Rape Culture: Why Are Some Fraternities More Dangerous Places For Women

No matter varying ideas as to success, it is difficult to ignore that American culture has undergone immense changes since the 1950s. The Civil Rights movement, the emergence of feminism, and gay activism have literally revolutionized the society and how it functions, with many changes going to the promotion of equality and heightened awareness of the needs of others. At the same time, unfortunately, sexual criminality and violence remain critical issues, with women being the primary victims. The patriarchal foundation of the society has diminished, yet norms still providing men with entitlement remain in place, and this is a reality supported by modern research still referring to a “rape culture.” This same research also presents disturbing evidence of how young college students widely maintain norms affirming male dominance and aggression. No simple solution is then possible, and any effective course must rely on as in-depth research as may be conducted. To that end, the following assessment of study on the subject concludes with a research proposal, and one utilizing Structural Functionalism Theory and the innate value in interviewing students in both collective and individual ways.

Free-and-easy sex prides itself on being commitment free, no emotional ties attached. Today, this idea of leaving all emotions at the door is the supposedly, sophisticated choice on campus. It is now well understood that traditional dating in college has mostly gone the way of the landline, replaced by “hooking up”- an ambiguous term that can signify anything from making out to oral sex to intercourse - all complete without the emotional entanglement of a real relationship. As times have changed, students begin to view a relationship as “too time consuming” and something that no longer takes priority amongst their busy, high achieving schedules. However, hooking up threatens the sexual, physical, and psychological health of college-age youth. Today’s youth may want to think twice before engaging in the prevalent hook-up culture. Despite the popularity of positive feelings, hookups can include negative outcomes including emotional and psychological injury, and even more concerning consequences such as unintended rape. In order to protect our generation, and more specifically our women, society must acknowledge the detrimental effects of a hook up culture to create a greater understanding surrounding this risky sexual behavior and ensure a more powerful, positive presence for women in our society. The combination of a society seeped in rape culture and an alcohol infused hookup culture creates a compromising sexual environment where women have limited control, opening the

The chapter “ Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture: Why are some fraternities more dangerous places for women?” by A. Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Spade helps to shed light on why some fraternities are associated with high number of sexual assaults on women. I was surprised to learn that “frat brothers rape 300% more and 1 in 5 women are raped on campus” (Valenti, 2014) and despite these horrendous statistics fraternities are still around. So why aren’t there more stringent actions set into motion to stop sexual assaults on women on campus or better yet ban fraternities. A lot has to do with how society as a whole sets double standards with regard to gender sexuality. Men who sleep around are viewed as “studs” or a “player” and women who sleep

In Greek fraternities, a culture that supports and encourages sexual violence thrives. My paper will focus on the relationship between the fraternity culture and lack of response that creates this life-ruining problem. The topic is important to all college students because of the lifelong consequences to both victims and perpetrators of sexual violence.

Between family legacies, traditions, and an abundance of college themed movies, books, and television shows, it would be difficult to find a prospective college student who is not familiar with the idea of “Greek life.” For the purpose of this essay, “Greek life” refers to the system employed by many colleges and universities to establish and maintain fraternities and sororities (primarily dominated by caucasian and economically advantages students). It is important to note the existence of fraternities and organizations outside of this stereotypical “Greek” realm, such as coeducational honor and service based fraternities, though even these are not fully exempt from detrimental practices. Fraternities and sororities are often looked down upon with a negative light for a number of reasons, some of which include dangerous hazing habits and unsavory social scenes. While there certainly are undeniable benefits and negatives within these systems, the biggest effect they have is on gender. “Greek life” in college is unhealthy due to its impact on post-college gender expectations by promoting party culture, encouraging misogyny through ingrained tradition, and indoctrinating women into subservience at an impressionable age.

The first main sociological question in the "Fraternities and Rape on Campus" study performed by Patricia Yancey Martin and Robert A. Hummer was, "What characteristics do fraternities have that make them prone to objectification of women and more likely to commit gang rape on college campuses and why fraternities encourage the sexual coercion of women.

In both “Athletic club weekend turns into a nightmare for college freshman” by Carol smith and Lee Van Der Voo and “The other side of the college assault crisis” by Max Kutner, the topic of rape is discussed and different views are shared. These two articles show both sides to alleged rape allegations. Rape is a critical social and public health issue, especially in college. When it comes to rape, men and women have disparate sides to their stories. Although rape is a serious ongoing crime, there is also the crime of erroneous rape assertions.

