The Culture of Rape

The Nation today published an article online entitled, "The Verdict: Steubenville Shows the Bond Between Jock Culture and Rape Culture," by Dave Zirin.  Much of the response to the article was debate as to whether the term, "rape culture" is appropriate.  I believe it is. One of the definitions of "culture" is: "... the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture etc." (Dictionary.com) There is an environment where rape, if not actually encouraged, is certainly not discouraged. It IS intentionally overlooked. Athletics promotes that kind of setting in the sense that athletes, at any level, are so highly valued they get a pass on behavior which would be discouraged or seen as criminal when perpetrated by almost anyone else.

 Another category for which this is true is clergy. It is so because they are viewed as authority figures and many people look up to them. In general, it is assumed that clergy are virtuous and therefore incapable of pedophilia or rape, etc. One only has to look at the problems in the Roman Catholic Church to see the fallacy. 


 It is easy to assume clergy are not vulnerable to foibles and sins for two reasons: First, historically, clergy have been seen as moral examples. In the not too distant past, clergy actually tried to live up to that expectation. Secondly, clergy have been and still are, seen to be authority figures. Trust is placed in them because they are in positions of power AND presumed to be moral examples.

 It is shocking, indeed a real travesty, when that sort of position of power is abused whether by clergy or anyone else.To elevate any group of people, athletes, movie stars, entertainers, etc is a huge mistake because they are all human beings and cannot or will not live up to expectations. To fail to realize that fact is to set up the conditions in which abuse and rape can flourish; abusers and rapists will take advantage of any opening. 

To allow an environment where authority or power or idol worship is predominant is actually setting up a culture. The second definition of "culture" is for the verb form; "to cultivate." In biology culture means "to grow (microorganisms, tissues, etc.) in or on a controlled or defined medium" (Dictionary.com).  There are, clearly, environments in which abuse and rape are cultivated in a controlled or defined medium. In that sense, the term, "rape culture" is very apt. 

As we have seen with the Steubenville case, the culture of abuse and rape is real and abuse and or rape happens far too frequently. Just ask the former altar boys who were sexually abused by priests, or girls/women who are overpowered or drugged by  athletes or the young victims of Jerry Sandusky. Ask them how real that culture is.

 I know how easily that kind of abuse of power can occur as I was raped while in seminary by an older student in his last year. I wrongly assumed that he was being pastoral when he offered to show me scripture to help me with a dilemma I was facing. He showed me scripture alright, then raped me, taking full advantage of both my naivete and trust. When telling a professor of  Pastoral Counseling about  the rape, I was told that it was my responsibility. Then the professor broke confidentiality and told the Dean. I was called in and told to "keep quiet or I would lose [my] career."  The atmosphere in this Dallas, TX seminary was a prime setting for rape. The student rapist used his position of presumed authority as a way of controlling me. It was both psychological control and physically overpowering. It was ideal for him because no one would believe that anyone in the seminary community would ever do such a thing. And very few did. Then the hierarchy was ready and willing to cover up the rape and they let him graduate, no punishment at all. The seminary was definitely a "rape culture".

The problem in all these cases is that the general public or surrounding community refuses to believe the accuser and the accuser is often, if not always, blamed. "She must have asked for it. She dressed like a whore". The fact is that NO ONE deserves to be abused or attacked - EVER. The atmosphere or culture where that kind of thinking is prevalent needs to be changed.