"Rape culture is a setting, studied by several sociological theories, in which rape is pervasive and normalized due to societal attitudes about gender and sexuality."
A society where sexual violence is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture, and where victims are often blamed or disbelieved.
Definition of Rape Culture: Understanding what Rape Culture is, its impact on individuals and society at large.
Sexual Violence: Understanding different forms and prevalence of sexual violence, including sexual harassment and assault.
Gender Stereotypes and Roles: Examining how harmful gender stereotypes and rigid gender roles contribute to a culture that perpetuates violence.
Media Representation of Gender and Violence: Analyzing how media shapes and reinforces gender norms and violence against women.
Intersectionality: Understanding how multiple identities and oppressions intersect with the issue of sexual violence.
Victim-Blaming: Analyzing the ways in which society blames victims of sexual violence.
Consent Education: Understanding the importance of clear communication and enthusiastic consent.
Bystander Intervention: Examining the role of bystanders in preventing sexual violence.
Male Privilege and Responsibility: Discussing how men can be allies and take responsibility for ending Rape Culture.
Patriarchy: Examining how patriarchal norms and values perpetuate sexual violence.
Rape Myths: Debunking common myths surrounding sexual assault and rape.
Advocacy and Activism: Exploring ways to advocate and actively work towards ending Rape Culture.
Victim-blaming: Blaming the victim for their assault rather than holding the perpetrator responsible for their actions.
Excusing harmful behavior: Making excuses or justifications for abusive or sexually aggressive behavior.
Objectification: Treating women and people of marginalized genders as objects for sexual pleasure rather than individuals with autonomy.
Normalizing sexual violence: Making jokes, comments, or participating in behavior that trivialize or normalize sexual violence.
Degrading language: Using derogatory or belittling language towards women and people of marginalized genders.
Lack of consent education: Not teaching about consent and boundaries in sex education curriculums.
"Behaviors commonly associated with rape culture include victim blaming, slut-shaming, sexual objectification, trivializing rape, denial of widespread rape, refusing to acknowledge the harm caused by sexual violence, or some combination of these."
"It has been used to describe and explain behavior within social groups, including prison rape and in conflict areas where war rape is used as psychological warfare."
"Entire societies have been alleged to be rape cultures."
"It is associated with rape fantasy and rape pornography."
"The notion of rape culture was developed by second-wave feminists, primarily in the United States, beginning in the 1960s."
"Critics of the concept dispute its existence or extent, arguing that the concept is too narrow or that although there are cultures where rape is pervasive, the very idea of rape culture can imply that it is not the rapist who is somehow at fault, but rather society as a whole that enables rape."
"Critics of that line of criticism have disputed the notion that only one party needs to be at fault, noting that the perpetrator can be the primary wrongdoer, those who help cover it up or harass the victim acting as accomplices, and that thus, also according to them, the wider society and culture can still be blamed for its collective influence on these individuals."
"Two movements have addressed what they either fully or partially perceive as being rape culture or a role being played by rape culture, i.e. SlutWalk and Me Too."
"Though their rationale for claiming and including that the role of rape culture as being party to the particular social blights and crimes that they're fighting can vary, these movements have helped spread people's stories through hashtags."
"these movements... provide an online space where victims of different types of sexual violence can confide in each other."