Sexual assault is defined as any vaginal, oral, or anal penetration that is forced upon another, regardless of sex and sexual orientation, using any object or body part. The issue of sexual assault in America is primarily encouraged by rape culture. Women Against Violence Against Women is an organization that defines rape culture as a complex set of beliefs that encourage male sexual aggression and supports violence against women. The acceptance of rape culture, rape myths, and the disregard for sexual consent also allow for the perpetuation of sexual assault against women on college campuses. Recent examples of sexual assault on college campuses show how prominent this issue has become and how hostile campuses have become for female students. Some examples include the University of Southern California’s “Gullet Report,” Miami University of Ohio’s “Top Ten Ways to Get Away with Rape,” and a sexual assault on the campus of Kansas University. Sexual assault is perpetuated by the acceptance of rape myths and rape culture, lack of effective sexual education, and the disregard for consent. The solution to this issue lies with defeating rape culture, increasing awareness and funding for campus sexual assault crisis centers, and enacting more prevention programs on campus.

In Daniel Luzer’s article, “Is Alcohol Really to Blame for the Prevalence of Sexual Assault on College Campuses?” published on November 18, 2013 by Pacific Standard, the author argues that alcohol is not the only thing to blame for sexual assault on college campuses. He observed that alcohol has always been a risk factor when it comes to sexual assault, but drinking is not what has changed throughout the years. What has changed is the way men and women socialize with one another. Throughout the years, interaction between young men and women in college has become less instructed. Back then colleges were not coed and there were rules for when women were allowed in the male dorms including certain times they were allowed there. There are not as

Over several decades, Greek life has been an integral part of colleges and universities throughout the United States. There is a high demand of “fitting in” in today’s society and a question that students, parents, and teachers alike often ask themselves is, “Does Greek life provide a more safe or harmful environment?” With strong evidence, it is absolutely absurd to believe that fraternities and sororities do more good than they do harm. Various statistics provide factual evidence as to why Greek life is a toxic and dangerous environment for many young adults. Between the rape culture, hazing, and delinquency linked to the students associated with Greek life, it is time that it comes to an end for good so that students may have a more safe and enjoyable college experience. Fraternities and Sororities should be banned off of college and university campuses due to the danger and drama associated with them.

Since the 1970’s this has been a growing problem in many colleges. In the article written by Kingston it states “Universities are often petri dishes for both ‘rape culture’ and sexual assault…They’re a microcosm of the way society teaches people how to party and treat women”. There’s been a large number of incidents at colleges where they seem to encourage rape. The University of Vermont fraternity took a poll with their members and asked “If you could rape someone who would it be”. Another incident was at Wesleyan University a student filed a lawsuit against the school because, she was allegedly assaulted at a frat house known as the “Rape Factory”. Police officials tend to see college rapes as the girls sending mixed signals or simply dates gone wrong. That shows the lack of respect that they have for the victims and sympathy they have for the perpetrators. Student offenders are often serial rapists that raped on average 6 women by the time they hit their early 20’s according to Kingston’s article. The predators on college campuses are usually saved because the women are under the influence it makes the police and college officials trust the girls less and they unwillingly let a monster back on their

In light of the recent Brock Turner case childhood friend Leslie Rasmussen released this statement, “I don’t think its fair to base the fate of the next ten-plus years of his life on the decision of a girl who doesn’t remember anything but the amount she drank” (Zielinski). This attitude is one shared by many on the subject of rape culture in American universities. This blunt and rather cold attitude prompts many observers to wonder whether a rape culture is present in America. Does our society have a lenient attitude on intoxicated sex? Does the nuanced subject of intoxicated intercourse dismiss responsibility between both parties when the consent is later questioned? There is a problem with rape culture in American universities due to white privilege, drinking culture, and a permissive attitude to intoxicated intercourse.

College, at the University level, has become known for something much greater than simply higher education, and that is the fine art of partying. Partying has long been a staple of the “college experience” causing some students to choose a school based on academic standing, coupled with how favorable the environment is for partying. The college party culture has the added consequence of walking, or moreso, stumbling hand in hand with rape and sexual assault culture, a social construct that encourages male aggression and violence towards women.

Rape culture is recognized as blaming the victim for sexual assault and promotes sexual violence to be acceptable. Society portrays rape culture in different situations, one of which can be depicted as shameful and unjust in the college setting. In the college environment, it is not uncommon for a case of sexual assault to be kept on a low profile in order to not damage the school’s reputation. The outcome of women reporting sexual assault is low in a college setting due to rape culture and even those who do get an unfair outcome that promotes rape culture in college authority. The unfair outcomes of rape culture through society’s perception, with unjust law enforcement, and can affect women in many ways that can change their lives.

In fact, American college campuses are no longer deemed safe havens. The seemingly growing rates of crime incidence among students have portrayed college campuses, as breeding grounds for crime. One manifestation of this intrinsic tendency to break laws is rape. The latter grew, in a rampant way, in and around college halls. A crime, whose physical scars may heal, its psychological effects may last for years, and sometimes even a lifetime. Indeed, recent surfacing incidents of sexual assaults, and of male students’ crude language and impertinent behavior towards female students, have brought campus rape into the focus of the public eye. These incidents were reported in both western and eastern countries.