Content warning: The following article discusses misogyny and sexual violence. Readers may find the content distressing.
By now, most of us have heard about the horrific gang rape reported at Cornell University. The case has become international news. It has led to many responses and revealed, yet again, the prevalence of rape culture. Rape culture refers to how society consistently normalizes, ignores, and fails to punish sexual violence, particularly against girls and women.
At Cornell University, seven men are reported to have sexually assaulted a student, known under the pseudonym Jane Doe. In the investigative report, Doe describes being intoxicated during the assault. She also reports that the perpetrators used emotional coercion and hit her body. The investigations have revealed that the attack was openly discussed and encouraged in a group chat with 57 men — none of which reported the assault.
The Jane Doe case did not happen out of nowhere. Such incidents and responses are not unique to Cornell. Fraternity culture, unreliable sexual assault laws, and patriarchal privilege continually enable gender-based violence, which is why it is urgent for men to speak up and take action.
Teaching consent is essential, but only a small part of preventing sexual violence. Rapists do not act out of ignorance. They believe themselves entitled to a person’s body, and society’s inaction reinforces their behaviour. Working with data from Statistics Canada, Holly Johnson, professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa, estimates that fewer than 2% of sexual assaults result in a conviction.
Staying silent might be more comfortable for you, but it has serious ramifications for other people’s safety.
If advocating to end sexual violence makes you lose friends, social status, or opportunities; it’s time to question the privileges and power patriarchy gives you.
It’s true not all men are dangerous, but many are. Enough for women to be wary of men in general. None of us can claim innocence. Have you ever said or done something to make a woman uncomfortable, wary, or scared? Have you ever said things around other men you wouldn’t say around women? Be honest with yourself. If you feel guilty, hold yourself accountable and turn that guilt into change. If you feel no remorse, think some more.
Taking concrete action against gender-based violence is not just about physically stopping abuse. Men’s allyship must involve challenging sexist comments and jokes as well as learning about, rejecting, and actively working to dismantle the oppressive systems that encourage the dominance of men.
I question concepts like “positive masculinity,” and if distinct maleness can be truly defined beyond one who holds power and social status in a patriarchal society. The idea that “real men respect women” or the crasser “real men don’t rape” only serves to reinforce the false idea that “normal” men who conform to masculine norms don’t rape; that only “abnormal” monsters commit sexual violence.
Dismantling rape culture is a complex, ongoing process. Ending misogyny and oppression is not a task on a checklist. It is a lifelong, societal endeavour requiring individual and collective action. It involves radically altering how our society functions, and who it serves.
It’s time for men to actively help create a safer society. We all have a responsibility to do better.
You can visit endingviolencecanada.org for resources on preventing and responding to sexual violence. To contact the SFU Sexual Violence Support & Prevention Office and additional support services, visit sfu.ca/sexual-violence.html.
