A question of 'Rape Culture'

Mytecacc · 2013-10-21T10:17:19+00:00

Here is a feminists definition

Basically, "rape culture" describes a culture where there are widespread ideas and beliefs and attitudes that make rape more likely to happen. (Notice that's different from people actually thinking rape in theory is okay.) Not everybody who believes those things or lives in such a culture is a rapist, but those ideas work to make sexual violence more prevalent. Now, different feminist theorists would disagree about exactly what ideas contribute to rape culture (and not every feminist agrees that it's a useful paradigm at all), but here's some examples:

The idea that women who wear short skirts or drink beer with guys or agree to visit a guy's room are "asking for it" is part of rape culture, because it suggests that it's more okay to disregard the explicit consent of women who act in certain ways.
Jokes about prison rape are a part of rape culture, because they suggest that men who commit crimes should expect to be raped as part of their punishment, and that society should approve of it and laugh about it.
The idea that the male libido is constantly dialed up to 11 is a part of rape culture, because it suggests that men can't be expected to control themselves, so it's the responsibility of women to avoid presenting them with temptation.
The idea that the male libido is constantly dialed up to 11 is a part of rape culture, because it suggests that men by definition are always consenting partners, so that forcing sex on a man can't be rape.
The idea that good girls should "play hard to get" is a part of rape culture, because it suggests that women who say no might really want you to keep pressuring them.
Saying stuff like "Dude I raped those guys in Halo 2" can be considered a part of rape culture, because it both trivializes rape and reinforces the view that rape can be an act of domination to take pride in.

http://en.reddit.com/r/AskFeminists/comments/189po0/what_is_meant_by_rape_culture/c8d1lxt

chocoboat · 2013-10-21T20:34:45+00:00

"Rape culture" is a culture in which rape is seen as something less than the horrible violation that it truly is. In a culture like that, rape is "not so bad" and excuses are made for the rapists like "she was drunk, she probably wanted it". Rape victims may be accused of making false rape accusations, and shamed for "stirring up trouble".

Rape culture also includes guys who buy and sell date rape drugs, or guys that hunt out overly drunk girls in order to attempt to take advantage of their drunkenness to get laid.

A perfect example of rape culture is the Steubenville rape case. The whole town made excuses for their rapists and claimed it would be unfair for a rape conviction to ruin the promising sports careers of some bright young men, and accused the rape victim of all kinds of terrible things.

There's one extremely important thing to understand though... when rape culture exists, IT IS LOCALIZED. It is a certain group of idiotic guys. It is a certain group of football fans in a certain town.

It is NOT the entire United States (or the entire world), and it does not include ALL men. This is a very important point that anti-male feminists fail to comprehend.

C0CKPUNCHER · 2013-10-21T11:48:34+00:00

It was a term originally invented to explain the culture of rape in American prisons and how the guards were essentially taking part in it by not stopping it. Ie the idea that someone can go into prison for a not especially serious crime and end up getting raped daily without the guards stopping it.

There is nothing comparable outside in places such as universities or offices.

2013-10-21T11:12:59+00:00

Rape is in our culture considered the most vicious crime just after murder. Magically feminists have turned this fact upside-down claiming that our culture endorses rape. Every aggressive ideology needs, after all, an enemy and the more despised the enemy is the better it serves its function. Ingenious!

PowerWisdomCourage · 2013-10-21T13:33:56+00:00

A culture that tolerates rape (even to the point of encouraging it). So, nothing like most of the cultures on Earth.

Eulabeia · 2013-10-21T20:44:00+00:00

I can't seem to grasp why people would elect to use this term

If you that it's because too inflammatory that's exactly the point. Feminists want people to believe that women are being raped everywhere and receiving no justice at all, and our society not only condones it but encourages it.

5th_Law_of_Robotics · 2013-10-21T16:20:27+00:00

Rape culture originally meant any cultural attributes that could realisticall be said to make rapes more likely.

Lately it has come to mean "anything we can use to bash men and blame half the population for the actions of a few".

2013-10-21T14:57:51+00:00

There is no rape culture.. it is a label once applied to prison inmates.. now feminists are trying to apply it to society at large and it's just a big lie/label they really want to stick to permanently victimize women. There is no such thing as "rape culture" outside of feminism.

2013-10-21T17:30:11+00:00

I stated it once.. and I'll state it again there is no "rape culture outside of feminism". End of story. Go ask feminist what they think it is. You will find it there. It is no reality and a pure label they wish to make real. There is no rape culture. No men sitting around in a coffee shop bragging about how they rapped a young woman.. no groups, cults, religions, academics, lawyers .. nothing.. only feminist talking about "rape culture" and they are trying to create a reality, a label for society in general, that is simply untrue. "Rape culture" exists only in feminism and they are really trying hard to lay this label on society as a whole. Social Problems 101/ Labeling theory. Feminism is the only purveyor of "rape culture" thus feminism is "rape culture".

Pecanpig · 2013-10-21T11:55:35+00:00

In your most eloquent manner, can someone please explain to me what 'Rape culture' actually means?

Rape Culture™ imagine US prison culture but with the general population and targeted at women, that's what Feminists think rape culture is, a culture which does not only tolerate but promotes the rape of women.

Sorry for being as eloquent as a brick through a window.

And yes depending on definition there is a rape culture, it's in US prisons and outside of it is targeted at men to a limited degree.

rightsbot · 2013-10-21T10:04:17+00:00

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HolySchmoly · 2013-10-21T12:18:51+00:00

Rape. Compensation. Litigation. Alcohol. If you think any of these are bad and people should change their attitudes append "culture". Hence everything-is-rape culture.

Mytecacc · 2013-10-21T10:11:24+00:00

Ask in /r/askfeminists

People here don't really know.

In /r/askfeminists they will tell you something like that its a collection of myths that make rape more likely to happen or be excused in some direct or indirect way - ie. a man with an erection is consenting / women wearing certain clothes are asking to be raped.

2013-10-21T10:10:27+00:00

I've done a lot of thinking and reading on the matter and I've concluded this: Rape culture and all of that so-called anti-rape talk is usually just code word for anti-male. You read a lot about it and see the posters and you'd think it would be about how rape is bad and so on, right? Well actually it's just anti-male and male bashing nonsense, and really not much at all about rape.

dejour · 2013-10-21T19:17:35+00:00

Wikipedia says, "Rape culture is a concept which links rape and sexual violence to the culture of a society, and in which prevalent attitudes and practices normalize, excuse, tolerate, and even condone rape."

I don't agree that we have rape culture. I suppose some beliefs that are prevalent lead to an increase in rape. (eg. Women are supposed to play hard to get. This leads to more men not respecting a no, because no doesn't always mean no.)

But overall I think that rape is not considered normal, excused, tolerated or condoned.

We are much more a theft culture (stealing songs off the internet is considered normal), and we are materialistic which means people are more likely to steal. We are arguably more of a murder culture than a rape culture (murders are shown on tv and in videogames so much more than rape).

2013-10-21T16:40:59+00:00

I posted a comment in this thread, here's a link: http://www.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/1ow5i7/a_question_of_rape_culture/ccwe2ev

I'd also like to say that asking /r/MensRights about rape culture is a lot like asking /r/Creationist about micro/macro-evolution.

Title	A question of 'Rape Culture'
Author	GenuineSounds
Upvotes	13
Comments	47
Date	October 21, 2013 10:02 AM UTC (12 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/1ow5i7/a_question_of_rape_culture/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/a-question-of-rape-culture.1160778 https://theredarchive.com/post/1160778

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