From an early age, we experience it. The stares. The whistles. The catcalls. Girls as young as 12-years-old are eyed at on the street, and women are harassed. On college campuses across the United States, when reporting a sexual assault, women are asked before anything, "What were you wearing?" and "Were you drinking?" rather than focusing on the actions of the one who attacked the victim.
Though the U.S. population is fifty percent male and fifty percent female, women's rights, from bodily autonomy to individual cases of sexual assault, are repeatedly debated by a majority of men in governmental positions of power, who do not have the same experiences as women.
The cycle of sexual harassment and assault never ends.
The institution has a name: Rape Culture. Within the community of women, almost all have, to some degree, felt the effects of this societal phenomenon. Rape culture is in itself our national and global culture, and its effects spread beyond the topics of violence, as a culture of rape is created by a male-dominated culture and reinforces it further. The systematic rape culture worldwide has negatively impacted the global community of women and must be addressed in order to foster future success, as one people. Throughout history, structural reinforcements have kept women undermined by men in society.
Until 1920, women in the United States were not allowed to vote, and only after more than a century-long fight was the 19th Amendment of the Constitution ratified, which codified this basic right, one which men had possessed since the nation's founding. Continually, women have been socially undermined by men throughout the centuries. According to Womankind, an organization based out of the UK which focuses on advocacy for women, "Around 1 in 10 (120 million) girls worldwide have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives." On sexual violence in the past, specifically in the U.S., women speaking up about their assault experiences was rare, due to a culture of silence.
In recent years, sexual assault has become somewhat of a hot topic in the political sphere. As such, rape culture, which has been a facet of society for centuries, is being re-explored and studied by a multitude of groups and through different lenses. Community organizations such as the "Me Too" movement and other feminist groups have taken a stand against the societal blaming that exists in a rape culture and have worked to bring awareness to the dangers rape culture poses. Just as toxic masculinity fuels violent treatment, the patriarchy fuels unequal treatment.
In a peer-reviewed piece titled "The Greek System: How Gender Inequality and Class Privilege Perpetuate Rape Culture," by Kristen N. Jozkowski and Jacquelyn D. Wiersma-Mosley, the male-dominated patriarchy is an underlying cause of rape culture, specifically on college campuses in America. Oftentimes, rapists seem to have an out-of-body analysis of rape, and when questioned on if they would consider themselves as a rapist, they say no. According to a New York Times article, "Studies of incarcerated rapists…find a disconnect…It's not that they deny sexual assault happens; it's just that the crime is committed by the monster over there." Therefore, in order to begin taking steps to address rape culture and the means by which it is caused, as a society we need to inform and educate young people — both men and women — on toxic masculinity, the patriarchy, and equal treatment and respect.
Many people are part of the narrative that opposes the Me Too movement and the recent media spotlight on sexual assault due to a "fear" of false accusations. These people claim that a woman can just "make up" a story and ruin someone's life. While false accusations do occur, a study cited by the New York Times found that "...false allegations make up between [two] percent and [ten] percent of rape cases."
The history of unfair treatment and prejudice toward women has led to the "rape culture" in society today.
Sexual assault, discrimination, and the lack of representation of women in multiple aspects of society have all combined into a male-dominated culture, one which not only does not benefit women but actively discriminates against them. To answer the question of "So what?" the violence and undermining of women and a systematic attitude of indifference to rape culture, impacts important facets of our society, such as the government. When people in positions of power and influence, like President Donald Trump or newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, have been accused of having a history of abusing or assaulting women, it makes such behavior or words acceptable by the common person. People in positions of great power over an entire nation not only have the opportunity to decide on issues that will negatively influence women in the country but can create an atmosphere of continued patriarchal ideals, reinforcing rape culture.
By not addressing rape culture, and giving power to people who have been accused of, or blatantly do not respect women, the cycle continues, and a culture that has from the beginning ignored women does not pay attention, even now. Rape culture is manifested from hate, and by teaching the youngest generation to value both men and women, people around the globe will get to live lives free from violence and pain, and a culture of love and respect.
