Gender Roles: The Definition Of Rape Culture

The term “rape culture” was coined in the 1970’s by feminists in the United States (WAVAW, “What is Rape Culture?”). Rape, as defined by the UCR, is “penetration, no matter how slight…with any body part or object…of another person, without the consent of the victim” (FBI 2014). Rape culture, however, is much more than just a legal definition. It refers to a culture where sexual assault is not only prevalent, but condoned and viewed as inevitable in society. Although the act of rape can be performed on any sex or gender, rape culture focuses on how women, specifically, are belittled to sexual objects, while men are often seen as the superior subjects. The concept of rape culture is something that many people don’t take seriously. However,
Although some gender roles help to create organization in society, they can also create tremendous dysfunction. Through this perspective lens, rape culture can be viewed as how the gender roles given by and learned through society creates complications in the strive for equality. Because of the patriarchal beliefs that have become such a framework for many aspects of American society, it is difficult for women to take a stand for their rights. Rape culture, as mentioned before, favors men over women. Rather than teaching a young girl different ways to avoid being harmed by the opposite sex, men, at a young age, should be taught not to harm or take advantage of a woman regardless of her status, appearance, and stride. Overall, the three theoretical perspectives of sociology really show how rape culture has a negative impact on society through roles, structures, and media. While many believe that rape culture is a lie told by feminist activists, I truly believe that it is real, present in today’s society, and a problem that should be heavily addressed by