Let’s be clear
Have you ever heard of rape culture?
This is a cultural aspect, still very widespread today, which has its roots in a misogynistic and patriarchal society.
The idea is that sexuality is associated with violence: man is seen as a predator and woman as sexual prey.
The origin of the term is still uncertain, but it’s important to mention the book Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape by journalist Susan Brownmiller. She argues that rape serves to “keep all women in a constant state of intimidation” and is therefore used as a means of correction and threat.
The term “rape culture” doesn’t just refer to rape, but encompasses a much broader range of harassment. This ranges from threats of violence to sexually explicit comments, using a misogynistic vocabulary that merely normalizes violence.
Complicating matters is the media, which often tends to misrepresent both perpetrators and victims. Perpetrators are often portrayed as strangers (when we know that the victim often knows their perpetrator), while victims are portrayed as lacking credibility, which also influences public opinion, fueling so-called victim blaming.