The document discusses the concept of rape culture, defined as a societal belief system that normalizes and condones sexual violence and aggression against women. It cites statistics on sexual violence in the U.S., including rates of assault and underreporting, and highlights the prevalence of rape myths that justify male aggression. Additionally, it calls for education and community outreach to change attitudes and support victims.

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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