What is ‘Rape Culture’?

Written by:  Luana Yoshikawa-Scanlan, CDC RPE

Rape culture is the normalization and justification of sexual violence in a community.  Social norms - beliefs, values, and attitudes - minimize the impact of sexual violence. In many cases the responsibility is placed on the victim, and those vulnerable to sexual violence, to ‘avoid’ situations where they may be sexually violated.
In response to a person being raped or sexually assaulted you may hear things like “She asked for it” or “He’s a guy – she should have known better”.  This victim blaming approach is the fuel that drives social norms that perpetuate rape culture.  Placing blame and responsibility for someone else’s (the rapist) actions on the victim prevents society from holding the rapist accountable.  Stigma is then associated with the victim – weakness, sexual object, ‘loose’ and immoral instead of the act of rape itself.

You may hear or see messages in the media and from parents or teachers that advise girls not to walk alone at night, not to wear ‘revealing’ clothes, not to flirt or ‘party’ and ‘lead boys on’. 
Not, not, not…focusing on the possible victim’s behavior instead of the possible perpetrator.  Girls are told ‘don’t get raped’ whereas the message should be ‘don’t rape.’

According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), approximately 96% of those who sexually abuse children are male. 90% of rape victims are female. In the U.S., 433,648 Americans aged 12 and older were sexually assaulted or raped between 2010-2014[1]. Yet rape is one of the least prosecuted crimes in the U.S.:

• while 92% of victims can identify their violators[2],
• less than half are reported (46 out of every 100),
• and less than 1% lead to an arrest and prosecution.
• 5 out of 100 rapists are convicted annually of a felony[3],
• but only 3 of those 5 will spend a single day in jail according to RAINN.  

 This trend further supports a culture of rape by removing the deterrent.
 
The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) provides support for the primary prevention of rape and sexual violence.  Following the social-ecological model, prevention activities address the complex interrelated root causes of rape culture and sexual violence at every level of society.
 
These activities include supporting working parents with safe and affordable childcare, establishing school and workplace policies that promote social norms to protect people against sexual violence, empowering vulnerable individuals with opportunities to learn protective skills. As we’ll see in next month’s article, rape culture negatively impacts us all – especially our youth.
[1] Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2010-2014 (2015)
[2] Kingi, V., Jordan, J. et al., (2009). Responding to sexual violence: pathways to recovery. Univ. of Wellington Crime & Justice Research Center. www.library.nvfvc.org.nz

[3]https://www.thehivelaw.com/blog/how-many-rapists-are-convicted/#:~:text=~3%2C258%20rapists%20are%20convicted%20per,per%20year%20in%20the%20US.