Some topics in our society have been deemed taboo. And sadly enough, they're the topics that we need to talk about the most. Topics that are critical to society, yet people are afraid to speak up about them.
Honestly, since I'm a female who has been brought up in a more conservative Asian society, rape has always been an overhanging, yet distant fear. Traveling to India multiple times in my life has brought me face to to face with the harsh reality of how prevalent rape occurs in our society. I remember how apprehensive my mother was to send me out with my cousins and how she wouldn't let me wear shorts or a skirt because she was just too afraid. And rape is not only a problem in India but the United States as well. The thing that upsets me the most is how rape culture is handled.
Part of the problem is that people don't full understand what rape means.
Rape can be done by a man on a woman, man can rape man, woman can rape man, woman can rape woman, can be between a husband and wife.....
Rape isn't just man against woman.
Yet, in most traditional rape cases, even if the female is the victim, she is treated like the offender. She's asked what she was wearing to seduce the man and if was she alone or drunk.
Let me make one thing very clear. Whether a woman is intoxicated or is dressed provocatively or is married to you or dating you, rape is never justifiable. Because trust me, she was never asking for it.
A perfect example of this is seen in the memoir The Bluest Eye. When Cholly and Darlene are having sex, suddenly they are caught my two white men who force Cholly to continue with Darlene. This was absolutely against Cholly's will and was without his consent, therefore this was rape. Forcing someone to have sexual intercourse with another person does indeed qualify as rape. Ironically enough, although it was the white men's fault, Cholly was upset with Darlene: "He hated her" (148). Just because she was a girl, the blame was placed on her. Also, many times even today male rape victims are apprehensive to speak of the horrid act, as they feel it will take away from their masculinity. Similarly, even in the memoir, Cholly did not want to tell Old Blue as he felt he wouldn't understand.
It's 2016 and we still aren't comfortable discussing rape culture. This concerns me as so much still needs to be done regarding this saddening problem. However, having a president who believes he can just "grab them (women) by the pussy," isn't doing this country any favors.
But as individuals, we can each take the first step towards combatting this rape culture by becoming more aware and open regarding this topic.
We can do it together :)
Honestly, since I'm a female who has been brought up in a more conservative Asian society, rape has always been an overhanging, yet distant fear. Traveling to India multiple times in my life has brought me face to to face with the harsh reality of how prevalent rape occurs in our society. I remember how apprehensive my mother was to send me out with my cousins and how she wouldn't let me wear shorts or a skirt because she was just too afraid. And rape is not only a problem in India but the United States as well. The thing that upsets me the most is how rape culture is handled.
Part of the problem is that people don't full understand what rape means.
Rape can be done by a man on a woman, man can rape man, woman can rape man, woman can rape woman, can be between a husband and wife.....
Rape isn't just man against woman.
Yet, in most traditional rape cases, even if the female is the victim, she is treated like the offender. She's asked what she was wearing to seduce the man and if was she alone or drunk.
Let me make one thing very clear. Whether a woman is intoxicated or is dressed provocatively or is married to you or dating you, rape is never justifiable. Because trust me, she was never asking for it.
A perfect example of this is seen in the memoir The Bluest Eye. When Cholly and Darlene are having sex, suddenly they are caught my two white men who force Cholly to continue with Darlene. This was absolutely against Cholly's will and was without his consent, therefore this was rape. Forcing someone to have sexual intercourse with another person does indeed qualify as rape. Ironically enough, although it was the white men's fault, Cholly was upset with Darlene: "He hated her" (148). Just because she was a girl, the blame was placed on her. Also, many times even today male rape victims are apprehensive to speak of the horrid act, as they feel it will take away from their masculinity. Similarly, even in the memoir, Cholly did not want to tell Old Blue as he felt he wouldn't understand.
It's 2016 and we still aren't comfortable discussing rape culture. This concerns me as so much still needs to be done regarding this saddening problem. However, having a president who believes he can just "grab them (women) by the pussy," isn't doing this country any favors.
But as individuals, we can each take the first step towards combatting this rape culture by becoming more aware and open regarding this topic.
We can do it together :)
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