Allegations of rape and sexual harassment flood the news what seems like every day now. And it does not look like it will stop happening anytime soon. As more brave women tell their stories, more women are getting the courage to speak up as well. But, there are a lot of people who are not batting an eye and are even justifying and normalizing the acts.
Just because a girl was wearing something one would consider "suggestive," it does not mean she is suggesting that anything should be done to her. Just because a girl never said "no," for whatever reason, it does not mean she was implying the answer was yes. Just because it was their significant other, it does not mean sex was allowed. Just because they have a few drinks, it does not mean they deserved it. Just because he "didn't know any better," it does not mean he is off the hook. Just because the gender roles were switched, it does not mean the crime is any less serious. Just because he is a notable person of value, it does not mean she was less valuable. Just because it hasn't happened to you, it does not mean it can't be that bad.
Just because people are just starting to tell their stories, it does not mean it hasn't always been a problem. Just because the stories are being brought to our attention at once, it does not mean the stories are any less truthful.
Those statements are too difficult for some pea-brained people to comprehend. It means that rape culture is being justified as just that, another culture. It gets overlooked and even justified. Whether it's being realized or not, the normalization of rape is becoming just as much of issue as the rape itself.
At a time when someone feels sexually victimized, they need support more than anything. But instead, they are often ridiculed. If the predator is notable enough, it is assumed the victim has a lot less to lose. In reality, they had their innocence, which is worth way more than anyone's reputation. A slap on the wrist of a predator is a slap in the face of the victim. Justifying rape is kicking someone when they are already as down as they can possibly be.
When a victim of a sexual crime doesn't get the trust they deserve or when their voices aren't being heard, there is a higher chance of more people keeping quiet. If the truth doesn't come out, the problems become even bigger. That is why a justification of rape culture is just as bad as rape itself.
