A short presentation on the phenomenon Rape Culture, Myth or Reality. Victims prefer to remain silent for a number of reasons. The silent chorus (society) helps to perpetuate the myths in many instances. How does one begin to address the challenges encountered?

1. RAPE CULTURE
MYTH OR REALITY?
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2. Sexual Violence
 “Sexual violence is any act that is perpetrated against someone’s
will.
 It encompasses a range of offences including a completed
nonconsensual sexual act, abusive;
 sexual contact (i.e. unwanted touching), and non-contact sexual
abuse (e.g. threatened violence and verbal sexual harassment)”
Source: Center For Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/definitions.html
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3. RAPE CULTURE?
 “a complex set of beliefs that encourage male sexual aggression
and supports violence against women. It is a society where violence
is seen as sexy and sexuality as violent. In a rape culture,
women perceive a continuum of threatened violence that ranges
from sexual remarks to sexual touching to rape itself. A rape
culture condones physical and emotional terrorism against women
as the norm . . . In a rape culture both men and women assume
that sexual violence is a fact of life, inevitable . . . However . . .
much of what we accept as inevitable is in fact the expression of
values and attitudes that can change.”
-Emily Buchwald, Transforming a rape culture
http://www.wavaw.ca/what-is-rape-culture/
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4. Rape Culture
 Coined in the 1970’s (US Feminists)
 Music, Jokes, Advertising, Words, Symbols that make violence
(sexual violence)appear normal may lead to an acceptance of
offensive behaviors.
 Perpetrator is typically male and in many circumstances someone
who is known to the victim.
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5. What are their stories? 5

6. Statistics – United States
 Every 107 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted.
 Approx. 293,000/annum sexual assault cases.
 44% of Victims < 18
 80% < 30 yrs.
 68% not reported to the police
 2/3 cases of rape, victim knew the perp.
 38% of rapists friend/acquaintance.
-Source: Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
https://rainn.org/statistics
https://www.rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assault-victims
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7. Rape Myths
 Attitudes
 Beliefs
 Generally false but widely persistent
 Justification for male sexual aggression against female
*Rape myths are endorsed by society.
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8. Common Responses by perps…
 “She said no but her body said yes.”
 “She was begging for it with that dress she wore.”
 “She works as a prostitute so no harm no foul.”
 “What did she think she was coming to my apartment for?”
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9. Why do men rape?
 Exerting power over vulnerable females
 Opportunity – slipping date rape drug, intoxicated female robbed
of power to ward off advances
 Initiation into violent gangs
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10. Rape Culture – Silenced Woman
 Societies response to allegations (powerful interests vs the lone
voice) – Economic and employment opportunities may be stymied.
 Unwillingness of the victim to be subjected to callous remarks and
vile attacks on her character.
 Family and friends as the “voice of reason”.
 The perception that the legal process does not offer protection.
Treated as being responsible for the attack.
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11. Rape Culture – Knocking down the
myths
 Education - Schools and Colleges
 Community outreach activities – enhanced structures
 Resourced institutions that support the new narrative.
 Distress Hot-line
 Media (mainstream) – some challenge anticipated.
 NGO’s and Celebrity Talk Shop (e.g. No More)
 Social Media Partnerships with Advertisers.
 Legislations that protect the rights of both the alleged perpetrator
and the victim.
 RESULTS that demonstrate that the system works.
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12. References
 http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5176
 http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/sexualviolence/index.html
 http://time.com/40110/rape-culture-is-real/
 http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/washington-throws-the-book-at-
campus-rape-culture-1.2680147
 Welch, M. (1997). VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN BY PROFESSIONAL
FOOTBALL PLAYERS A Gender Analysis of Hypermasculinity, Positional
Status, Narcissism, and Entitlement. Journal of Sport & Social Issues,
21(4), 392-411.
 Buchwald, E., Fletcher, P. R., & Roth, M. (Eds.). (2005). Transforming a
rape culture. Minneapolis, MN: Milkweed Editions.
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