Often times we don’t even realize that something said or done, that may seem small in the moment, negatively contributes to rape culture. Even if the intent isn’t bad, it’s time to check ourselves and others in order to reverse normalization of rape and sexual assault.
We don’t have the power to stop perpetrators from choosing to assault or rape; it is never caused by anything the victim does, says, or wears. If he/she does not give consent, it is a crime. However, if we begin to recognize examples of the culture of violence in our lives and the detrimental effect it has, we can begin to try and do what we can to stop it. This may mean speaking up if you hear a joke about rape, changing victim-blaming language, or giving victims the respect they deserve.
Examples of Rape Culture in Action:
- Rape jokes such as “That test was so hard, it totally raped me”
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The use of phrases “____ was raped/assaulted” instead of “_____ raped/assaulted ____.”
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The hesitation to hold people accountable for their actions by calling them a “rapist” or “perpetrator of assault”
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Take a look at the thousands of posts with the hashtag #RapeCultureIsWhen on Twitter
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The use of lyrics such as “I know you want it, You’re a good girl, Can’t let it get past me” and “The way you grab me, Must wanna get nasty” in Robin Thicke’s popular song “Blurred Lines”
(Shown above – Lyrics from Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” next to phrases rapists have said to their victims.)
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This tweet from our President, which suggests that instead of teaching people not to assault others and hold them accountable if they choose to, we should separate men and women
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Social media accounts such as “Old Row” and “Total Frat Move” degrading and objectifying women
If you enjoyed this article, check out my other one in this series – “Sexual Violence Prevention – Victim Support”. If you are interested in learning more about sexual violence prevention at ASU go to https://sexualviolenceprevention.asu.edu/. The program I took part in is offered every semester for sorority women and there is also one coming Fall 2018 for fraternity men.