Rape Culture: The New Social Cancer!!

Rape culture and Sexism, this is not our culture at all.  According to the Oxford dictionary  Rape Culture defines as "a society or an environment whose prevailing social attitudes had the effect of normalizing or trivializing sexual assault and abuse".  

 

Image Source: Google | Image created by Prerna Singh

 

Only 6% of all reported rapes will end in a prison sentence. When combined with a relatively low amount of reporting, this means that 99% of rapists get away with their crimes.

 Now, here are two reasons that might contribute to this.

First, rape is an incredibly more personal crime and that's why it is very difficult to prove. There is a stereotype that a rapist is a stranger holding a gun or knife but in reality they can be a friend or a relative or even a significant other. According to the organization right crisis England and Wales around 90% of rape are committed by someone they has previously trusted or even loved. They actually more likely for the rapist to be someone close to the victim. The attacker often holds a position of power or physically stronger. Consent is a vital concept that is not entirely understood because of this normalization of rape. Scholars call this rape as "acquaintance rape."  And so contrary to what most people believe, most rapes don't happen in a dark alley or in a bad part of town but, most rapes happen between friends, between family members, co-workers, boyfriends or girlfriends. Most rapes incidents  happen behind closed doors, which makes them incredibly difficult to prove in a court. 

The second factor that according to me might contribute to these low conviction rates is the social narratives surrounding rape. Scholar call this the theory of "secondary victimization" in which contends that for many victims, being exposed to victim-blaming attitudes will be a kind to a second rape. Victims are in a space of extreme vulnerability immediately following an attack or rape. Not only their body has been violated, but their autonomy, their humanity, their sense of identity have been violated too. Rape is one of the only crimes in which victim's body is used as a weapon against them and this alone is enough to inflict severe psychological harm. That's why for many victims of rape, secondary victimization will then lead to self-blame, sexual revictimization, promiscuity of low self-esteem.

Image Source: Google | Image created by Shreya Partha

 

Views on rape and assault  are what makes us feel unsafe and scared. Today, girls who are only just in schools and have become accustomed to being harassed, casual sexism and sexual harassment  are plagues the thriving of society. It has become common to hear words like "Slude" and "huore" that identify and objectify women. Rape culture is a result of a generalized attitude of male supremacy the patriarchy in our society has perpetuated a desired men to feel powerful and is the cause for sexual harassment. 

Sexual harassment and rape have become very common all over the world not just in one or two countries. Brock Turner an american college athlete, raped an unconscious 23 year old girl outside fraternity house and  he was sentenced just six months jail but three months before he was released. This is an example of how rape and assault are trivialized in our world and it's utterly disgusting.

Men Are Victim Too!!

Additionally, It's important to know that anyone can be a victim of rape. It doesn't discriminate by age or gender. For male victims, the social paradigm surrounding rape brings unique challenges. The first and most common myth that they must face is that males can't be the victims of rape. But this is not true. Millions of boys and men have been the victims of rape too. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center reports that 1 in every 71 American men will be raped during their lifetime. And these numbers jump to the alarming heights when comes to considering a college education, because 1 in 16 men on campus will be sexually victimized. Sexual orientation can also greatly increase this risk, as bisexual and gay men are at a 50% higher risk than heterosexual men to be the victims of sexual violence other than rape. In male-rape scenarios, people find it unbelievable. There are some implications that women can't rape men, or that women never perpetuate sexual violence. But this is not true either. Sexual harassment happens to both men and women but it is very often women who are the victims unfortunately. Rape culture is a phenomenon that affects both men and women.

Clothes are not responsible for rape

The treatment of rape victims is inhumane when people open up about the assault and/or they are often blamed Sean accused of being dramatic relying ,shame and more rape culture has made us accustomed to blaming the survivors when it comes to sexual abuse. The victim of a rape or assault case is often blamed due to the clothing they wore. This is an absolutely ridiculous notion of  a person's clothing does not deter by their consent , such an inanimate object is often blamed for one of the darkest human acts.

Let me say this loud and clear someone's clothing does not determine their consent, I hope it is clear to you that the presence of rape culture is in our everyday lives from casual sexism to assault rape culture is a festering sickness that continues to spread. it's disgusting.

How TO End This Rape Culture

In the fight to end rape culture, we must revolutionize our culture and we can no longer be part of a rape culture instead we must be part of a culture of respect. It's vital to be an ally to rape victims. Talking about sexual assault is really very uncomfortable, but that's precisely why we must do. So, if you are a victim of sexual assault, tell your story proudly and feel confident that's not you're mistake. And if you're not the victim than use your voice to help those who are. Because I firmly believe that our vulnerability is our voice that our stories fuel our strength, that our pain does not define us and these common experiences will bind strangers together with an unbreakable bond. Together, we can cure our society of this sickness that plagues us, and we will be free and to create a society in which equality can exist. There are four vital rules you must follow in order to be an ally.

 1. Stop blaming the victim of sexual abuse.  You should believe the victim, no person should be violated in that way no matter what. A person should feel comfortable wearing whatever he or she wants . They should feel safe walking back home at night.

2. Teach the youth that boys and girls are equal ,respect needs to be taught and emphasized all over the world. Stop teaching girls in particular how to dress and start teaching boys how to act, by using the phrase it's distracting. Rape culture continues to live on in our society. 

3. Educate others, when you hear a sexist board or rape joke speak up and correct others, they must learn. Being advocate for equality and for ending rape culture.

4. Full exudes self-confidence. Don't allow the patriarchy and rape culture that surrounds you and bring you down. You are strong and powerful .It's important to believe in yourself. In our culture we want to hear this "you are so strong" , "it was not your fault", "you are brave", "I support you", "I believe you",  "don't be ashamed", "girls and boys are equal", "you did not deserve it", "No means NO", "you're not alone".