At first thought, you may not see our culture as having steeped so low as to be deemed a "rape culture." In fact, you may even wonder what rape culture is even defined as. However, I believe that after looking at the bigger picture you will come to the conclusion that we are in a rather sad statue of moral degradation. Sadly, we're not getting any better, but rather the problem is only growing exponentially as time goes on. Even sadder still, we're refusing to stand against this rolling tide all in the name of complacency.
According to Marshall University, a rape culture can be defined as, "an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence towards women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture." Sexual violence is no longer found only behind closed doors, but it can now be found prevalent in most current popular music, TV shows, movies, jokes, and the most prevalent and profitable industry up to date, pornography. We live in a society where mothers take their daughters to see Fifty Shades of Grey, where boys are told porn is supposed to teach them about sex, and that if a girl shows some skin, she's asking for sex.
We live in a society that blatantly refers to women as sluts and whores, property to own, eye candy, and worth only what her cup size and waist line deems her as. We live in a society where approximately 1 in 4 women, or 20%, will be sexually assaulted on a college campus alone, and where 1 in 5 women will experience sexual assault in the U.S. alone. Shockingly, most often the victims will know their perpetrators personally, and approximately 63% of victims will never come forward and only hide in silence as thoughtless taunting of peers and the media's portrayal of rape being sexy continually triggers her daily. Instead of teaching our boys at a young age that no means no and what respect is, we've encouraged the idea that looking is okay because after all, "boys will just be boys."
Throughout the years, I've heard countless vulgar comments made along the lines of, "I'd tap that," or, "She wouldn't be able to walk after I got done with her," "She's asking for it," "Flat chested girls can never be a 10," etc. We're desensitized that we hardly bat an eye when comments similar to those are made. What if that was your daughter? Your wife? You? From someone who has been called a whore, who has had countless sex jokes referenced my way, who has been a victim of sexual abuse, I can tell you that this is not okay. It's high time we rose up and not just said what we stood for but actively made a change. Rape isn't a joke. Rape isn't funny. It's time we began defending our women and began encouraging our men to rise up and be men of honor and respect for themselves and for women equally. It's time we became more sensitive as a society. It's time we actually did something.
Chivalry has about died and perversion is taking its place.
What will you do?
