributes to the oppression of women in the form of rape culture; although rape culture is deeply rooted in our society it could be diminished by enforcing stricter rape

September 2012 Saratoga High School sophomore Audrie Pott committed suicide after being raped by three of her classmates, and photos of the assault circulated through her school (Sulek). This isn’t just one rare occurrence in our day and age many incidents like Audrie’s frequently occur. Not only have we become accustomed to the word rape our western culture has made it one of its prime time events by the way we see traces of it every single day. From the news we watch every morning to the songs we listen to on our daily commutes the influences of rape on our culture and media are common.

Society has normalized rape culture. In our society, victims of sexual assault are blamed for their own assault, while those that assaulted them are often given reassuring words. However, in our society, rapists are often times excused for their actions while actual victims of sexual assault are scrutinized. Rape culture is internalized in our society from a young age through the normalization of sexualizing women, the excusing of rapists and the blaming of the victims, and through the media. Rape culture is real, and it is a part of our society.

In relation to our sex and the law section, I’ve decided to look into a topic that isn’t discussed much due to the discomfort of the subject. If the subject makes you feel uncomfortable, think of the individuals that have to be apart of the subject and what their daily lives must be knowing that something tragic has happened to them and people around them make them feel as if they were the wrongdoer. Rape Culture is a social construct coined to show the ways in which society blamed victims of sexual assault and normalized male sexual violence. It has become an ever growing trend as the years progress and its’ become a real issue for women.

While rape culture is a broad term, what constitutes a rape is often not defined. There is much gray area in rape according to most people, but that is not really the case. Rape is defined as, “forced sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Penetration may be a body part or an object” (Tracy). Obviously, unwanted and nonconsensual sex in any way, shape, or form by any party constitutes rape. However, rape is specifically sexual intercourse, sexual assault is a different and more broad topic. Sexual assault includes any type of sexual activity (groping, sexual touching, or fondling) that is unwanted by either party involved. Rape itself does fall into the category of sexual assault; however, it is a more specific kind

This paper examines the effect that media has on such culture and the negative impact of victim blaming, light jail sentences and unreported cases. One in four women are raped in their lifetime and this shocking statistic has become normalized in today’s society. Victims are being blamed and their attackers are never properly sentenced. This paper evaluates society's refusal to take rape accusations seriously due to the strong denial of the existence of rape culture. Rape culture exists when sexual violence is positively represented in the media and culture. This paper examines the refusal to accept that the United States is living in a rape culture and that by doing so society is enabling a larger number of attacks with a few of them being

Rape culture is something else mentioned in the documentary and how in America, it means that boys are taught at very young age that to be a man, they must suppress their emotions and become dominant while being superior to women. This perpetuates a toxic messaging in our culture has devastating effects that also contributes to violence in our culture, as well as our rape culture. This can be seen by the documentary addressing the bro code and how even if there is a rape one does not say anything to not go against the group. This even happens when men see that something is wrong and how society has put pressure on them not to go against each other. Another contributor to rape culture is that men are taught to be womanizers and that sexual conquest

The topic that I have chosen to discuss in this paper is the “rape culture” that occurs on college campuses throughout the United States; and the rationale society uses to normalize this egregious act. Rape culture refers to society’s existing idea that rape or sexual assault is inconsequential and only happens to individuals who behave a certain way.

In light of the recent Brock Turner case which caused international outrage over the light sentencing and blatant protection of the Stanford student rapist, action is being demanded. Reflection and criticism of not only our justice system, but our society as a whole, has allowed for new surges of feminism and activist movements to take hold. This case gave a unique foothold for the furthering of the feminist movement, and has significantly boosted national attention to one of the movements most debated issues: the existence of rape culture. Although rape culture is a very large and overarching issue critiquing many different facets of American culture, one thing is certain: rape culture is very real, and it can no longer be ignored.

Rape culture is all around us; it lurks in advertisement, television shows, and movies, it’s even in our language objectifying women’s bodies. Rape culture is defined as “an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture” (marshall.edu). Something to keep in mind, the term is called “rape culture” for a reason. “Culture” is defined in anthropological terms as learned behaviors that are passed on from generation to generation, meaning these behaviors are being taught and accepted from previous generations. Rape culture affects everyone, despite the popular belief that it only affects women. The majority of women consciously limit their behavior in fear of rape or sexual harassment. Think about it for a second: how many women go about their days in fear of rape? How about men? The purpose of rape culture (or this paper) is to not blame men or make a claim that all men rape, in consideration men are sometimes on the other side of the issue. The goal of this paper matches the many artists and feminist in the pursuit against the struggle; bringing awareness in order to make a change. In this paper I will address the background of the public issue, provide analyses of two photographs in movement against rape culture, and concluding remarks pertaining to the subject.

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.

To effectively assess themes in music that promote or make light of sexual violence and/or rape culture, one must define the following terms. As of 2012, rape is defined as “the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim”. This definition excludes gender and does not describe a given scenario, which opens up the concept to various interpretations (“An Updated Definition,” 2012). Two terms that are often used interchangeably with rape are sexual harassment and sexual assault. Sexual harassment will be defined in this paper as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct,” and within this definition, examples include acts such as: sexual jokes, degrading remarks, and inappropriate touching. Sexual assault will be defined as “unwanted behaviors,” not including penetration, “that are attempted or completed against a victim's will or when a victim cannot consent” (“Rape and Sexual Violence,” n.d.). In regards to these definitions, sexual harassment is the use of words or slight actions that make one feel uncomfortable, sexual assault is the use of action when one does not, or unwillingly consents, and rape is the act of penetration. Rape culture is essential to understand in the context of this paper as the encouragement of sexual aggression that supports a violent society in which brutality and sexual

Rape culture is the environment in which rape is common and sexual violence against women is normalized by the media. Rape culture is promoted with the use of “misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence,” which creates a society that ignores the rights and safety of women. In 2013, Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams released the summer hit “Blurred Lines,” which became known as a rape song. “Blurred Lines” is the perfect example of how rape culture is used by the media while using misogynistic language, objectification of women’s bodies, and glamorization of sexual violence.