There is an elephant in the room and too many are ignoring it or simply refusing to acknowledge it. Time after time, there is the prevalence of a rape culture across the nation. Many deny the existence of such a culture. It is difficult to get an outside perspective on this when it’s engraved in normal thought patterns. This phenomenon is a setting in which rape is normalized due to societal attitudes about gender and sexuality.

In response to the naysayers that argue the rape culture is as false as fairy tales, the hashtag #RapeCultureIsWhen started trending. TIMES magazine opinion writer Zerlina Maxwell posted, “#RapeCultureIsWhen you go to friends for support, and they ask you what you were wearing,” and soon after,  #RapeCultureIsWhen we make a million lists of prevention tips for WOMEN, but fail to teach men not to rape.”  Huffington Post writer Toula Drimonis tweeted “#RapeCultureIsWhen you write a point-by-point blog explaining what it is and you get called “hysterical” and “angry.”

Every 107 seconds another American is sexually assaulted, totaling to 293,000 victims a year. It is also estimated that only two of every 100 rapists will serve time. Why are these numbers so unusual? Because out of 100 rapes only 32 are reported to police. Why don’t the other 68 victims report? Are they afraid they won’t be believed? Are they blaming themselves? Are they ashamed of telling someone?

Out of the 32 rapes that do get reported, only 7 lead to an arrest. Why are police allocating such small efforts to go after these criminals? Why does our society brush it off so lightly?

To prevent the continuation of this immoral dilemma, the first step is that the nation acknowledges and realizes the damage this culture is causing. Second, to instill in our culture, an alternative way of thinking that does not normalize sexual assault. Individuals must be more mindful of the things going on under the water, we must watch our actions because all of them will have a reaction.

sources:

https://rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assault-victims

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/25/rape-culture-hashtag-twitter_n_5029729.html

http://www.911rape.org/facts-quotes/statistics