Rape Culture And Those Shamed

Improved Essays
Rape Culture and Those Shamed In our society, we perceive those who dress differently, whether conservatively or indecently, to be out of the norm. Often, survivors of sexual assault are questioned about their appearance during the crime. If victims reveal that they were wearing “provocative or immodest clothing, the blame of the violence of rape is often shifted to them. Regardless of their gender or clothing choice, victims of sexual violence should not be ridiculed, isolated, or shamed for an act perpetrated against them. The victim never “asks for it,” but in a society where rape culture is prevalent, the victims are often the ones blamed. In September of 2014, President Barack Obama launched the “It's on Us” campaign, a campaign designed …show more content…
A new survey conducted by National Crime Victimization Survey concluded that out of 40,000 households the survey uncovered that 30% of the incidents were against men. The double standard of rape culture presents itself in this instance. Similarly to female survivors, men and boys who have been sexually assaulted may experience some of the same negative aftereffects. However, they often face more challenges that are unique to their experience. Men who are sexually abused as boys or teens respond differently than men who are sexually assaulted as adults. This only goes to show that sexual assault can happen, and is not exclusive to a particular age group, sexual orientation, or gender …show more content…
It leaves scars that do not heal and permanently damages victims and their families It is unethical to perceive these victims as if they had done such acts to themselves. Rape is done to someone by a perpetrator, usually someone who was a trusted friend, associate or family member. The victim is never to blame, as rape culture would falsely have someone believe. A real change needs to take place in our society and culture. People need to come to together and publicly acknowledge the atrocities committed by the perpetrators of rape. They also need to stop blaming victims and foster a community of support, healing, and understanding. Only by recognizing the diverse victims of rape and their diverse sufferings can society truly begin on a road towards peace. But one thing is for certain, rape is horrible and this “rape culture” that permits it is equally as horrible. This needs to stop. Things need to change. The victims of rape deserve that much, they deserve the support of the people against the monsters who commit these heinous acts. Let us give them that, let us stop rape

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    Slut Walk Research Paper

    • 1234 Words
    • 5 Pages

    When the victim decided to take action against her attackers, she was shamed, publicly degraded, and even cyber-bullied. Whereas, media outlets and locals in Steubenville gave their sympathy to the attackers Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond, concerned with how the incident would affect their presumed bright futures. This is a common example of how, and all too often, society overlooks the victim's standpoint. Moreover, this is one of the primary reasons “two-third of rape victims are worried they will be blamed for the crime” (Tannenbaum…

    • 1234 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Brock Turner Rape Essay

    • 885 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Rape and sexual assault are relevant topics in today’s society. One in six women in the United States “has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime” (“Effects”). The perpetrators are often not prosecuted or expected to take responsibility for their actions. For example, in the rape case “Turner vs. the People,” Stanford Swimmer, Brock Turner, was accused and found guilty of three felony counts of sexual assault and only spent three months in jail, far less than the maximum fourteen years that he could have faced (Stack). Even though he raped an unconscious woman, Brock Turner was only sentenced to six months because, according to the judge: “A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him” (Stack).…

    • 885 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The only thing we can do as society is come together as a whole and fight for what is right. The justification of not only men who rape but women who rape should be an ongoing fight. In order to prevent the entirety of the rape epidemic per se is to inform others. One must inform others of the risks of being raped or sexually abused, and how to act during the situation. With this in mind we are able to continue spreading the awareness and create a safe environment for future generations to live in.…

    • 1670 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sodomy Law In Texas

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The legal issue surrounding this heinous crime done to males can be complicated. To start off with police officers are usually the first responders and at time they can cause more harm than good. Officers are not at times properly trained for this kind of response and can be insensitive. Some officers when encountering a male victim they are usually in disbelief. In this moment, the victim has been denied a proper investigation, and the feelings of they deserved it or wanted begin.…

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    “‘I’ve seen this in every single case. The victim lose friends or becomes a social pariah. If you report on a really small campus, it’s really difficult to re-integrate after you report,’ says Bruno” (Gray, “Why Don 't Campus…”). Often, survivors of rape are thought of less of victims then the rapists are – and the actual victims are blamed because friends and peers sympathize more with the man than the woman.…

