Rape culture: an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture.
When you’re walking through a dark parking lot, hold your keys between your fingers. That way, if you were to get attacked, you can use it as a weapon. When you’re out at a bar or party, be sure to never take your eyes off your drink. That way, if someone slips a date rape drug into it, you don’t get sexually assaulted. When you’re alone and some guy continues to harass you, tell him you have a boyfriend. That way, they’ll back off because they’ll respect another man more than they’ll respect you. When you’re going out, always carry around your pepper spray. That way, you’ll always be prepared to defend yourself. When you’re out, make sure you and your friends have a code word. That way if things turn south, you’re friends are able to get you away from sketchy situations.
We live in a rape culture. Girls and women around the country, even world are constantly thinking about possible scary and dangerous situations that could arise at any given situation. Whether it’s consciously or unconsciously, those situations are always in the back of their minds and they feel the need to prepare themselves and be aware of these kinds of situations. It’s become so normalized and such a huge part of women’s regular routine, that it’s now almost out of habit to be taking these precautions. How is this okay?
How is it okay that women can’t walk home alone at night without having a pit in her stomach or be cautious of everyone around her? How is it okay that women have to be taught how to protect themselves rather than men be taught to control themselves? How is it okay that people now have to be watching their drinks constantly so predators don’t have the opportunity to slip a drug into it? How is it okay that people are being shamed and ostracized for speaking out and standing up for themselves if they are sexually assaulted? How is it okay that it is nearly impossible for a person to be charged with sexual assault and that nearly 98% of rapists never see the inside of a jail?
Men and women are silenced and scared to stand up for themselves. Almost 70% of sexual assaults don’t even get reported because victims feel that they aren’t being heard or supported. Parents are sending their kids to college with whistles and pepper spray. Roughly four out of five sexual assaults are by someone the victim knows. People are becoming more paranoid and conscious of the people they're choosing to surround themselves with. Rape and sexual assault have become a massive part of our society and as a result, more and more men and women are being traumatized for the rest of their lives for something that is 100% preventable.
