Rape Culture In America

Every 107 seconds another American becomes the victim of sexual assault. One out of every six American women will be a victim to attempted or completed rape in their lifetime while one out of every thirty-three American men will be a victim to attempted or completed rape in their lifetime (RAINN). In 2010 the United States even ranked third amongst cold countries for rate of rape. Rape is so pervasive in our society that it is not surprise America has developed a rape culture. Rape culture can be defined as a complex set of beliefs that ultimately encourages sexual violence and normalizes rape. Rape culture uses jokes, television, music, legal jargon, laws, and imagery that normalize violence and sexual coercion. In the 21st century we have
Right now media only serves to enforce gender roles and add to rape culture. To end rape culture we need to change the perception of men and women in the media. In the media there are recurring themes that enforce strict gender stereotypes. Women are not only pressured to look physically attractive but are also displayed in the media as submissive and an object of sexual desire. This portrayal often makes women feel the need to assume a complementary role in the relationship. The submissive roles given to women make it seem like women naturally do not take power and control. Males in the media are portrayed in a much different way. Men are often portrayed as sources of power and aggression. The roles that we force upon men and women contribute to rape culture by making rape seem normal. The media also promotes rape culture through the objectification of women. One of the biggest objectifiers of women are advertisers. Women are shown in all sorts of sexualized positions but the ads themselves remain impersonal. By dehumanizing women and turning them into objects to be desired instead of people to be respected advertisers create the view that women are meant to be used in the way an object would be. To end rape culture the media will have to work to change the way that they portray both men and women in the media. To end rape culture the media needs to portray diverse traits among all groups of people helping to end some of the strict and toxic gender roles. By forcing the media to be accountable for the way they display people we can work to change perceptions and end rape