Night Questor
Jul 30, 2017 · 3 min read

Actually I can claim no firsthand experience with this, but can tell you that looking at definitions of terms can be very misleading. The definition of rape is not the same as the actual experience (again claiming no firsthand knowledge). The definition states the basic elements that comprise what is supposed to be the proper use of the term. However when dealing with rape it is not a simple definition (Though it should be), even the laws in most western societies are varies, and the punishments even more so. We have terms like date rape etc., that have invaded the legal system here in America, sentencing for the crime is so wide disproportionate that is borders ridiculousness. Have you never heard people say these things “She dressed like a whore, so what did she expect”, “She asked for it”, and the often used “She was a willing participant at first”. So you can see that while we have a definition of rape, and we have several definitions of rape, the reality of rape (or social views) is quite varied. In my opinion which can be wrong, it more or less boils down to the fact that Yes Rape is a crime, and while the rapist is condemned by the law, and society on the face of it, underneath there is a common layer that still blames the woman for the fact that the rape occurred. The only disagreement I have with what the author wrote here is that the common layer while comprised of a majority of men is not solely men there are many women helping to support this view.

I will add that there are many who will say that such a culture does not exist. Simply as you stated the western cultures punish the rapist, while in other cultures rape is the norm. I will point out however, that even in these cultures for the most part rape is a crime. The real difference is in how rape is viewed. In these cultures many have believed for centuries that women are property, as such it is the right of the owner to do what they will with their property, which means that the father, husband, or brother has the only voice, in most rape cases in these countries the rapist pays the owner for the use of the woman, the fact that it was non-consensual has no bearing. That was a little long to the point but I believe necessary; in western culture we have criminalized rape (Non-Consensual Sexual activity) and we have allowed the woman a voice, so that they are no longer (at least publically) considered property. But the fact remains, that even when all that is said and done, we still blame the victim as much if not more than the rapist. Such to the point, that we have created a social view in which even the victim blames themselves for the act of being raped. That is what I define as the rape culture, and no feel good logic, that we are civilized and punish them is going to change that. The only change will be when we as a society recognize the victim as just that and solely that (a victim) and not a participant not just publically but in the darkest places in our mind will this culture be eradicated.