I need some input on an FAQ on “rape apology” for Finally, A Feminism 101 Blog.
I want to make sure that I cover all the bases and include lots of links. Any suggestions gratefully considered.
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{ 2 comments }
As you mention, while victim-blaming is part of it, the rape culture picture is bigger than that.
My first thought was to also mention evpsych explanations for rape – the ones that argue that rape is natural, and natural is normal/good/to be expected, therefore rape is normal/good/to be expected.
This could tie in to notions about masculinity and heterosexuality that feed off the domination/submission paradigm, the idea that men are more manly if they “take” their woman sexually, and the perception among some men that is the done, feminine thing to pretend to coyly demur or fight a little or generally play a silent, submissive role – the “rougher than usual handling” quote is one example of this style of rape-apologist thinking, and so are LOTS of film and TV sex scenes.
Which connects to more general rape culture explanations and discussions thereof – from advertising to film/TV to “humour” which glorifies or jokes about or attempts to glamorise rape and rape victims.
You could include a critique of some religiously-informed ideas about male ownership of wives and women’s responsibility to submit to and obey their husbands. (Hullo, Huckabee.)
Lauredhel’s last blog post..Clicks, Pics, ?n? Politics: Assortment
All good points, particularly the idea that women are assumed to be submissive sexually. That assumption leads so naturally to the trope that if she doesn’t actively say “No!” then she must mean “Yes”.
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