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.

 

 

 

 

The article “Normalizing Sexual Abuse” by Hlavka poses many important and non discussed questions that needed to be brought up to light. This article written on the topic of sexual abuse reflects the situational problems people face when it comes to sexual abuse from childhood to adulthood, and the dangers of normalization around these experiences. According to the article- a 2011 study showed that almost half of a selected chosen college students stated they had an experience with sexual harassment assault, however only 8 percent of those individuals reported the incident to an authority figure.

This shows us the fine gray lines and imminent perceptions individuals hold around reporting sexual abuse. Numerous times we have encountered studies that will show us that the majority of the population who undergo sexual harassment and assault are women. This is very much true, however, I believe that it is important to ask ourselves an important question- how often do boys/men report sexual abuse? It’s important to know that this kind of abuse happens to men/boys as well, and it’s often disregarded due to that same idea of patriarchy and masculinity norms. Only in recent years, have we seen more advocacy, and more education in regards to sexual abuse and harassment, and although it’s important to note that these undiscussed and often disregarded issues are being addressed now,, it’s important to also note that these are discussions that we should have already fixed and sometimes they aren’t even corrected fast enough or throughly. A large problem stems from the mentality that society has with sexual abuse. Often times people choose not to disclose their abuse in fear that they will not be believed, they may also not disclose because of feelings of guilt, or even discredit what may have happened because they consider rape only as intercourse. This of course is highly wrong. From early childhood and later development young people “are socialized into a patriarchal culture that normalizes and often encourages male power and aggression.” Growing up we often hear the expression- boys will be boys, planting the seeds of patriarchy. Later as we age, we often hear of men that sexually harass, abuse or even cheat on their significant others and what they are often expressed as is sex addicts- and that they can’t help their urges, but when it comes to women, we are often given other titles or “diagnoses” if you wish you call them. This belief that men have insatiable appetites, leads women into believing that it wasn’t the perpetrators fault, but that instead it’s beyond something that can’t be controlled. Distinguishability is another factor in sexual abuse, while some are able to distinguish what’s normal and what’s simply not, many are unable to distinguish what is what. Often people internalize what has happened to them because they don’t define what happened as rape. For example, in the text, we see 11 year old Terri, who was forced to perform oral sex on a 17 year old neighbor. When later asked why she didn’t recount the episode of sexual abuse, she stated. “I shouldn’t have been there, my mom said I should have been home anyway, but I didn’t want to get raped so I had to.” The power of linguistics is so important in this conversation- I didn’t want to get raped, so I had to. This shows us the inability this young woman possessed in defining her encounter as rape. She assumed that because no intercourse happened that it wasn’t rape, but honestly anytime you are forced to do a sexual act on another person or vice versa and you do not wish to do so, it’s rape. The other thing that’s clearly noted in this text is the guilt she faced because it happened at a time where she was somewhere she wasn’t supposed to be- and that’s a huge problem as well. Often times people blame themselves, or don’t believe abuse happened because they were doing something they may feel they shouldn’t have been doing, such as, drinking or doing drugs and somehow choose to blame themselves in fear of authority reprisal. I remember when I was a young girl this happened to me, I had discredited an encounter of sexual abuse, because I had snuck out, and was drinking and I had blamed myself for the encounter, I also feared that my mother would find out and so I didn’t let her know.

The conversation on abuse can go on and on forever, but what we need to do is start conversing on it more, because when things aren’t discussed, then it just boils over with a vengeance, and it leads to severe emotional trauma and turmoil. When problems are not discussed than solutions are not made. This article shows us the importance of discussing abuse throughout all ages, and communities and what problems we need to tackle head on. It’s a very much needed article.

Sexual violence and rape has been a continual problem throughout our society. While, as a society we have become more open in discussions and fighting rape and sexual violence, our patriarchal, misogynistic society has and continues to fight against and justify actions of the perpetrators.

All we have to do is look at the recent case of Judge Kavanaugh and the Supreme Court nomination. The fact that this woman who was clearly a victim of sexual violence was exploited, humiliated and vilified only indicates the subjective views had upon this topic; the fact that it happened while adolescents and spoken of as adults should not matter. This type of behavior and treatment of victims and perpetrators further perpetuates the entitlement many men have when interacting with women and justifying their heinous acts towards them.

When we as a society find ways to justify, and minimize the crimes and horrific experiences women suffer from rape and sexual violence, we only hurt ourselves as a society and impede progression. The irony of this entire topic is that throughout history, rape and sexual violence has been helpful in stereotyping and criminalizing men of color however, often times, when a white male, particularly one of affluent means, are often made to be victim of the temptations of the “vamp” like woman he has assaulted.