Latin Teachers: Rape Is Not Romantic, So Stop Describing It That Way

We put our students at risk when we represent rape as romance in our classrooms.

Sexual assault is a disturbing topic. It is also one that is almost unavoidable in Latin class. Remus and Romulus were born because Mars raped Rhea Silvia. The rape of Lucretia brought about the end of the Monarchy. Countless other myths feature sexual violence as prominent themes. Teachers often operate under the misguided assumption that acknowledging rape in myths will harm students. In fact, it harms students to present dishonest representations of rape. Framing well-known rape myths as consensual, romantic episodes does a disservice to our students by presenting inaccurate information and amplifying the same kinds of messages that invalidate survivors and embolden perpetrators.

I am a victim of sexual violence and a former mental health counselor. As an advocate, I have spoken with hundreds of survivors about their experiences. A common refrain is: “I have carried this secret for so long because I am afraid nobody will believe me.” A way perpetrators — and society — silences victims is by discrediting them and framing violent encounters as consensual. Nothing we do in the classroom should mirror this feature of rape culture. The impact of these sanitized stories is not theoretical. Of the survivors who have reached out to me, more than a few have specifically mentioned the ways myths they encountered in high school Latin classes added to their pain.

I recently came across a high school Latin activity for Valentines Day that featured distorted, sanitized representations of sexual violence. Here are a few examples from the activity:

“Jupiter kept things interesting and liked to transform himself for his dalliances. No questions are advised. What form did he take for each lucky lady?”

“She [Medusa] had a hook up with Neptune in Minerva’s temple. Minerva was unimpressed and ensured she’d never be kissed again.”

Neptune raped Medusa. It was not a “hook up.” Jupiter did not “keep things interesting” by deceiving women. Even in the context of the ancient myths, the element of fraud is clear. In the classroom, presenting these encounters as a powerful person “keeping things interesting,” conveys that this is a fun, benign way to approach sex. Or, that such encounters are amusing or clever. In reality, sex by deception is considered rape in several states, with many more adopting laws to address this kind of assault.

I am not providing a link to the source material for these examples because the specific activity and the teacher who created it are not the problem. The problem is a field in which this kind of representation is normalized and encouraged. The American Classical League (ACL), the professional organization for Latin teachers, also promotes this representation of rape. The National Latin Exam, which 140,00 students take each year also romanticizes sexual assault. Although Ovid captures the horror of Apollo’s attempted attack on Daphne, a 2017 passage based on this story is summarized this way:

“A beautiful nymph reacts to being pursued by a god.” Textbooks like Love and Transformation also distort Ovid’s accounts of sexual violence, framing them as love stories.

Let’s be clear about something: Rape is not love. Ancient Greeks and Romans themselves represented many of the most commonly sanitized rapes as violent assaults. Representing rape as romance normalizes and legitimizes the lies assailants tell about the attacks they perpetrate. We all have taught students whose lives have been traumatized by sexual violence. The majority will stay silent out of fear of being disbelieved. When victims do come forward, they are often traumatized a second time by the responses and reactions they encounter in their communities.

It is our responsibility to make sure that we do not contribute to a culture in which silence is more common than reporting. The burden of carrying a perpetrator’s secret makes exacerbate the effects of trauma. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is a life-threatening situation. People who have experienced sexual abuse and other forms of sexual violence are more likely to commit suicide than those who have not. It is critical that we create an environment in our classrooms where survivors are not shamed, blamed, and gaslit into silence.

Beyond the impact on emotional and physical health (and literal ability to survive), the myths that we perpetuate when we teach about sexual violence this way, hinder survivors’ quest for justice. In many areas, myths about sexual violence are so pervasive that erroneous assumptions about survivors make it hard to secure a conviction.

If you are worried that it is not your place to talk about sexual assault, keep in mind that it is not your place either to redefine rape and trivialize sexual violence. Advocates, many of whom are survivors themselves, work tirelessly to inform the public about sexual violence, encourage survivors to come forward, and strengthen community resources. I am tired of seeing educators and resources in secondary Latin undermining this work.

Telling the truth about these violent episodes in mythology does not need to be graphic and upsetting. In many cases, it is enough to use precise and accurate language. Students are already familiar with the concept of sexual violence. If they attend schools that receive federal funding and are compliant with Title IX, they should know the definition of sexual harassment and sexual violence. More and more states are also including this information in their health curricula. It is more harmful to sanitize rape than it is to convey the truth.

It is time for Latin teachers to get the training and confidence they need to talk about sexual violence in an ethical, responsible way. And, it is time to stop exposing our students to these distortions about rape in classroom resources and through other academic activities like the National Latin Exam.

If you do not know how to talk about sexual violence, here are a few places you can start:

-Local mental health professionals
-Your school counseling department
-Title IX coordinators at your school or a local university
-Staff from your rape crisis center
-RAINN (Rape and Incest National Network)
-Advocates & survivors who are speak publicly about their stories