Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) December 5, 2014: Rape is a dark subject. It is usually not discussed widely. But the term "date rape" has entered our vocabulary. We read various reports about widespread rape on college and universities campuses, and in the military. We even read about an alleged rape culture on campuses.
How many American men have raped women? Of American men who have raped women, how many of the rapists are one-time rapists and how many are repeat rapists -- or serial? Of American men who have raped women, how many have been involved in gang rapes of women -- once or repeatedly?
How many American women have been raped once by a male rapist? More than once by the same male rapist? At different times but by a different male rapist each time? Gang raped once by male rapists? Gang raped more than once by the same male rapists? Gang raped more than once but by different male rapists each time?
In the present essay I focus on heterosexual rape involving young women who are 18 and older. But I am aware of heterosexual rape of girls, and I am also aware of same-sex rape involving victims of different ages.
These questions and others need to be raised in connection with Sabrina Rubin Erdely's the graphic article "A Rape on Campus: A Brutal Assault and Struggle for Justice at UVA" that was published in ROLLING STONE magazine dated November 19, 2014. (UVA -- University of Virginia.)
Erdely vividly recounts the alleged brutal gang rape of a first-year woman at the University of Virginia at a frat party in 2012, and the aftermath in that woman's life. Because Erdely's vivid article was published in a widely read venue, administrators at the University of Virginia and lawmakers in the state of Virginia and many other people have expressed outrage about the alleged gang rape.
Unfortunately, the alleged gang rape is only one incident involving rape culture on college and university campuses in the United States. Teenagers are well-known for being influenced by peer pressure. Teenage gangs tend accentuate peer pressure in ways that are anti-social, not pro-social. College fraternities may also accentuate peer pressure in ways that are anti-social -- for example, by encouraging rape culture.
Evidently, the term "rape culture" refers to a culture in which men feel entitled to rape women -- as though men have a right to rape women. Conversely, the term evidently suggests that women do NOT have the right to say "No" to having sex on demand with a man who demands it -- or with a gang of men who demand to have sex with her.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
