Rape Culture
- We Unite
- Aug 7, 2020
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 1, 2020
TW: Sexual Assault and Rape
Women and girls are overwhelmingly the targets of sexual violence. This includes sexual harassment, unwanted sexual touching, and rape. Women of color suffer from sexual violence at higher rates than their white counterparts. Specifically, black women suffer from workplace sexual harassment at 3 times than that of white women. According to RAINN, Native Americans are twice as likely to experience sexual assault compared to all other races. Because of this, the majority of women don’t feel safe living and working in their communities. Although women have been the most visible voices in the #MeToo movement, men have also been the subject of sexual harrassment. Men and women can both be harassed by someone of the same or opposite gender, so neither gender or sexual orientation prevents someone from becoming the victim of harassment. Additionally, sexual violence perpetrators often stay with victims for a long time after the initial incident. 94% of women who have been raped experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The severity of this problem should not be underestimated and must be addressed immediately.
Worldwide, rape and sexual harassment are an every day occurrence - severely impacting women and young girls within their school or workforce. Despite the growing rates of sexual abuse, most laws are proven to be insufficient, inconsistent, not systematically enforced and, sometimes, even promote violence. Some government policies allow the perpetrator to walk free of reaching any kind of settlement, including by marrying the victim. Some laws are framed by morality and not on bodily integrity, thereby inflicting the cycle of violence and sexual assault. Some constitutions permit rape upon marriages and children, and allow judicial discretion to reduce charges or define evidence based on stereotyped assessments of the complaints’ behaviour. Some countries have policies that fail to recognize genuine and meaningful consent is impossible in situations of dependency and great vulnerability. Rape is a global epidemic with countless injustices for the victims. Most governments have consistently ignored the cries of help of these victims, leaving them unrepresented and more vulnerable to the abuses they are susceptible to. As global citizens of society, every person must learn to fight these injustices and push for tangible measures to end these insidious crimes.
“By rape, the victim is treated as a mere object of sexual gratification… without regard for the personal autonomy and control over what happens to his or her body. Rape is one of the most repugnant affronts to human dignity related rights, such as security of the person and integrity of the person.” -African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Rape victims and survivors can face extremely difficult and painful emotions, experiences and trauma. Every survivor responds to traumatic events in their own way. The effects of trauma can be short-term or long-lasting. Victims may suffer physical injuries such as bruising, bleeding, broken or dislocated bones, sexually transmitted infections/diseases or pregnancy - which may severely impact the dignity and welfare of the individual. Survivors may also suffer from mental health illnesses. For instance, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent in sexual assault victims, with symptoms that include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and intrusive thoughts. Those suffering from PTSD may also experience dissociation, which is when the victims has difficulty focusing on work or schoolwork. A survivor may develop a negative outlook and feel “damaged” or unworthy of a better and successful life. Drugs or alcohol abuse may also become an issue as a way to cope with the overwhelming feelings of sadness and depression. But one of the most impactful aftermaths of rape around the world is rape culture.
Rape culture is the belief that victims have contributed to their victimization or sexual assault and are responsible for the events that have occurred to them. Rape culture is defined as stereotyped, stigmatization, or incorrect beliefs about rape that falsely justify the use of sexual violence and trivialize the seriousness and impact of sexual aggression. It has negatively impacted survivors, serving as an excuse and a silencing tool for those who wish to share their experiences and stories. This environment breeds the culture and tradition of victim blaming wherein individuals are seen as being responsible for their traumatic experiences. Victim blaming is a devaluing and dehumanizing act. Specific statements such as “they asked for it”, “it wasn’t really rape”, “they didn’t mean to” or “they liked it” are common false beliefs that are propagated within our society to reinforce blame toward the victim, without holding the real perpetrators accountable for their crimes and assault. Individuals who adapt to and believe in these rape myths, are certainly more likely to assume and take responsibility for the rape or sexual violence and may perceive that the trauma associated with the rape is less severe or believable. Based on this phenomenon, our society continues to alienate survivors, making it less likely for them to come forward, share their story, make them feel represented or report to law enforcement or academic institutions, for fear of being held responsible and dehumanized.
