Rape culture is a social climate in which rape has become common and sexual violence against women is normalized and justified through media and popular culture. Culture is an environment in which rape is prevalent and sexual violence against women is normalized and excused. Misogynistic language and objectification of women’s bodies are used to propagate rape culture. It results in a society that disregards the rights and safety of women. One woman’s rape is a degrading, terrifying, and limiting experience for all women.

When you hear the tragic news of another lady being the victim of sexual assault or rape, it’s not unusual to hear someone comment, “Well if she wasn’t dressed like that,” or “she was drunk and asking for it.” It is also typical for these crimes to go undetected because the victims fear that they will not be believed or would face greater shame and humiliation if they do. Rape culture is widespread. It’s ingrained in the way we think, speak, and move around. Rape culture is always entrenched in patriarchal values, power, and control, regardless of the circumstance.

Every day we have the chance to analyze our actions and beliefs for prejudices that allow rape culture to thrive. We can all take action to combat rape culture, from our views about gender identities to the policies we support in our communities. We need to create a country that opposes rape culture instead of living in a society that educates women and children, in particular, to constantly be alert, to carry blades in their luggage, and to train self-defence. We need a society in which every individual feels secure and is treated with the respect they deserve. We must speak out against the culture of rape.

I’d like to give some examples of rape culture,

• Blaming the victim (“She begged for it!”)
• Sexual assault is trivialized (“Boys will be boys!”).
• Sexually explicit jokes
• Sexual harassment tolerance
• Inflating the number of fake rape reports
• Examining a victim’s appearance, mental condition, intentions, and background in public
• “Manhood” is defined as being dominating and sexually aggressive.
• Defining “womanhood” as sexually passive and subservient
• Men are under pressure to “score”
• Women are under pressure to avoid being “cold.”
• Assuming promiscuous women are the only ones that get raped
• Refusing to believe that rape allegations are true
• Rather than training males not to rape, women are taught how to prevent being raped.

What can men and women do to fight the culture of rape? We don’t believe rape culture exists because we don’t think it does. Here’s how men and women can work together to challenge the current quo.

• Use language that does not objectify or degrade women.
• If you overhear someone making an insensitive remark or trivializing rape, speak out.
• Take a friend’s claim of being raped seriously and be supportive.
• Consider the messages in the media about women, men, relationships, and violence.
• Even in informal circumstances, be mindful of others’ physical space.
• Define who you are as a man or a woman. Don’t let stereotypes influence your behaviour.
• Participate or become a member of a community group dedicated to ending violence against women.
• Raise your awareness of rape culture throughout the world.
• Rape is not to be laughed at.

Redefining cultural norms and standards might be difficult in a culture that blames victims every time an incidence of violence is recorded, but it is necessary. It’s time to come out of the cultural norms and stand against culture. Changes do not change alone until we change. Let’s end rape culture and create a safer society for all men and women.