What Role Do Catholics Play in Combatting Rape Culture?

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blackforest

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I’m feeling disheartened by the need for a #metoo movement, as well as the prospect of one day sending my daughter off into a world that doesn’t always revere women or respect their bodies.

Rape culture is the social context in which rape occurs, i.e. the cultural factors that encourage it. Like all people, women are made in the image and likeness of God. But our culture has lost sight of that. If you need examples of rape culture, be forewarned that some of the descriptions in this article are triggering and violent as you get down closer to the video. https://rantagainsttherandom.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/so-youre-tired-of-hearing-about-rape-culture/

(Please note that one example is this article is inaccurate - transvaginal ultrasounds are routine before abortion in order to rule out ectopic pregnancy. That whole issue is about whether or not women should be allowed to see the screen - off topic for this thread).

So what role do we play as Roman Catholics in stopping rape culture? I see some great suggestions here. Boys will be Boys & Girls will be Victims? | Catholic Moral Theology

I was wondering what you think of them, or if you have any of your own to add?
 
The fruits of the sexual revolution. “You shall know them by their fruits.”

We are involved via Church teaching, which stresses the precise purposes of sexual activity, and the equality of dignity which all humans possess.

But, it is illegal to teach this in secular schools or colleges.
 
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Hello.

Modeling modesty in the home, for everyone - that means all of us - , from adults to children, and respect for everyone, especially respecting children as human beings is one way to start…

I think modesty & respect in thought, word, deed, and dress for both genders is a way to start. Also, trust God to take care of you and your daughter in this world. Teach & model for her Christian values as best you can, then leave the rest to God. He’s in control of things.

My two cents…
 
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catholics are against rape

so is the US criminal justice code
 
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It’s good that you made people aware of this article. I think we should have more campaigns that encourage women not be where there is drinking. Also we need far more chaperones if young people get together. I don’t believe they should hang out on their own.

Young girls need to be protected at all times. Even women of all ages should always consider whether they should go to places with a friend. For instance, when you see an ad on kijiji for a car, or an apartment, ask yourself if you’d be better off bringing somebody with you.

I hadn’t realized things had gotten so bad.
 
A man who has increasingly compartmentalized sex into a purely recreational activity is less and less equipped to fulfill his vocation. All of the sexual sins are connected with and promote each other, including a lack of openness to life through contraception or the contraceptive mentality, which is the most widely accepted of all. Teaching & living a love for life and an openness to life on every level and in every stage is the best way (and ultimately the only way) for women to be loved and respected the way they are suppose to be.

Anything less than this will never suffice.

Peace.
 
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I don’t think you can really blame rape culture on the sex revolution. My grandmother remembers being told that of a boy hits her it means he likes her. That wearing short skirts (showing a knee!) was “asking for it”. Being taught how best to avoid rape and that by extension girls who were raped were partially to blame for not taking enough care.
 
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It’s a bit like a security system on a house or locks on a car door. They don’t protect in all cases, but it’s a start.

Likewise, remove alcohol, add chaperones, and you have a good start for young people.
 
I don’t know what to do. It kind of is difficult to safeguard these things so that there won’t be victims.
 
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I think rape has always existed, unfortunately. And since it seems to be more a sin of misuse of power than a sin of lust alone, shining a light on it makes it visible for everyone.
After all, rape is not lusting and being tempted. It is believing you have the right to use someone else for your own gratification, without their consent.
 
Has anyone here ever worked for a rape crisis phone line? po18guy might be able to answer this too. Please state if you think it’s only a misuse of power or if you think it’s also a sin of lust? Also tell us if it’s often a crime of opportunity.
 
Are you replying to me?
I said it can be both, but that the power misuse is the core.
Why?

Because so much of discussion focus on young women in a dating setting. But rape happens within marriage, regardless of age or social standing, within employment and so on.
The rapist may feel lust. But that is less important than his decision to disregard the person he rapes.
 
blackforest said:
Rape culture is the social context in which rape occurs, i.e. the cultural factors that encourage it. Like all people, women are made in the image and likeness of God. But our culture has lost sight of that. If you need examples of rape culture, be forewarned that some of the descriptions in this article are triggering and violent as you get down closer to the video.
Click to expand...
I want to tread carefully with something like the #metoo movement. Or anything that becomes advertised over night on some instance against rape.

