Definitions Rape Culture is a widely used term describing a system of beliefs in which rape and sexual violence are common and inevitable Prevalent attitudes norms practices and media condone normalize excuse and encourage sexualized violence ID: 641700
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Slide1
Rape Culture
Source:
femifestoSlide2
Definitions
Rape Culture is a widely used term describing a system of beliefs in which rape and sexual violence are
common and inevitable.
Prevalent attitudes
, norms, practices, and media condone, normalize, excuse and encourage sexualized violence.
Sexist
jokes, victim blaming, minimizing sexual violence, and sexual objectification
.Slide3
Examples of Rape Culture
Everyday Experiences: Street
harassment, rape
jokes
Institutions & Systems:
Athletics, schools, legal response, faith institutions
Cultural & Societal Norms:
Victim blaming, media messages (music, movies, advertisements, news coverage, etc.), gender expectations Slide4
Rape
JokesHumor can be used to covertly deliver messages that can reinforce negative attitudes towards womenEnhanced negative attitudes towards individuals can lead to aggressive behavior
Jokes delivered by a comedian are perceived to reflect the views of the comedianSlide5
Street Harassment
Street Harassment has a wide range of behaviors that are harmful and constitute sexual harassment
.
Source: stoptellingwomentosmile.comSlide6
Street Harassment
Some actions are commonly overlooked as a part of the continuum of violence, such as: Whistles, comments about appearance, leering, demanding a smile, sexually explicit gestures, etc.
More overt behaviors are generally understood as sexual harassment, such as:
Groping, indecent exposure, stalking, etc. Slide7
In Schools
Dress codes that treat or describe girl’s bodies as “distractions”Abstinence only sex
education
Social expectations and pressure on prom night about sexual activity
Inadequate sexual assault and harassment
p
olicies
Expecting and tolerating violent displays of masculinity in athleticsSlide8
Legal System ResponsesSlide9
Victim Blaming
Victim blaming includes beliefs, attitudes and actions which affectively blame a victim of rape for the rape itself. This can include comments and questions such as:“Why didn’t you scream?”
“Why did you go to their house?”
“Why were you
drinking/drunk
?”
“Do you understand how this will affect their life?”
“I just don’t believe they would do that.”Slide10
Media Messages
Often messages about consent and sexual violence in the media just reinforce the norms of rape culture.
Consent should and can be a normalized part of a healthy culture though.
Source: punditpress.comSlide11
Objectification
Media messages about gender, typically women, support rape culture by picturing them as:Property
Prize to be won
As valuable as an object
Source: pinterest.comSlide12
Gender Expectations
(Insert Video)Slide13
Gender Boxes Activity
Men and
Boys
Can
box, wrestle without being teased
Can
grow beards, mustaches
Can play pro hockey
Women and
Girls
Can have babies
Can wear skirts and dresses without being teased
Can wear makeup without being teased
Can paint the bedroom pink without being teased
So… What happens
if
you
don’t fit
in the
box
? Slide14
Male Entitlement
The idea of the “friend zone” supports the gender expectations that men are owed sex.
“
Slut”
is how we vilify a woman for exercising her right to say “yes.”
Saying a man’s been put in the “friend zone” is how we
vilify a woman for exercising her right to say “no
.”
This idea conveys that friendship is a failure; reinforcing the pressure of conquests for men and boysSlide15
Intersections
Rape culture exists on a continuum of actions that are directly related to systems of oppression. Slide16
In Your Life
What are ways that you see rape culture manifest
in everyday
experiences, relationships, systems, and society?
Source: WCSAPSlide17
Taking Action
Much of what we accept as inevitable is in fact the expression of values and attitudes that can change.
What are some ways you can work to change a culture that supports rape?