Essay about The Myth of Rape Culture in America - 3167 Words

â€Å"Rape is as American as apple pie,† says blogger Jessica Valenti. She and other feminists describe our society as a â€Å"rape culture† where violence against women is almost invisible. According to feminists, films, magazines, fashion, books, music, and humor cooperate in conveying the message that women are there to be used, abused and exploited.(Kitchens, 2015) Rape culture, which was coined as a culture during the second wave of feminism during the early 1970’s and was, according to the encyclopedia of rape, â€Å"often used by feminists to describe contemporary American culture as a whole.† Rape culture, by definition though, is â€Å"a culture in which rape and other sexual violence (usually against women and gender diverse peoples ) are common†¦show more content†¦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 vi olence, 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 â€Å"going-out† hours. It is also important to note that while rapists do pick specific targets, theyShow MoreRelatedAmerica s Thriving Rape Culture1492 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica’s Thriving Rape Culture 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 acceptedRead MoreThe Rape Of Sexual Violence1642 Words   |  7 Pagesnot a rape if it happens after drinking or taking drugs†: these quotes about rape are few to the numerous myths that circulate society today. 1 out of every 6 American women has been sexually assaulted, yet this statistic is only from victims who come forward (Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics†). The problem in America today is the â€Å"Rape Culture† in which we live. A Rape Culture is defined as a â€Å"rape prevalent society in which sexual violence is normalized and excused through pop culture and media†Read MoreEssay on Gender Roles and Their Effect on Women1525 Words   |  7 Pagesthe decades, patriarchy in society and oppression toward women are still prevalent through the social ideologies widely taught and believed throughout America, which has limited women and stereotyped them consistently. Since the beginning of society in America, women have held a subordinate role. Arranged marriages were prevalent in early America as well as widely practiced forms of gender roles. Women could not hold an education, work, or dress for themselves. Husbands ruled the family and theirRead MoreA Peak Under the Skirt of Rape Culture Essay1155 Words   |  5 Pagesthe ice-berg; we call rape culture. A lot of people are unaware this sort of language, or behavior, even goes on. Even more people are aware of these types of things, yet they don’t find them inappropriate, or see anything wrong with a little harmless joking. The fact is rape culture affects our life, whether we acknowledge it or not. The term Rape Culture should not be a part of our vocabulary; we, as a society, have allowed it, but that needs to be changed. Rape culture can be seen all aroundRead MoreAn Assault On The Body And Mind1495 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States, rape is the most frequently committed but least reported violent crime† (Newman 205). According to the FBI, rape is defined as â€Å"unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman forcibly and against her will† (Futter, Mebane V). Seeing as though the legal definition of rape is limited, it makes it difficult for victims to prove that there was in fact a crime committed. In turn, this causes an influx of victims, as well as attackers. Society has distorted the true image of rape and made it intoRead MoreSexual Assault And Sexual Assaults2636 Words   |  11 Pagesfor a female college student than for any other age group† (Burnett). Women in these cases are labeled as cheap sluts, instead of suffering victims. Myths about rape urge these types of offensive terms about women, and hide the true reality about the culture of rape in today’s society. In th is paper there will be details about the frequency of rape cases that take place on college campuses, as well as the procedures and systems that are put in place to address these problems. There will be a focusRead MoreThe Fruits Of Her Labor1445 Words   |  6 Pagesfundamental worst after the international slave trade was prohibited in 1808 . As internal slave-trading continued, the enslaved population would peak at four million enslaved African American before the abolition of slavery in the United States of America. The condition and profitability of slavery, eventually lead to the increase value of African slave women, who could effective reproduce the next generation of enslaved Africans while also work as hard, or harder than the African males. There wasRead MoreIn The United States, Not Only Are Latin Women Being Misunderstood,1508 Words   |  7 PagesAmericans are stereotyped in sexually promiscuous, caregiving role, and â€Å"welfare queens.† Both of them are vic tims of racial stereotypes, which affect them negatively on their identities and characteristics. However, the differentiation of their cultures makes them being stereotyped in distinct aspects. Some of African American women’s stereotypes are caused by their historical background. African American women are stereotyped as the â€Å"Jezebel† archetype. African American women’s historical backgroundRead MoreThe Fear Of Black Male Sexuality1537 Words   |  7 PagesWhite Supremacist, Patriarchal Culture. Callaloo Vol. 17.14 (1994): 1054-073. Web. Since the arrival of African slaves in Jamestown, the Black male was not considered a person. His body belonged to the highest bidder. The entire construct of Black male masculinity is rooted in his status as non-person. Yet his body was, and still is, revered for its strength and agility, and has always been viewed as a means to economic advancement. In a white supremacist culture, the fear of Black masculinityRead MoreFeminism : The Conservative Gender Norms That Perpetuates Rape Culture, And The Construction Of The Family874 Words   |  4 Pagessexually active, like men, without shade being thrown at them. Jill Filipovic touches on these issues in her article, Offensive Feminism: The Conservative Gender Norms that Perpetuates Rape Culture, and How Feminists Fight Back. Ms. Filipovic gives insight into how these perceptions helps the rape culture in America stay alive. In this reflection paper, I plan on evaluating how there is a â€Å"war over the most basic of values: the humans rights to bodily autonomy and self-determination, the role of women