Gender and Sexual Studies: is the United States a Rape Culture - Essay Example

Gender & Sexual Studies: is the U.S. a Rape Culture Rape culture refers to a set of complex beliefs, which encourages the sexual aggression of male while supporting violence against women in a society (Buchwald, Pamela and Martha XI). Therefore, this implies that in such societies, violence is considered as sexy while sexuality is regarded as violent. Thus, in such societies women experience unwavering threats of violence ranging from sexual remarks, touching and even rape itself (Buchwald, Pamela and Martha XI). Moreover, in rape culture societies either gender accepts that sexual violence is inevitable and is part and parcel of life even though it is not either biologically or divinely ordained; despite being a set beliefs, values or attitudes, which can be changed by society (Buchwald, Pamela and Martha XI). Therefore, from the definition, it is justifiable to say that rape culture encompasses such elements as TV, jokes, legal jargon, jokes, words, rules and regulations, etc. that formalize and normalize sexual coercion and violence against women in society. Therefore, “Is the U.S. a rape culture?” This paper looks at the extent to which the American culture can be perceive as a rape culture historically and the present. Therefore, to answer my question, “Is the U.S. a rape culture?” Yes. Statistics indicates that there are many unreported cases of rape committed in the United States both in the past and the present. According to Buchwald, Pamela and Martha, many cases of assault that are unreported by the victims are perceived either as domestic disputes or bad dates implying that the victims perceive rape as just a mere normal occurrence in life or an acceptable behavior in society. For instance, a study report carried by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992-2000 indicate that of all sexual assaults committed against women in America, only 36% of rapes, 26% of sexual assaults and 34% of attempted rapes were reported to the police signifying that most sexual assaults and rapes were not reported or treated. The report further states that, when the victims were asked why they never reported their cases to the police, they cited reasons like: they feared reprisal, it was a personal matter or they wanted to protect the offenders (Buchwald, Pamela and Martha). Therefore, from such studies it is evident that Americans perceive rape as a culture and a normal occurrence or behavior, which is condoned in society. In addition, the monthly reports compiled by the Uniform Crime Report of the FBI from more than 17,000 law agency enforcement, which covers over 96% of the United States’ population, indicates that unfounded and baseless complaints for sexual assault, violence and rape are excluded from the compiled figures. However, critics argue that because rape cases are rarely reported to the police, then it implies that the figures presented by the UCR are not a true reflection of the actual figure of victimizations. For instance, the report by the UCR indicates that, there were 1.8 million female survivors of forcible rape attempts or forcible rape in the U.S. for the period 1983-2002. However, the report goes ahead to state that, these would be only the most conservative figures available and should be treated as the minimum or baseline figures for rape cases occurring in the U.S. (Buchwald, Pamela and Martha). Therefore, this is a clear indication a number of Americans have accepted the rape culture as part of their lives and did not see a big deal reporting the cases to the police. That notwithstanding, the report further states that, “During 2002, the estimated rate of female forcible rapes increased for all community types.” It goes on to say that the greatest increase was witnessed outside the cities of metropolitan areas, where an estimated rate of 75.9% per 100,000 forcible rapes was recorded, representing 12.1% increase from the year 2001; the metropolitan areas recorded a 66.5% per 100, 000 females representing a 3.3% increase while the rural counties recorded an increase of 6.8% over the same period. Therefore, with these figures, it is evident that the rate of forcible female rape cases in the U.S. has been increasing historically and even up to the twentieth century. Further, given that a number of cases are not reported to the police agencies, for fear of reprisal, protecting offenders or considering rape cases as personal matters, the figures would be higher hence implying that, a number of Americans have accepted the rape culture as part of their lives and do not see a big deal reporting the cases to the police. Further, from Andrea Dworkin’s speech, she portrays the U.S. a rape culture when she says that because, the nation has institutionalized men’s power, which they manifest each day. She goes ahead to say that, the power is protected by religion, law, religious practices, universities that are strongholds of the male’s supremacy, the police force, the artists, the poets and those Shelly called “the acknowledged legislators of the world” (Buchwald, Pamela and Martha). Therefore, because of this values and attitudes, women believe that they are silenced and cannot have a say when they are forcibly assaulted sexually by their male counterparts. Thus, given that the set of values aforementioned, form part of the complex beliefs forming the components of a rape culture, and the statistical figures of forcible rapes, it is justifiable to say that the U.S. is a rape culture. Moreover, she articulates that the homophobia conferences organized in the nation are only meant protecting the male supremacy but in reality encouraging men to rape women. For instance, she says, “the solution of the men’s movement to make men less dangerous to each other by changing the way you touch and feel each other is not a solution.” “It is a recreational break.” She goes on saying, “In my opinion…male homosexuality exists …to protect male power.” “Do it to her” (Buchwald, Pamela and Martha). Therefore, from her sentiments it is evident that the culture of male supremacy exists in the U.S. and the male consider the female as inferior beings. Thus, to protect their power, men are organizing movements, which aim at discouraging homophobia and do not intend to stop men from forcible rape. That notwithstanding, such cultural values of protecting male power while ignoring the rights of the women constitute a rape culture making it justifiable to term the U.S. a rape culture. In addition, from our definition we demonstrated that rape culture encompasses such elements as TV, jokes, legal jargon, jokes, words, rules and regulations, etc. Therefore, articulated my Michael Kimmel, TV shows such as The Man Show, The Bachelor, and The Bachelorette all depict a rape culture. In addition, men’s magazines such as Stuff or Maxim and other consumer good for men, which contain “sexpots”, “jump on trampolines in bikinis with oversized mammary glands not quite completely stuffed into too-tight tops” all depict a rape culture. Further, it is common to find an infinite number of men clamoring for Viagra to treat a non-existent problem whose solution lies with their brains in the U.S. According to Michael Kimmel in Buchwald, Pamela and Martha, “At least two thirds of all men with erectile dysfunction experience morning erections, indicating that the problem is not with the physiological apparatus…” Therefore, it is evident that men look for Viagra to revive their libidos and not for erections. Thus, this depicts a the U.S. as a rape culture because men are trying to find functional erections even in the absence of sexual feeling, which in the long-run can result to rape cases. Therefore, rape culture encompasses so many elements which, are dominantly visible and present in the United States. Such acts like date rape, sexual predation, entitlement and aggression, which in the recent years have contributed to forcible rapes need to be checked on if the determination/efforts of ending the culture of rape in the U.S. is anything to go by. In addition, women must play their part to avoid making themselves vulnerable by e.g. remaining eternally vigilant, avoiding compromising their liberties and modifying their activities, men will always act out of control. Further, there is a need to change masculinity to enable men make other better choices regarding their bodies. Thus, by changing these values, and belief we can manage to transform the culture of rape in the U.S. and be able reducing the escalating number of rape cases that are bedeviling the nation, including those that go unreported. Works Cited Buchwald, Emilie, Pamela R. Fletcher, and Martha Roth, eds. Transforming a rape culture. Minneapolis, MN: Milkweed Editions, 2005.Print. Read More