Passage adapted from "Feminist Perspectives in Therapy" by Judith Worell & Pam Remer
Rape occurs in a social context. Rape cannot be understood apart from that context, and the woman who has been raped cannot be treated effectively without understanding that context. A cultural analysis of Western societies shows that we live in a society that often condones rape, misdefines it, blames victims for its occurrence, sets up women to be raped and men to be rapists, and offers inadequate services to aid survivors in their long-term recovery. The existence of rape and trauma from rape is strongly influenced by what society teaches about rape, how it sex-role-socializes women and men, and by the power differentials that exist between men and women.
Rape Myths
Facts about rape often directly contradict the cultural myths about rape perpetuated by our society. For instance, most rapes occur not in “dark alleys” but in familiar locations, especially in victims’ homes. In addition, at least 50% of rapes are committed by a person who is known to the victim (ex. acquaintance rapes). Victims of all ages and of all body types have been raped. Women do not unconsciously desire to be raped, nor do they provoke rape by their appearance or actions. Women cannot always stop a rape attempt by fighting back. In some cases, physical resistance may stop a rape; in others, it may lead to escalation of violence and greater physical injury in the victim.
Rapes are rarely reported to the police. In contrast to the myth that a woman “cries rape” to protect her reputation or to seek revenge, the truth is that many women who are raped do not report the incident. Victims of acquaintance rape are less likely to report the rape to authorities and are more likely to tell no one about their rape. Because acquaintance rapes differ from society’s definition of rape, many acquaintance rape survivors do not even label their forced sexual experience as “rape”. Further, rapists do not commit rape because of uncontrollable sexual urges. Research indicates that the primary motives for rape are aggression and the need to control/subjugate. That is, rape is a violent and aggressive act that is accomplished through sexual behavior. Rapists cannot be identified by their appearance, socioeconomic status, or educational level. Many rapists are married or have regular sexual partners. Beliefs in rape myths contribute to people “blaming the victim” for being raped and excusing the rapist’s acts.
Sex-role Analysis
The incidence of rape in a society is related to both the sex-role socialization of women and men and to a hierarchal power distribution in which women are dominated by men. In societies where rape is common, there is a higher tolerance for violence, encouragement of men to be aggressive; isolation of the sexes; devaluation of female traits and activities, especially nurturance and childcare; non-involvement of men in childcare; and promotion of male dominance over females.
The following sex-role prescriptions for women set them up to be victims:
Women are the property of men.
Women are responsible for controlling men’s sexual behavior.
Women need to be protected by men.
Women should be kind, gentle, and physically non-aggressive.
Women should not be physically strong.
Women should always be polite.
Women should be dependent on men, passive and child-like.
Women are socialized to internalize the psychological characteristics of defenseless victims who have not learned or cannot apply the techniques of self-defense and so must rely upon the protection of others. In an acquaintance rape, their protector is often the rapist.
Sex-role Prescriptions for Men
Men are socialized to be sexually assertive and/or sexually aggressive by the following sex-role messages:
Men should be physically aggressive, powerful, and controlling.
Sex is to be viewed as a conquest. Women who say “no” really mean “maybe”.
Men should pay for dates and women should “reimburse” them sexually.
Women are the possessions of the men who protect them.
Women are sexual objects.
Men should initiate sex and dominate women.
Men should be the boss and women should obey men.
Thus, many males are socialized to be sexually aggressive, to view women as sexual objects, and to expect to be obeyed. These messages help set the stage for sexually aggressive behavior by some men. Over-identification with the “macho” role may lead some men to adopt a rapist attitude. Such men may validate their masculinity by intimidating women and sexually aggressing against them.
Power Analysis
As a group, men have more economic, physical, role, resource, and political power than most women. In relation to rape, a man can use this more powerful position to coerce a woman into sexual acts or can use this physical power (or threats) to overcome a woman’s resistance; his role and economic power make it harder for her to report a rape. Her lower social value makes it less likely that she will be believed and more likely that she will be blamed for the rape.
- Passage adapted from "Feminist Perspectives in Therapy" by Judith Worell & Pam Remer