12 Ways to stand up against rape culture
“Boys will be boys.”
“She was drunk.”
“Women say “no” when they mean “yes.”
Rape culture is pervasive. It’s embedded in the way we think, speak, and move in the world. While the contexts may differ, rape culture is always rooted in patriarchal beliefs, power, and control.
Here are 12 ways you can do your part:
1. Have zero tolerance: Establish policies of zero tolerance for sexual harassment and violence in the spaces in which you live, work, and play. Leaders must be particularly clear that they are committed to upholding a zero-tolerance policy and that it must be practiced every day. As a starting point, take a look at what you can do to make harassment at work history.
2. Redefine masculinity: Take a critical look at what masculinity means to you and how you embody it. Self-reflection, community conversations, and artistic expression are just some of the tools available for men and boys (as well as women and girls) to examine and redefine masculinities with feminist principles.
3. Create a culture of enthusiastic consent: Freely given consent is mandatory, every time. Rather than listening for a “no,” make sure there is an active, “yes,” from all involved. Adopt enthusiastic consent in your life and talk about it.
4. Stop Victim-blaming: Because language is deeply embedded in culture, we may forget that the words and phrases we use each day shape our reality.
Rape-affirming beliefs are embedded in our language: “She was dressed like a slut. She was asking for it,”
It is part of popular song lyrics: “I know you want it.”
It is normalized by objectifying women and calling them names in pop culture and media.
You have the power to choose to leave behind language and lyrics that blame victims, objectify women and excuse sexual harassment. What a woman is wearing, what and how much she had to drink, and where she was at a certain time, is not an invitation to rape her.
5. Don’t laugh at rape: Rape is never a funny punchline. Rape jokes delegitimize sexual violence, making it harder for victims to speak up when their consent is violated.
Humour that normalizes and justifies sexual violence is not acceptable. Call it out.
6. End impunity: To end rape culture, perpetrators must be held accountable. By prosecuting sexual violence cases, we recognize these acts as crimes and send a strong message of zero-tolerance.
Wherever you see pushback against legal consequences for perpetrators, fight for justice and accountability.
7. Speak out against root cause: Rape culture is allowed to continue when we buy into ideas of masculinity that see violence and dominance as “strong” and “male”, and when women and girls are less valued. It is also underpinned by victim-blaming — an attitude that suggests a victim rather than the perpetrator bears responsibility for an assault.
When discussing cases of sexual violence, a victim’s sobriety, clothes, and sexuality are irrelevant. Instead, counter the idea that men and boys must obtain power through violence and question the notion of sex as an entitlement.
8. Know the history of rape: Rape has been used as a weapon of war and oppression throughout history. It has been used to degrade women and their communities and for ethnic cleansing and genocide.
There are no quick reads for this. You can start by learning about the use of sexual violence during past and recent conflicts, such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Guatemalan civil war, or the Kosovo conflict.
9. Engage boys and young men to become agents of change: Boys and young men should be encouraged to stand up for gender equality and breaking down the attitudes that cause violence against girls and women.
10. Educate the next generation: It’s in our hands to inspire the future feminists of the world. Challenge the gender stereotypes and violent ideals that children encounter in the media, on the streets, and at school. Let your children know that your family is a safe space for them to express themselves as they are. Affirm their choices and teach the importance of consent at a young age.
11. Invest in women: Donate to organizations that empower women, amplify their voices, support survivors, and promote acceptance of all gender identities and sexualities.
Some leading organizations working for women rape and gender discrimination are:
· www.therealmard.org : Men against rape and discrimination or MARD is a social campaign launched by Bollywood film director and actor Farhan Akhtar. It envisions a world free from gender based violence and discrimination.
· www.prajnya.in : Politics, Security and Women Initiative, Education for Peace Initiative.
· www.ncw.nic.in :The National Commission for Women was set up as statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 ( Act №20 of 1990 of Govt.of India ) to :
· review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women ;
· recommend remedial legislative measures ;
· and advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.
12: National helpline number :
Sexual Assault: The domestic abuse national helpline number is 181 while women rape helpline numbers are 1091 and 1291.
Every day we have the opportunity to examine our behaviours and beliefs for biases that permit rape culture to continue. From the attitudes we have about gender identities to the policies we support in our communities, we can all take action to stand against rape culture.