Here’s where I believe we, as a society, have been setup for disaster. And now are trying to recover from it. Or at least to repair from it’s fatal blow.

If you really look back at the 60’s, or even sometime before then. And even leading from the 60’s into the 70’s and so on. You have an undying sexual revolution. Where, people out of pride, continue to defend it. And yet, lot of those rapes. Especially of children, occurred. Quite tragic. And yet, women are tied to reproductive freedom in the fulfillment of the sexual revolution movement. Which therefore, as is seen with abortion, often covers rape.

Unless women see the unborn and innocent as they are (not generalizing all women. But those women who persist to defend abortion and other sexual revolution extents alike.) As long as women persist to defend them, they are setting themselves up to disaster. Or more so, an indefensible position against rape. For, rape is violence. And, abortion is violence to an unborn human being. Both women and the unborn are victims. A child born out of rape, if aborted, would then be the next victim after the woman is victimized by the rapist. And hence, that is where I think the #metoo movement generally has the wrong advocates intermingled in the group. For the very reason those who support abortion jeopardize the #metoo movement, and every defensibility against rape. Since it is violent as an abortion is.
 
blackforest said:
Rape culture is the social context in which rape occurs, i.e. the cultural factors that encourage it.
Click to expand...
Thanks for defining it and narrowing the scope. It should in theory prevent people talking pass each other.
So what does Catholicism (and Christianity as a whole since there’s a lot in common with other branches) do in removing the factors.
Restraint. The Church (and I define this beyond the Vatican) teaches there is only a proper context for sexual activity. This runs counter to what mainstream culture says. Sexuality is uncontrolled and shouldn’t be controlled except a vague idea of when harm occurs. Restraint is oppressive.
Respect. Leering and gawking are discouraged. The Church teaches such actions are wrong and we should do our best to resist. The Church teaches that other humans are not for our enjoyment. No one is entitled. Mainstream culture places self above all. We are autonomous and have no responsibilities to others. It fuels the desire for power. The power aspect is often mentioned on the topic of rape yet don’t we see there’s a bit of a problem with the wider culture. Porn is normalized. We know from polling the acceptability of pornography is rising year on year.
Identity. The Church teaches a person’s identity doesn’t come from power or sex. It’s in Christ. Mainstream culture ties masculinity to promiscuity and a man’s worth is tied to sex. If a woman turns down a proposition, it can be viewed by the perpetrator as an attack on him. This is connected to the issue of power and status mentioned earlier.
 
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Correct. It is described in the old testament. In the secular courts it is classed as a sex crime, but involves much deeper psychological aberrations.
 
By young people do you mean teens or people in their 20’s?
Obviously,people in their 20’s would laugh at the idea of “chaperones” but for teens (ie:kids) that it fine.
 
I live in Australia and personally I don’t think rape culture exists here as most people are pretty appalled when hear about a woman who got raped.
From your article,it seems to exist in USA which is terrible.

Rapists,on the other hand,exist in every country.
I find it a little bit alarming that some people on CAF seem to think that modesty is the answer as the unfortunate truth is that rapes happen in every country even the most modest/covered up (ie:Saudi Arabia).
Most Egyptian women,both who wear hijab and who don’t,report of being sexually harrassed on the street by Egyptian men.

Perhaps the cultures of hyper sexualisation do play some part of it,but it would only be a part and obviously its politically incorrect these days to say that.
At the same time,I don’t know whether they really do play any part because even if a guy is exposed to women’s "bums out " etc on music clips,Instagram etc…,and it warped their perception,they would already have to have something wrong with them in the first place to then go rape a woman because many men are exposed to the “hypesexualization” in our cultures everyday and don’t rape women.

I think it ultimately comes down to respect and a person thinking they can take something that isn’t wilfully offered to them.
 
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