What Is Rape Culture?

The term “rape culture” seems extreme to some people, but it is real and a major factor in allowing harmful behavior to continue in our society.

Where Does Rape Culture Start?

This is where rape culture starts: rape jokes, victim blaming, catcalling, “locker room talk,” not believing survivors, teaching how not to get raped instead of how not to rape, believing rape can only happen to women, rating people’s bodies, stalking, groping, sending or sharing unsolicited nudes, revenge porn, and facilitation with drugs or alcohol.

Where is this behavior learned? We learn rape culture from media and algorithms, rape myths, racial stereotypes, peer influence, victim blaming, and gender and sexuality beliefs — from films, books, music lyrics and videos, video games, fashion, and pornography. Imagery, word choice, and language matter. It’s not hard to see how degrading humor, marginalization, and gender inequity can lead to rape-supportive attitudes and behavior.

How Can You Help Shift to a Culture of Consent?

• Create a culture of enthusiastic consent — only engage in sex-positive activity when there is ENTHUSIASTIC verbal consent.
• Stop victim blaming — perpetrators are responsible for an assault, NEVER the survivor. A survivor’s sobriety, clothing, and sexual history are not relevant.
• Redefine masculinity and challenge gender stereotypes — don’t buy into ideas which view masculinity as violent and dominant or femininity as passive, weak, or less valued.
• Have zero tolerance — do not share intimate images of anyone without their permission, and let your friends know you aren’t okay with them doing it either.
• Take an intersectional approach — rape culture affects us all, and certain populations, including transgender youth, Indigenous, Brown and Black girls, and people with disabilities, are most at-risk.
• Listen to survivors — listen to their experiences, have compassion, and believe their truth.
• Don’t laugh at rape jokes — speak up when you see people using “locker room talk” or sexually degrading terms or behavior.
• Be an active bystander — safely intervening signals to the perpetrator that their behavior is unacceptable and may help someone stay safe.
• Educate your peers and start the conversation.

YOU can change the culture of your school and community. And when you do, people will see and join you!