Rape culture is a difficult issue to address which requires the whole community to work together to stop these false beliefs from spreading. It is a pervasive problem, which has been deeply embedded in each individual ideology (the way one thinks, speaks, and recognizes the world). Rape culture has always been historically rooted on patriarchal beliefs, power and control. It is the social environment that allows for the growth of sexual violence and aggressions. It normalizes and justifies the sexual abuse against women, and is fueled by existing gender inequalities and attitudes about sexuality. Recognizing this problem, and spreading public awareness is the first step in dismantling this issue. Everyday, one has to examine the behaviours and beliefs of prejudice that permit rape culture to run rampant in the globe. From the attitudes one has about gender inequality to the governmental laws that support sexual aggression in communities. Everyone, regardless of one’s sexual orientation has the responsibility to stand up against rape culture.
“Toxic Masculinity, violence against women and children, and racism, are all pernicious diseases prevalent in our world. Along with pandemics, we need to get rid of these vicious negativities as well. We have to make this world change for the better.” ― Avijeet Das
Creating a culture of enthusiastic consent is an important step in standing up against rape culture. Freely given and meaningful consent is mandatory in every sexual interaction. Rather than waiting and listening for a “no,” make sure there is an active, “yes,” from all involved. Adopt enthusiastic consent in your life, from your romantic partners and speak about it. Speaking out against the root causes of this culture can break stereotypes and stigmas about men and women. Rape culture is allowed to continue when individuals buy into ideas of masculinity that portray violence and dominance as “strong” and “male” when women and girls are less valued and important. It is also underpinned by victim-blaming, an attitude that holds a victim rather than the perpetrator accountable for an assault. When discussing cases of sexual violence and aggression, a victim’s sobriety, clothes, and sexuality are irrelevant and is not the cause of rape. Instead, counter the idea that men and boys must obtain power through violence and question the notion of sex as an entitlement and a form of hierarchy.
It is time to redefine masculinity. Take a critical look at what masculinity is defined and how one embodies it. Self-reflection, community conversations, and artistic expression are just some of the tools available for men and boys (as well as women and girls) to examine and redefine masculinities with feminist principles. Because language is deeply embedded and is a huge aspect of our culture, Individuals may forget that the words and phrases one uses each day shape the present reality. Rape-affirming beliefs are a part of each language: “She was dressed like a slut" or "She was asking for it.” It is normalized to objectify women and call them degrading and dehumanizing names in pop culture and media - and this is not okay. Everyone has the power to choose to leave behind language and lyrics that blame victims, objectify women and excuse sexual harassment. What a woman is wearing, how much she drank, and where she was at a certain time, is not an invitation to rape her. Across time and contexts, rape culture takes many shapes and forms. It’s important to recognize and be educated that rape culture goes beyond the narrow notion of a man assaulting a woman as she walks alone at night. For instance, rape culture encompasses a wide array of harmful practices that rob women and girls of their bodily autonomy and civil rights, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation. In the era of #MeToo, #TimesUp, #NiUnaMenos, #BalanceTonPorc, and other online movements, survivors of violence are speaking out more than ever before. Listen to their advocacies and experiences, read stories of survivors and activists around the globe, and follow #OrangeTheWorld and #GenerationEquality on social media. It is important to get involved in order to empower women to fight for their rights and liberties. Rape culture is held up by the absence or lack of enforcement of laws addressing violence against women and discriminatory laws on property ownership, marriage, divorce and child custody. Individuals should be aware of the certain biases within their communities in order to address this ever-growing problem. It’s in the hands of the future generation to inspire the future feminists of the global community. Challenge the gender stereotypes and violent ideals that children encounter in the media, during work, on the streets, and at school. Educate young children and teach the importance of consent at a young age.
Sources:
Written by Althea Ocomen from Manila City, Philippines
Comments