How We Address the Problem by Not Addressing the Problem:

 Agents of Socialization Perpetuating Rape Culture and Inequality
 

The quote displayed under the symbolic Red Solo Cup is just one representation of the way that our society socializes its members, and, in this particular illustration, the rape culture that we live in.  Rape culture is constantly supported by the way that from early on in their lives girls are taught, by the people closest to them, about all the precautions they must take to prevent being raped. Sexual assault has steadily become an issue that potential victims are forced to tackle, while the socialization process for the most part ignores potential offenders.

Agents of socialization are so intrinsic to shaping our perspectives and values, yet those agents fail us over and over again. Schools, parents, religion, and the media focus so much on the wrong sorts of preventative measures (trying to prevent rape by advising ,for the most part, women, to never leave your drink alone, never walk alone at night, always be aware of where you are, always be ready to protect yourself). Changing the socialization process is essential.  In 2011 several areas in Canada launched a campaign called “Don’t Be That Guy” that aimed at rape prevention by shifting the focus from the victim to the offender. The campaign consisted of provocative images and captions that each ended with “sex without consent= sexual assault”. Below each image in block letters in red or black read “Don’t Be that Guy.”

The campaign also came along with an updated training program for those who work with sexual assault cases. The areas that implemented the campaign saw a major shift in number of reported sexual assaults within a year of the campaigns release. Between 2010 and 2011 the number of reported sexual assaults dropped 10%. Although this is only one instance, and it is sure to have many decrying its results, it is the type of social education that we should be advocating for. When the stigma is placed on the offender rather than the target of assault we will see this issue change considerably. We need an international resocialization campaign in which we stop arguing over what factors cause rape. (By the way, we also need to stop bickering over what we think the word feminist actually means and whether humanist, or equalist would be more appropriate terms.) Rape culture and victim blaming need to be replaced by the idea that is expressed in the (again Canadian) image below, that there is only one cause of sexual assault.

 

We also need to change the way that we look at other pressing social issues. Focusing on the problem also means being aware of “the little things” The difficulty in our current society is that our new breed of racism and sexism allows for people to support and perpetuate inequality while still arguing that “they don’t think rape is funny,” “they are not a racist” or “they aren’t sexist.” An illustration that struck me focuses on the power structure of oppression and why what we see as “lesser” offences are just as problematic as issues like extreme violence and direct discrimination by institutions (which is what we tend to think of when we imagine sexist, racist, or other problematic behavior). The offences are organized in a pyramid, with the most frequent instances at the bottom. It is clear that as you descend the pyramid, the given offence is perceived as less “serious” or less “worthy” of addressing.
 

 

When we dismiss jokes or any of the other more subtle forms of systematic oppression we give the impression that this kind of discrimination is ok. What is especially problematic is the shear frequency that these more indirect offences occur. Our society trains people to view murder, terrorism, and genocide as absolute evils, but there is little effort to create a curriculum that addresses the most prevalent, but equally damaging transgressions. We are so used to the lowest tier of the pyramid in our everyday lives; acts of subtle bias make up what we see as normal on television shows, films, and other media. Once again, agents of socialization give the impression that discrimination of this sort is ok; they do this by taking part in these lowest tier aggressions, or by allowing them to go unnoticed and without reprimand. As a society we need to view these more common aggressions as powerful forces that perpetuate discrimination. Saying something is a joke is not an excuse to make damaging remarks.

In class we spoke about the increasing need for these new forms of discrimination to be addressed, but it difficult to pinpoint specific solutions. New forms of racism and sexism are more dangerous because they are persistent and the general public is less likely to be outraged by them.  These interactions often happen at the micro level but need to be taken just as seriously as those on the macro level. I really liked a quote that I saw by writer and professor, Roxane Gay. While she focuses specifically on acts of subtle bias against women, her words can be applied more broadly as well.

“These are just songs. They are just jokes. They are just movies. Smile, you’re beautiful. Can’t a man pay you a compliment? In truth, this is all a symptom of a much more virulent cultural sickness… one where a woman’s worth is consistently diminished or entirely ignored”

 

Privilege and inequality of all kinds need to be addressed in schools, by parents, or by some means early in children’s lives. The fact that individuals can go decades into their life without having any inclination of their privilege is frightening, but to me it is not all together surprising because as a society we shy away from the most problematic but ever present issues. It is not the sole responsibility of those without privilege to educate those that have it, but that most often becomes the case. It is the obligation of society at large to bring inequality to the forefront. We need to stop excusing “minor” offences. Inequality cannot just be an issue for those that are negatively affected by it, it needs to be an issue for everyone.