What is Rape Culture?

Rape culture exists in a society or environment in which common social beliefs, attitudes, and morals normalize, minimize, or excuse sexual violence. It presents itself through language, media, laws, and the behaviors of society that trivialize sexual assault, blame victims, and protect or ignore perpetrators rather than holding them accountable. It is not a single idea or action, but is instead spread and presented in a variety of ways. 

For example, it can be seen in the comments people make, including sexually explicit jokes and trivializing sexual assault through phrases such as “Boys will be boys” and “He should be happy he got some,” (when referring to a man being sexually assaulted). It’s the assumptions made about who can be sexually assaulted and who cannot be, such as how only promiscuous women get assaulted and how men don’t or can’t be assaulted. But if a man is assaulted, then he’s considered “weak.” 

Rape culture is the normalization of sexual harassment and assault, where complaints about catcalling and groping are dismissed as “harmless” or something that people should just accept. Some even go as far as to say, “You should be grateful, it’s a compliment.”

Rape Culture and the Media

This harmful culture can also be seen in the media. Consider portrayals that romanticize coercion and sexual violence, such the infamous movie 365 Days that calls itself a romance while displaying a woman being held against her will until she gives in sexually to her kidnapper and eventually falls in love with him. These behaviors contribute to the dismissal of sexual assault’s seriousness and its normalization within society. 

The way society views and talks about certain groups significantly shapes the realities those groups experience, including their vulnerability to sexual violence. Women, in particular, are disproportionately targeted by society, facing widespread disrespect, objectification, and violence. Throughout the media, women are seen as submissive characters in movies for the male lead’s sexual pleasure and mental motivation, are described as “bitches” and “sluts” in song lyrics, and are popular in violent pornography. 

When societal attitudes devalue women, they reinforce harmful stereotypes and diminish empathy toward women's well-being. This creates an environment where sexual violence is more likely to occur, as it reduces the perceived seriousness of such crimes and weakens accountability for perpetrators. Research suggests that cultures with high levels of gender inequality, victim-blaming, and normalization of sexist attitudes tend to have higher rates of sexual violence. Challenging degrading views and promoting gender equality are essential steps in preventing such violence.

Victim Blaming

One of the most damaging consequences of rape culture is the normalization of victim blaming, which fuels its continued existence. Victim blaming refers to when someone suggests, through words or actions, that a person who experienced sexual violence is responsible for the assault, rather than holding the perpetrator accountable.

Examples of victim blaming statements include: 

• “You shouldn’t have been drinking.” 

• “Why did you go home with them?”

• “She shouldn’t have gone out dressed like that.” 

• “Why didn’t you fight back?” 

• “That’s why you don’t walk alone at night.”

• “She was asking for it.” 

• “Why didn’t you leave?” 

• “Then why didn’t you report it to the police?”

Statements such as these shift the responsibility of the assault away from the perpetrator and place it on the survivor. By blaming the victim, it excuses and minimizes the assailant’s actions and creates an environment of tolerance for such crimes. This can enable repeat offenders or create future ones who witness how easily others can get away with the assault. 

Victim blaming contributes to rape culture by implying that sexual violence is an expected consequence of certain behaviors, meaning that you can avoid it if you simply don’t participant in certain behaviors. This ignores the reality of assault, as it can happen to anyone, anywhere, regardless of their actions, clothing, or sobriety. Focusing on what the victim did instead of addressing the perpetrator’s actions distorts the reality of consent and creates a dangerous precedent.

Law Enforcement's Role in Sexual Violence Cases

Police officers are often the first point of contact for people after experiencing sexual violence and thus play an important role in the justice system for survivors. However, rape culture has deeply shaped their beliefs, which in turn influences their decisions, including their willingness to investigate and classify cases of sexual violence. If a survivor does not fit the officer’s idea of credibility, their case can be dismissed without further pursuit. There are, unfortunately, high numbers of cases in which survivors have reported their assault, only to be met with intense scrutiny that leads them to drop the process. 