    • 1890 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Currently the United States has one of the highest rape rate among countries, every 107 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted with the number of victims being 293,000 each year (Kahn). With many of the attacks being unreported and unrecognized sexual assault is said to be a silent- violent epidemic. The causes and reasoning behind sexual assault are entrenched into our society. Richardson and Shields make a point saying students are not the victims and “rape culture” but the victims of a damaged institution that contributes to risks of sexual assault ( Richardson and Shields 27). Women are staggeringly more likely to be the victim of sexual assault, while men are almost always are the perpetrators.…

    • 1685 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sexual Trauma Paper

    • 728 Words
    • 3 Pages

    If I were to ask people how they feel towards survivors of rape or sexual assault, the majority would respond with feelings of sympathy, concern, and wishes for the victim to recover. If this is true, and rape is a universally condemned, abhorrent crime, why are the victims of such a crime not treated with the same level of respect as those of other crimes? Rape and sexual assault are some of the most psychologically damaging offenses, with only 37% of women feeling fully recovered from their assault after a period of four to six years (Burgess and Holmstrom, 1979). Lack of support from family members, society, and the justice system following their rape or sexual assault is sure to contribute to this lack of recovery. Even our own laws…

    • 728 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Myths About Rape Victims

    • 1950 Words
    • 8 Pages

    When there is a crime involving rape or sexual assault, the case needs to be handled very carefully. The police who are interviewing the victims needs to stay away from the myths about rape victims that have been pushed on society by the media. The police have to have caring attitudes. The myths about the victims could cause the victim to have a “second rape” or question if the rape was partly their fault. The myths that surround the victims of rape can influence the way that law enforcement and other members of the community interact and stereotype the victims.…

    • 1950 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Wanna Have Sex Analysis

    • 1577 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Consent is a topic that has been gaining additional exposure throughout the United States. Some of these sources being from educational videos, personal accounts, or in books. Green, Gunsaullus, and Joannides all discuss the topic of consent in sexual encounters, which define the parameters of sexual assault and rape and encourage people to apply consent in their own lives. Green begins the discussion about sexual consent in a video entitled Wanna Have Sex?, which thoroughly describes sexual coercion, or sexual assault and rape.…

    • 1577 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Rape Stereotypes

    • 1464 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Everyone today has heard of at least one rape story. And if a citizen has only heard of one story, they must rarely keep up with current events in society. Whether it came from the victim her/himself or on the local news, its no surprise the rate at which this specific crime is occurring. The shocking news is, however, the number one location rape happens today is on college campuses nationwide (Parent, 2010). If so many rapes occur on a weekly or even daily basis, why are the majority of them not being reported?…

    • 1464 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Rape culture shows rape as a common occurrence and is normalized by societal demeanor and popular culture. In an article written within Ms. Magazine, Caroline Heldman and Baillee Brown write “rape is tacitly condoned through denial of the rape epidemic, denial of the harms of rape, not considering rape [as] a “real” crime, victim-blaming, trivializing rape, and the normalization of female sexual objectification and rape eroticization in pop culture.” They explain that a change or shift in rape culture will most likely not emerge very quickly, but can be attained by “doing four things: Establish a clear definition of consent[;] educate students about sexual violence laws[;] send a clear message that sexual violence of any kind will not be tolerated…

    • 134 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Male Rape Research Paper

    • 903 Words
    • 4 Pages

    When we hear “sexual assault,” we often think of women as the victims and males as the perpetrators. But what of the male counterpart? Are there really male rape victims and survivors? The answer to this question is a resounding yes. According to RAINN, “About 3% of American men - or 1 in 33 - have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.”…

    • 903 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sexual Rape Research Paper

    • 1722 Words
    • 7 Pages

    “ Sexual abuse is “a horribly sensitive issue for boys, particularly because boys are not to talk about their feelings and to feel vulnerable,” says Jody Brinser” (Goad,2). Men sexually assaulted this is not what happens to them. It only happens to women and young girls. If the men and young boys get sexually assaulted they deserve it and may have wanted it. These statements are statements that someone may say or think because it is not heard or talked about.…

    • 1722 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It’s important to educate people that seeing these acts and being silence causes the world more harm than good. Solutions to this epidemic are tough to come up with its vital we help victims cope with the impact rape…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Rape Research Paper

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages

    That’s why we need to add a proactive approach which means prevention. It means preventing not just sexual violence happening to those we love and care about, but preventing sexual violence from happening to anyone. Similar to murder, rape is a reprehensible act that leaves a body defiled. However, rape victims are not like murder victims; they live and relieve the traumatic experience. Worse yet, they can never leave the scene of the crime.…

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays