The+R+Word+-+Rape+&+Rape+Culture

 From 'condoms on bananas' to Negotiating Consent: Education around safety and desire in human sexual relationships

Kelly Smith N8841420 Michelle Cornford

__CULTURAL ARTEFACT __

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‘Rape Culture’ – A spoken word poem by Cayla Benjamin 2013. This poem in collaboration with a short film, is the product of a high school senior year thesis. Spoken word is a performance art that is often used as an instrument to explore and better understand a culture and society. The artist injects her words with meaning, dynamic tone, gestures and facials expressions. It expresses the unsolicited and destructive effects of sexual violence and rape culture. The perpetrator believes he can take what he wants, strip her of her dignity, shame and silence her. In the end the victim is strong and enforces that her body is not for his selection.

__PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE __

WHO (2013) reports that violence against women has become a 'global health problem of epidemic proportions'. As a public health issue, the cost and burden of medical care required after a rape is exceptionally high. With treatment being required for both the victim and perpetrator if charged. Specialised nurses, hospital rooms, procedures and equipment needed immediately after a rape for investigation are expensive. Rape is now universally recognised as a risk factor for a range of diseases and reproductive health consequences. Psychological problems ranging from post traumatic stress disorder, rape trauma syndrome, depression, anxiety, eating disorders and alcohol abuse. Death, suicide, injury, unwanted pregnancy, abortion and STI’s are all very real physical effects of rape. T hese consequences play a prevailing role in determining a womens quality of life.

__LITERATURE REVIEW __

In the past few years, it has become to read the news without encountering a flood of rape stories. Research suggests that rape culture is literally everywhere. In fact, rape culture is prevalent and rigidly fixed into our social system. Rape culture is a domineering set of ideologies, media images, song lyrics, social practices and institutions, that condone and trivialise male sexual violence against women. Society shames and blames the victim for their abuse and silences them by turning a blind eye. Rape is endemic because it pervades every aspect of our complex social structure. Rape is like the common cold of society. R ape is much more serious than the common cold, the philosophy is the same. We have incorporated rape into our everyday culture much as we have the cold. (Pearson, 2000)

In the US a woman is raped every 6 minutes, a woman is battered every 15 seconds and 15,000 women will be sold into sexual slavery. (Amnesty International, 2005) Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been raped at a rate 26 times higher than previously thought. This shockingly number is equivalent to 1,152 women raped every day, 48 raped every hour, or four women raped every five minutes. (African Research Bulletin, 2011) South Africa has one of the highest incidences of rape in the world. In 2009, 68 332 cases of rape were reported to the South African Police Services. These statistics suggest that someone is raped every 35 seconds, but according to the National Institute for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation only one in 20 rape cases are reported. (South African Medical Journal, 2013) It is clear that violence again women is rooted in a global culture that denies women equal rights with men.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women was carried out in 15 sites across10 countries in 2005. This was a monumental effort to document the prevalence of partner violence and other forms of violence against women using population-based sampling. The report presents results based on interviews with more than 24,000 women by carefully trained interviewers.(WHO, 2005) The findings cited the prevalence of intimate partner violence and rape and it's physical, emotional, sexual and reproductive consequences. The information also provided risk and protective factors and how these women were coping after their violent experiences. The evidence shows that violence against women is wide spread and that a public health response is crucial.

"Any act of gender based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life." (UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women ) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Endemic means ‘part of the natural flora of the place’. Rape and rape culture has become a part of the natural flora in our homes and within society. According to the WHO, 35% of women globally will be a victim of sexual violence in their lifetime. Domestic violence in Australia contributes to more ill health and premature death for women aged 15 to 44 than any other single factor. (Amnesty International, 2009)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">United Nations researchers have published a study on the roots of sexual violence, spanning six countries and two years. The UN study surveyed over 10,000 men from Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Sri Lanka. The survey, which they say represents the world’s largest scientific research project into the subject so far, investigated the area of male-perpetrated rape. This was one of the first to focus on male perpetrators of sexual assault, rather than female victims. On average, about one in four men included in the study said they had raped someone at some point in their lives. One in ten had raped someone who wasn’t their romantic partner. (Jewkes et al., 2013). Associated factors included poverty, personal history of rape (especially as a child), drug & alcohol misuse, dominance over women, low empathy and participation in gangs. (Jewkes et al., 2013)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">These negative effects can and have to a degree, been quantified into actual monetary values. McCollister (2010) estimates that one rape cost the United States approximately $286,277. A (2007) report from the US Department of Justice, describes how crime generates substantial costs to society at individual, community, and national levels. In the United States, more than 23 million criminal offenses were committed in 2007, resulting in approximately $15 billion in economic losses to the victims and $179 billion in government expenditures on police protection, medical treatment, judicial and legal activities, and corrections (McCollister et al., 2010)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Over the last 10-20 years the issue of sex offender treatability has been explored by researchers to develop a range of treatments and intervention programs. However, most of the research has been conducted on child sex offenders and those that commit sex crimes against adults has received less attention. It is documented that the earliest sex offender programs were developed in the 1930's and were based upon the belief that sex offenders had a mental disorder. (Thakker, 2010) Earlier programs focussed on the behavioural aspect of rape and focussed on the offenders deviant sexual desires. It was believed incarceration and punishment was the appropriate form of rehabilitation. More recent programs have taken a broader approach which includes social and cognitive therapy. Group and individual treatment is now the mainstay of contemporary treatment for sex offenders. (Thakker, 2010)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rehabilitation and treatment models such as The Risk-Need Rehabilitaion Model (RNR) is a model used to guide treatment approaches to all offenders. It integrates the psychology of criminal conduct into an understanding of how to reduce recidivism (Andrews & Bonta, 2011). Using this guide they indentified three principles (risk - need & responsitivity) of assessment and treatment to advance rehabilitive goals and reduce the offenders risk to society. The (RNR) model of offender rehabilitation is deservedly the premier treatment model for offenders. It has constituted a revolution in the way criminal conduct is managed in Canada, Britain, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and led to the development of many empirically derived and effective treatments for a range of crimes. (Ward et al., 2006)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rape and sexual violence is a public health problem facing the whole world. It has a clear and measurable impact on the lives of those affected. And every day it has a major effect on hospital emergency rooms, clinics and all health care providers.

__<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">CULTURAL & SOCIAL ANALYSIS __

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">According to the Encyclopedia of rape the term 'rape culture' originated in the 1970's Radical Feminism movement. In Susan Browns 1975 book Against Our Will: Men, Women & Rape. Brownmiller a member of New Yorks Radical Feminists proved how academia and the public were ignoring the presence of rape. The book is now considered a landmark work on feminism and sexual violence and one of the pillars of modern rape studies. According to feminist theory, rape functions as a mechanism of social control in patriarchal societies (Brownmiller, 1975). Feminist theory argues that rape enables men to assert their power over women to uphold the existing system of gender stratification. According to this view, the norms associated with expressions of masculinity such as aggression, dominance and violence encourage men to sexually exploit women.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Martin et. al. (2006) found that when gender equality is higher, so too are the rape rates. Radical feminist theory believes that as gender equality increases, the number of rapes will increase as men perceive women as a threat to their social power and rape will be used to regain control. On a positive note, f <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">eminism has managed to transform rape from simply a social or criminal issue, into an issue of health and human rights for women.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">We could also consider the theories of Marxist Feminisms and Capitalism for gender inequality and women’s oppression. Profit over people, aggression rather than kindness and establishing control are the main beliefs of Capitalism. Patriarchy and Capitalism teach society that it's acceptable to take from others and that 'only the strong survive'. Once people are disconnected from each other, they are capable of raping another persons body.



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rape culture - it's all around us. Our ideology of rape and the culture it perpetuates has a common set of beliefs. Rape culture describes gender, sex, sexuality, appropriate and non appropriate behaviour. Beliefs about rape, who rapes and who gets raped. When and how rapes happen and when it is or isn't defined as rape. Sexual violence has become systematic in our culture. You don't have to look far to see examples - advertising, movies, music videos and social media. Everywhere you turn sexual violence is becoming sexy and normative.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rape is endemic in war torn countries, in the military and prisons, sports teams, universities and within communities of our Indigenous Australians. The perpetrator is no longer the stranger in the bushes, it's a father, grandfather, uncle, brother or neighbour. Victims range from the young and old and there is no one female profile they go after. However, there is one distinguishing feature and that is vulnerability. We live in a culture where we victim blame and tell the victim not to dress like a slut. We have a tendency to tell people how to be safe, but ignore teaching people not to rape and sexually exploit. Rape and sexual exploitation has primarily been seen as a woman’s issue, however it also effects to a lesser (but no less serious) extent men.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This public health issue can only be transformed through public awareness, understanding and education, culminating in planned social action and cultural change. A multidisciplinary approach is needed, involving self-help groups and hospital units trained to deal with rape victims. The ramifications of rape and rape culture are staggeringly scary on both a personal, community and world level. Rape destroy lives and puts fear into communities.



__<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">ANALYSIS OF THE ARTEFACT __

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This cultural artefact demonstrates and exhibits the topic of rape and rape culture. It represents the power struggle between the dominant man and the submissive woman, living in a rape culture. A culture that tolerates an atmosphere of injustice and sexual violence against women. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Until I had completed the research for this assignment, I had no real affinty to feminism and I admit, I hadn't even heard of the phrase 'rape culture'. I feel like i've let my species down - how could I not of known or heard about the terror spreading around the world ruining womens lives. Is it just because I've not been personally touched by sexual violence or rape? I've learnt a lot from these assignments, i'm definitely more in touch with my feminist roots and I can now spot rape culture from a mile away. Because of the subtlties played out to us in society, those with an untrained eye, would unlikely know what sexual exploitation looks or sounds like. It's frustrating to live in a society where we have this 'war of the sexes' and that perpetual misogny and sexism still exist in the 21st century. I believe that rape myths feed rape culture and thus feeds rape. As a future health care professional, I hope I can support and make a difference to those effected by violence of any kind.

__**REFERENCES**__

Amnesty International. Australia. (2005). Violence against women information. Retrieved from http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/women-s-rights/violence-against-women/violence-against-women-information

Amnesty International. Australia. (2009). An abuse of human rights. Retrieved from http://www.amnesty.org.au/svaw/comments/20401/

Andrews, D.A. Bonta, J., Wormith, J.S.(2011). The Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) ModelDoes Adding the Good Lives Model Contribute to Effective Crime Prevention? Criminal Justice & Behaviour, Sage Journals, 38(7), 735-755. Retrieved from http://cjb.sagepub.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/content/38/7/735

Brownmiller, S. (1975). Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape. American Psychological Association. 1, 5-8. Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2004-20005-001

Centre for Advancing Correctional Excellence. (2011). Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) Simulation Tool. Retrived from http://www.gmuace.org/research_rnr.html

Fang, H., French, M. T. , McCollister, K. E. (2010). The Cost of Crime to Society: New Crime Specific Estimates for Policy and Program Evaluation. Science Direct, Elsevier Journal, 108(1-2), 98-109. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0376871609004220

Jewkes, R. (2013). Prevalence of and factors associated with non-partner rape perpetration: findings from the UN Multi-country Cross-sectional Study on Men and Violence in Asia and the Pacific. The Lancet Global health, 1(4) 208-218. Retrieved from http://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(13)70069-X/abstract

Kelner, A. (2013). The united states of rape: A theory of rape culture in American public policy. (University Thesis). Retrieved from http://csueastbay-dspace.calstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10211.3/47657/Alexandra.KelnerThesis.pdf?sequence=

Pearson, A. (2000). Rape Culture: It’s All Around Us. Ebscohost Connection, 30(8), 12. Retrieved from http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/3760587/rape-culture-all-around-us

Thakker, J., Gannon, T. A. (2010). Rape Treatment: An Overview of Current Knowledge. ProQuest. 27.4, 227-250. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/docview/854464755/citation?accountid=13380

The Democratic Republic Congo: Horrendous Rape Statistics. Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series, (2011) 48, 18839C–18840C. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-825X.2011.03876.x

World Health Organisation. (2005). WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/gender/violence/who_multicountry_study/en/

__<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">LEARNING ENGAGEMENT & REFLECTION __

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