Men Defining Rape

Background: This is the article entitled, “Men defining Rape: A History” posted on the Mother Jones websites gives a detailed history of rape through the ages and how men have defined it for centuries. It demonstrates different beliefs associated with rape and how it was handled throughout history.

How I used it: This article was one of the key reference articles I used because I allowed me to highlight that throughout history we let influential men define rape. They defined what is was and how it should be handled. This left women with almost no control when it came to reporting the crime and expecting the rapists to be punished.

“What is Rape Culture?”

Background: This website gives me detailed information on rape culture and where the concept originated. It is where I found a key point noting that we live in a society where we teach girls not to get raped rather than teaching boys not to be rapists.

How I used it: I used this resource to highlight rape cultures role in our society and how as a result or it, rape is normalized instead of absurd.

“Safe Relationships”

Background: This article defined  date rape is and how rape isn’t just limited to sex. It also focuses on how to be safer to avoid date rape drugs.

How I used it: This was especially helpful in readdressing the point that we teach girls how to not get raped rather than teaching men not to be rapists. It helped get the point across that rape is not limited to penetration.

“Get the Facts”

Background: This website provided statistics that showed how many people are raped each year and how many perpetrators roam free after being reported.

How I used it: This was a very useful resource because I was able to demonstrate that only 16% of rapists spend a night in jail or longer. Most rapists roam free the very next day. Showing how lenient our justice system is being with these criminals.

“Punishing Rapists”

Background: This website provided details to punishments to rapists. It also elaborates on the types of relationships the rapists usually have to the victim. It goes over the age range of most victims and what time of day their attackers struck.

How I used: It helped drive my point across that the justice system is being too lenient in punishments. It also helped demonstrate that victims can be any type of woman at any age.

Woman Receives 100+ Cat Calls

Background: The organization “Hollaback” followed Shoshana Roberts around New York City for ten hours with a video camera and documented her being cat called over 100 times.

How I used it: This video demonstrates how men in our society sexualize women even if they do not want to be sexualized. Despite not seeking any attention, men supply women with unwanted attention and feel like they are entitles to a response.

Ivy League Rape

Background: Her sophomore year of college Emma Sulkowicz was raped and her rapist is still a student on campus at her college.

How I used it: Despite multiple victim coming forward regarding the same man, the university made no efforts to remove this boy from the campus or have him incarcerated. She now live in a constant state of fear and anxiety because she runs the risk of seeing him daily. This is a prime example of how the justice system is letting us down.

Controversial Rape Case Reviewed

Background: At fourteen years old Daisy Coleman was raped and left outside nearly unconscious over night. All this was as the the result of two teenage boys taking advantage of her when she wasn’t in a proper state of mind. After being taken to court the changes were dropped and the boys went on with normal live while Daisy had to move one hundred miles away to escape bullying.

Rape Culture is Real

Background: This article highlights key points of rape culture and gives very clear examples of questions victims are usually asked that causes the shift to victims being blamed.

How I used it: This was a great resource for calling victim blames to attention. Questions are asked that condone the act of rape instead of punishing it.

From the Mouths of Rapists

Background: This article was focused on the song Blurred Line by Robin Thicke. The song itself screams rape culture with the use of the line “I know you want it.”

How I used it: I highlighted in my paper that without consent you have nothing. If the victim does not consent it is rape

The Hunting Ground

Background: CNN released a documentary highlighting rape on college campuses.

How I used it: I highlighted how colleges disregard allegations of sexual assault and blame victims. It also mentions the prevalence of rape on college campuses and how administrators ignore it.