Let’s discuss sexual violence toward women
TRIGGER WARNING:
This article discusses sexual assault, violence, and rape, specifically related to women. The Wind-Up has worked hard to ensure it is appropriate for all audiences and has avoided loaded language as much as possible for this topic. If you are sensitive to these content matters please read at your own discretion.
Sources: Mashable SE Asia, World Bank Group, UN Women, The National Center for Biotechnology Information, Marshall University
We stand together now to fight the hurt from the past. “Boys will be boys” until your sister meets that boy. Until your mom meets that boy. Until your brother meets that boy. Until your girlfriend meets that boy.
Sexual harassment and assault have been prevalent in society for thousands of years and have accumulated numerous ways of excusing the behavior by those dedicated to its defense. Although rape is not limited to male perpetrators, “not all men” is a phrase often used to deny its frequency.
With no obligation of proof, it is obvious that not all men commit sexual assault. Yet even with that knowledge, the notion of those three words may alone be harmful to society.
When people oppose the possibility of sexual assault declaring “not all men,” and the opening up of survivors’ experiences and their rapists’ identities is stigmatized, people may view the incidents as opportunities, allowing them to feel comfortable sexually assaulting with the idea that others will impulsively delegitimatize the violence.
It is necessary for society to condemn this behavior in order to move forward. Although brief actions of denouncing rape jokes and victim-blaming are highly constructive, the root causes must be attacked: patriarchal perspectives of masculinity and the absence of impassioned consent.
The redefinition of masculinity is imperative to dismiss the connection between dominance and men. When women are considered less valued, tolerated male entitlement rises, leading to a superiority complex exercised through rape.
More so, the stigma surrounding consent brings about complications regarding the reality of rape in sexual situations. “No means no,” an anti-rape slogan, became popular but proved to lose purpose because involving coercion results in an influenced “yes,” which doesn’t embrace enthusiasm.
Whether you have been affected by sexual harassment or not, it’s collectively our responsibility to destigmatize the truth of survivors’ trauma, fight against rape culture, and educate others in order to inspire safe and attentive future generations.
