Rape Culture

I often hear the argument that we don't live in a rape culture because that would imply rape was socially acceptable and legal, which it isn't. And their right, it isn't legal. However do you understand how easy it is to get away with rape? Or how hard it is to tell anyone because of what they will say? There are many different ways in which rape culture is very alive in western societies, so I' going to break them down.

Victim Blaming and Slut Shaming

It's 2015 and we still ask what the victim was wearing or see a girl in a short skirt or showing cleavage and say she's "asking for it". We still call a girl "easy" if she is comfortable with her sexuality. We still think her sexual history, outfit, dancing, or how much she had to drink, is an invitation. No-one "asks" to be raped. Stop trying to find a way to make the victim feel like she did something wrong, she didn't. The only person at fault in a rape case is the rapist, and he raped her because he is a rapist, not because of anything she had done. My body is my body and I can dress it or do with it whatever I want and it is never an invitation to touch me.

Body Shaming

If a girl is plus sized or you personally don't find her attractive, she will hear that she couldn't have been raped or sexually assaulted. No-one would ever want her so of course she is lying. Honestly how dare you because not only is every single woman beautiful, sexual assault can happen to anyone, regardless of anything else. Because once again, a rapist rapes because they are a rapist, not because of anything else.

Complimenting

A lot of girls who are sexually assaulted, when turning to a friend, hear someone trying to look on the bright side. "At least you know you looked good". There is no "bright side" to sexual assault. He didn't sexually assault her because she looked good, he sexually assaulted her because he is a rapist. See a pattern?

Cat-Calling

It is entirely too common, especially in bigger cities, for a girl to be walking down the street minding her own business, and a man who is walking or driving by will shout something vulgar and obscene at her, honk a horn as he drives back yelling some odd noise out the window, or approach her in a sexual manner. And do people say or so anything about this? No, not really. This is viewed as harmless, and in itself it is somewhat harmless. It is still harassment and still effects women in a negative way, but they aren't physically touching her, right? Wrong. That man feels entitled to her body. Thinks she is a decoration. Is essentially viewing her as less than human, and promoting rape culture.

Rape Jokes
This doesn't even need explained, but sadly there are still people who think they are funny.

Men

I have heard so many people say "men can't get raped". And while men are raped less often, it still happens. And while women are the perpetrators less often, it happens. When a young boy is raped by his teacher or when any male is raped by a female, he is told that boys don't get raped. He is told he is lucky. Vulgar comments show up online to the effect of "she can 'rape' me any day". He is called gay if he wasn't in to it.

Anyone can be a victim of rape.

Anyone can be a rapist.

Stop promoting rape culture.