The sexualization and normalization of rape culture is pervasive throughout the history of entertainment, and students should actively participate in the prevention of these acts on college campuses.
Rape culture refers to the way sexual and relationship violence is portrayed and normalized in the media and pop culture, said Kendra Zelan, assistant director of student support services, in an email. .
The normalization of sexual and relationship violence under a band-aid of passion is not a foreign concept, Zellan said.
From scenes from classic rom-coms like notebook Ryan Gosling’s character dangles from a Ferris wheel, tricks Rachel McAdams into dating him after being fired multiple times, excerpt from TV sitcom friend Lisa Kudrow’s character has crept under the rug, and on famous songs such as Maroon 5’s “Animals,” Adam Levine sings, “Baby, I’m preying on you tonight, hunt you down, keep you alive.” I’m eating as it is,” she sings. You can see rape culture in pop. culture.
She said society becomes insensitive to recognizing red flags in real life when violence is portrayed as neutral or positive.
“We see a lot of media in a romanticized way, especially on issues like stalking, coercion and abuse of power,” Zelan said. “No romantic light should be cast on someone who doesn’t respect boundaries and forces people into situations they don’t agree with.”
The media also often downplay violence by making jokes about these topics, she said. Includes negative stereotypes about gender identity.
Sociology senior Mayeli Contreras says that in the 80s and 90s, women were more exploited than men when it came to media portrayals of harassment and rape. She said people’s entertainment is based on watching women suffer.
Contreras gives perpetrators the idea that violence is normal when such scenes are not shown to spread awareness.
“It definitely depends on which movie and what kind of message it’s portraying, but I think a lot of it objectifies women, which is very strange.
An example of this, according to Contreras, is Netflix’s blondea fictional account inspired by the life of Marilyn Monroe.
Many of the film’s reviews suggest that the scene captures Monroe sexually.
Depicting such intense and vulgar scenes can desensitize people, Contreras said. You become more aware.
“It’s unfortunate because victims or potential victims feel like they have to burden themselves,” she said. Compared to a society that pays and puts more pressure on women to see them in a proper way, as human beings, not just what they can do, but as human beings. [men]”
Lindsey McCranny, a senior social worker, said some people take advantage of people in vulnerable situations.
McCranie said colleges are easy places to target vulnerable people, such as those walking alone, partying, or under the influence.
“Some people don’t even have a choice, like being attacked by someone, being unconscious, being unaware of so many other things,” McCraney said.
Contreras said many people blur the lines when it comes to college partying and alcohol consumption, which is a major reason for the prevalence of rape and hookup culture at colleges.
Zelan said there is pressure among college students to participate in a “hookup culture” in which students engage in casual sex to explore their sexuality. But she said the problem wasn’t with the exploration of sexuality per se, but with a lack of education and awareness about how to do it consensually and safely.
“Consent must be established before, during, and continuously with intimate partners, regardless of how casual or committed the relationship is,” she said.
Contreras said hookup culture is safe as long as the people involved are safe.
Abolition of these cultures begins with respecting consent and learning how to disseminate conversations, education, and related resources.
“Hopefully we can prevent it. And I think it’s a step,” Contreras said. “Because people who harm others want it.
Talking about rape culture is the first place to start to prevent it, Zellan said. It is important for people to understand
These jokes are often made at the expense of denying the victim’s or survivor’s experience by disabling or silencing the victim’s or survivor’s voice.
“When sexual and relationship violence is not treated as a serious topic, victims and survivors are not comfortable speaking up,” Zelan said.
She said perpetrators should be held accountable, rather than making victims or survivors feel responsible for what happened to them.
“No one seeks to be a victim, no matter where they are, who they are with, what they wear, how much alcohol or substances they consume,” Zelan said. “It’s never the victim’s fault.”
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