Unit 3, Essay 2
U.S. Rape Culture
Mary Vanorskie
SYD4800
April 25, 2011
Nicole’s presentation on chapter nine of the textbook explored the topic of rape; a
running theme in her presentation was men’s self-perceived ability to take privileges with
women (from simple objectification in the “Girl Watching” article to the full-on rape of women
– and the justification of rape of women – in the “Athletic Aggression on the Rink and Off the
Ice” article). It seems that the preferential treatment shown to men, especially white men, who
best resemble the paradigm of hegemonic masculinity (or who otherwise boost a lot of power –
as in big money) leads to a general sense of entitlement in these males which is a major factor in
U.S. rape culture.
As evident in Dreamworlds 3, music video (a great influence in modern gender
socialization) teaches the viewer that objectification of the female body is acceptable and that
women are ‘in the picture’ only for use by males, to serve males. Even the videos for female
artists, the female artist must present herself as a sexual object to be played in heavy rotation by
music stations.
This view of women as objects and lesser beings is obvious and concentrated in the
sports subculture (as hegemonic masculinity is almost [practiced on a professional level in many
sports). The article “Athletic Aggression On the Rink and Off the Ice” points out that men who
play contact sports such as hockey are prone to using coercion to obtain sex. An inordinate
number of hockey players in the study reported knowledge of routine sexual aggression towards
women among teammates. Jock culture is, above all things, misogynistic, and it is a pure
example of U.S. male socialization and its results.
The Andersen text (2009) explores religion and its impact on the lives of women in
chapter eight. It is shown that women, while doing most of a church’s fundraising and being its
most active members, are excluded as a rule from positions of power. Most religions are
androcentric in organization and doctrine: the most glaring evidence of which is believing in a
god that is who is a “Father” to all and that women are little more than an afterthought to men as
forms of creation (such as in the case of Adam and Eve). Women are to be obedient to men, are
to do as men say, by decree of God. This is one of the reasons marital rape was not considered a
crime for so long in this country—women are to obey their husbands ( how could making one’s
wife obey be a crime?). The gender socialization theory of rape, as mentioned in chapter nine of
the Andersen text, argues the point that male socialization in the U.S. is the main cause of rape.
This theory states that U.S. culture’s dominant belief that men are superior to women (and that
women are to be obedient to men) leads heterosexual men to be more prone to rape women than
they would be if socialized differently. Viewing women as lesser beings leads men to believe
that they have a natural right to women’s bodies, as, in our culture, might means right (and the
male boasting hegemonic masculinity certainly has might, if he has nothing else).
Male privilege given to boys who display dominance leaves a generally unexamined
sense of entitlement in these boys as they are growing up; this sense of entitlement can be seen in
the self-reports of rapists (who have easily made justifications for their criminal acts and often
think they’ve done nothing wrong). Of course, this socialization comes in many forms: the
educational system, parenting, the influence of friends, media outlets. Because socialization
comes in so many forms, the solution to the problem of discriminatory socialization will not be
an easy fix to find. The paradigm of masculinity as being a gender role of domination and
competition must be done away with entirely; the gender role hierarchy must be eliminated. The
war between the sexes for power must be forfeited. A good way to start this transformation
would be for men to start showing their boys to respect women in the boys’ formative years and
to give the boys the tools to combat outside elements from indoctrinating them with warped
views of women so that they may grow up to influence their surroundings in a women-friendly
manner.