Other times, rape kits were ignored or thrown out, or the police never followed-up or pursued the claim. Survivors are often told that there is nothing to be done without strong evidence of a physical attack, such as bruises or scratches. These attitudes towards sexual assault by law enforcement overlook the complexities of trauma and varying experiences by survivors. 

If the cases do make it to the court of law, research has shown that only about 8% of rapists are incarcerated for their crime. Perpetrators of sexual assault often receive less consequences for their crime than most criminals, with the majority of their expected jail time replaced by probations. 

This harmful influence of rape culture can be seen in cases such as the Irish criminal trail where a 17-year-old girl’s lace underwear was used against her when prosecuting the 27-year-old man who raped her. The defense lawyer said, “Does the evidence out-rule the possibility that she was attracted to the defendant and was open to meeting someone and being with someone? You have to look at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a thong with a lace front.”

Soon after, the accused man was acquitted. This shows how rape culture not only allows the perpetrators to get away, but tells them that what did they was not morally wrong. 

Rape culture perpetuates harm as it discourages survivors from coming forward and reporting the abuse. When attitudes such as victim blaming are present within society—including within law enforcement and the legal system—it marginalizes and silences the survivor. When victims come forward, they are often met with skepticism, forced to prove their credibility, or dismissed entirely.  If they know that society will simply blame them for the attack and will be unaccepting of their story, many never see the point in even discussing it. 

Others, unfortunately, may even believe the harmful attitudes perpetuated by society and blame themselves for the sexual assault. By discouraging survivors from speaking out, rape culture reinforces cycles of sexual violence. It also upholds gender-based oppression, disproportionately affecting women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized communities.

How to Combat Rape Culture? 

Every individual holds power in shaping society, and we can all play a part in ending rape culture. Language is one of the most important aspects of being human and has shaped our society and its history for centuries. Thus, it is extremely important not to ignore the influence that language has on shaping society’s attitudes towards sexual violence. 

In order to help combat rape culture, we cannot let offensive and trivializing rape jokes or degrading comments pass by without saying something. It can be hard to stand up to others, especially friends and family, but it’s important for dissuading the normalization of such language. We must also acknowledge within ourselves if we are using language that objectifies or degrades others and may create an air of acceptance for that behavior around us. 

If someone says that they have faced sexual violence, it is important to take them seriously and to offer support. Let survivors know that it is not their fault. Avoid putting any sort of blame on the survivor, and instead hold the perpetrator fully accountable for their vile actions. 

Additionally, it is important for society to have education about consent and bodily autonomy. People see dozens of romance movies where the man keeps pursuing a woman even after she says no. More often than not, the female character eventually falls in love with the man's “persistence,” and believes that this is what love looks like. It’s unfortunate that some may not even understand the harm they are causing because of how normalized certain behaviors and language have become. 

Thus, it’s important to understand consent and be respectful of others’ physical space even in casual situations, with your romantic partner, and with friends. A “yes” on one occasion does not mean "yes" for another. Always communicate with sexual partners and never assume that you have consent. 

We must not lose hope that our society can tear down the harmful rape culture that has been so deeply engrained within it. There is always an opportunity for growth and change, it is just up to us to fight for it. 

Resources

• National Sexual Assault Hotline: a service of RAINN 

  • Online chat hotline 

  • Spanish online chat hotline 

  • Telephone hotline: 800-656-4673

• National Helpline for Male Survivors: a service of 1in6 

  • Online chat hotline 

• National Street Harassment Hotline: a service of Stop Street Harassment 

  • Online chat hotline 

  • Telephone hotline: 855-897-5910 

• DoD Safe Helpline: a service for members of the U.S. military and their families, operated by RAINN for the Department of Defense 

  • Online chat hotline 

  • Telephone hotline: 877-995-5247