Rape culture is a common topic in the feminist blogosphere, and for good reason: Society is set up so that everything from dress codes to dating traditions reinforce rape culture. From the moment we're wrapped in a baby blanket based on our biological sex, a sharp division is drawn between girls and boys — a dichotomy that goes on to inform the way we experience romance as we get older.
Although this objectification comes with a whole range of issues, one of the most damaging is its role in rape culture. Society teaches us that women's worth is in their sexual appeal, which men are supposedly unable to resist; at the same time, however, we're told that having sex makes us dirty. The end result? A society that normalizes sexual violence against women and blames the victims for the actions of the aggressors — aka rape culture.
The insidious thing about rape culture is that it's not always as obvious as victim-blaming in the media. It's present in all kinds of everyday traditions, especially when it comes to romance. Let's take a look at some ways dating perpetuates rape culture below.1. Men Paying For Everything
Although it's certainly nice to get free dinner, the tradition of men paying for everything on dates is a subtle sign of rape culture, largely because it's implied that the woman owes him in return.3. Not Taking "No" For An Answer
Countless books, movies, and TV shows rely on the idea that persistence is key. Rather than taking rejection at face value and moving on, society teaches men to take "no" as a "maybe," and eventually he'll be able to wear a woman down — although why anyone would want to go on a date with someone who doesn't want to be there is beyond me. It might seem romantic in some situations, but in reality, it has dangerous implications for consent.http://www.bustle.com/articles/14580...e-rape-culture5. The "Player" Versus "Slut" Stereotype
Men are expected to get laid with hordes of beautiful women, but in turn, these women are shamed for their participation in sex. Not only is such slut shaming incredibly illogical, it perpetuates rape culture in a number of ways.
Primarily, it implies that women who have sex aren't deserving of respect. When this is combined with the idea that men are sexually voracious and don't need to control themselves, you get a dangerous narrative in which men bear no responsibility for their actions, and the consent of certain women is less important than others' — and that's simply wrong.
Came across this interesting article. Which ones do you think most contributes to rape culture?