Boswell And Spade Analysis

Boswell and Spade examine rape culture or the culture that surrounds and promotes rape. Boswell and Spade examine fraternity lifestyle on college campuses, and how they believe fraternities are prone to higher sexual aggression and a higher acceptance of rape myths. Boswell and Spade believe that sexual aggression is taught in these fraternities where there is a large value placed on social life and recreational activities, such as drinking and drug use. Boswell and Spade explain that men’s sexuality is viewed as natural, uncontrollable and acceptable while a women’s sexuality is seen as shameful. They believe there is an immense double standard in society. To test their assumptions, they evaluated a high-risk fraternity house and a low-risk …show more content…
Heberle further speaks on whether speaking out on sexual suffering will achieve the goals of advocates in providing society with the reality of rape culture. She draws upon a collection of essays titled “Transforming a Rape Culture,” which speak on putting a face on sexual violence, and personalizing it as to making the reality of rape culture understood and inevitably having the hope that the culture will transform by making it a personal vendetta. She describes how the speaking out movement has not worked yet and that she believes that the political strategy built on women’s suffering has only further emphasized male dominance. The manner in which men and women deny that sexual violence is completely the perpetrator’s fault, the way in which victims are asked questions related to clothing and why they were there in the first place reinforces the denial of society and has forced activists to speak out openly on the subject as to exemplify the reality of the situation. However she argues speaking out on the subject further exemplifies the spectacle of women’s suffering. Heberle proceeds to claim that the law practices and police forces deemed to instill a sense of safety and justice in the eyes of the woman, may normalize sexual violence as a regular aspect of political life than doing anything more to prevent sexual …show more content…
The dangerous men videos further stereotype men as powerful beings and women as incapable of resistance and vulnerable. McCaughey and King revitalize rape education videos in their study by replacing “Dangerous Men” videos with “Dangerous Women” videos in which women defend themselves and are seen as threatening to men. They aim to demonstrate that rape does not depend on physical prowess and they aim to reestablish male and female relations. Women’s fear of rape is already very strong, but removing women from public and social life, and changing their physical appearance will not decrease rape. Rape education should be directed towards men so men can begin to reflect on the inequality between men and women, and ultimately take responsibility for sexual violence and ensure that there is consent with sexual partners. Utilizing “Mean Women” will make women feel more powerful and that they have more control than they believe. If violent consequences were brought upon men after rape, perhaps men would begin to comprehend that women are not weak humans who one can