It’s extremely frustrating to see and hear of experiences in which women are treated like they are nothing but literal objects to men and then they are conditioned to accept and rationalize masculinity, forcing themselves to accept masculinity’s various repercussions. I am not new to this topic whatsoever but every time that I read about rape culture it really angers me.

Early on in the reading, Hvlaka talks about the institutional strength of heterosexuality and how women are defined through certain characteristics, like passivity, vulnerability, etc. These institutionalized “qualities” subordinate women to men and make them vulnerable to sexual aggression. Challenging these sorts of norms of society is extremely difficult, and sometimes may even seem impossible depending on the circumstances, and it requires confidence in knowing that your actions, your refusal, will not lead to a violent repercussion. But, saying “no” is a dangerous decision for women to make because sometimes their life may be in jeopardy. In the reading, Hvlaka discusses situations in which young women felt pressured to accept certain sexual advances and could not say “no” because their social status was dependent on it (amongst other, more pressing reasons as to why they could not refuse). They would be socially ridiculed because their denial is likely to not be believed, and they would be assumed to have “wanted it [sex] anyway”. There are multiple hurdles to get through as a woman when faced with men that think and believe they can have their way with women and also believe that they will face no repercussions. Women in these situations must face multi-fold obstacles in order to have their stories heard and to have men held accountable. They must face social oppressive forces in their social circles, must overcome legal obstacles, must persuade the people around them that they are telling the truth and should be acknowledged, while also learning to healthily rationalize rape situations so that they learn to not blame themselves for the actions of predatory men. It is insidious to think that (as a woman) you cannot feel safe in the world around you because there is always a possibility of sex-associated danger. That feeling of precariousness is frightening and ever-looming as something that may happen. The “me-too” movement highlighted how these instances are just as likely in professional settings, too. And it reflects how universally dangerous masculinity and rape culture is because it permeates through all spheres of everyday life.

Fundamentally, how is this a direct reflection of capitalism’s property rights and the distinction of women as secondary to men based on the ideological understanding that women are also secondary because they are capable of giving birth? If women are socialized into believing that they are beholden to men, what does that say about our society and who we value most? How does the domestic labor relationship between men and women distinguish women as less-than and that their sexuality, amongst other things, is “not their own”, but instead, for the pleasure of men? How are our social constructs reflections of the material world around us, meaning, our labor relationships in capitalism? If anyone is curious, I suggest reading “Women and Socialism” by Sharon Smith. The book unpacks the exploitative reality that is the life of being a woman and tracks exploitation through a historical analysis over time. Worth checking out, especially because Smith writes in a way that is easy to digest and avoids theory-centric jargon.