Rape jokes have contributed to rape culture throughout the years. Making light of a serious issue. In turn, these jokes desensitize rape, and allow us to not see it as a serious topic. Social media and marketing play heavy roles in contributing to this culture, especially through advertisements.
Our society continues to make light of rape culture, thinking it is funny. But it is not. Someone is sexually assaulted every 107 seconds. Where is the humor in that?
Big stores tend to be cautious with how they choose to advertise their merchandise, making sure they appeal to large markets and groups of people. One store this season however slipped up and is outraging customers due to one of its magazine advertisements.
Bloomingdale’s took an interesting approach to their latest Christmas advertisement. They portrayed a woman looking away with a man looking at her, the caption states: “Spike Your Best Friend’s Eggnog When They’re Not Looking.”
The mere fact that someone chose this advertising concept for print should be a red flag for our culture. When you advertise you are trying to get the attention of a large group, what does this say about us?
Instead, Bloomingdale's ad really says, "She is about to become one of the 293,000 victims of sexual assault this year."
The issue isn't just on Bloomingdale's advertisement, it is about our society in general. People do not see the issue with making light of the date rape culture. The idea that this advertisement will not make some people's jaws drop, or eyes open a little wider. They will be unphased by the advertisement and turn the page without a second thought.
Rape is a serious issue, but our society has embraced a rape culture. We turn a blind eye to the pain and severity of rape itself and turn to cute tag lines or jokes about it.
We live in a world where someone spiking someone else's drink is cute and you might laugh at the thought of it.
She is someone's daughter, sister, niece or cousin. She should not be a statistic, but by ignoring the issue at hand, she will become one.
