THE LIES and THE STATISTICS Also known as Rape Myths, The Lies have been told to us and by us since birth. They are what comprise the American epidemic known as the Rape Culture. What is of particular interest to me is why they were created, whose purpose they serve, and what demographic population is most harmed by their existence. Let's start by breaking down the lies through the use of relevant statistics, then discussing some of the underlying motivations for their creation. The Lies are thoroughly embedded in the cultural narrative that dictates what constitutes rape, who rapes, who gets raped, and why rape occurs. I call this the "mythography of rape." The mythography of rape is the dominant hegemony's story of rape and like most stories in mainstream culture, it is fictional. What is most dangerous about this narrative is that it is presented as Reality--the Truth--and it is generally accepted as such. Some of the more widely-accepted Lies are below:
PREVALENCE:
In the U.S., it is estimated that a woman is raped every eighty seconds. (2) One out of twelve male students surveyed had committed acts that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape. (1) Between 1995 and 1996, more
than 670,000 women were the victim of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.
(3)
REPORTING
RATES:
2% of rapes are falsely reported;
8% of reported rapes are considered "unfounded." This is similar
to rates for other felony crimes. (4)
CHARACTERISTICS
of RAPE:
8% of rape victims are male. (6) More than 4 out of 5 women that are raped know their assailant. (7) Alcohol is involved in 75% of acquaintance rape cases. (8) In 95% of rapes the perpetrator
and victim share the same socio-economic status and race. (1)
Interestingly enough, the mythography of rape tends to blame victims, cast doubt on the verity of victims' reports, and in some ways exonerate rapists by suggesting that victims bring rape on themselves through their actions or dress. (Keep in mind that the "victims" we are speaking of here are women.) Furthermore, this "rape tale" is racist and classist in that it labels men of color and poor men rapists, while simultaneously lumping them in the category of "sex-crazed lunatics." After examination, the mythography of rape turns out to be nothing more than an anti-woman, white supremacist, capitalist account of why rape happens (and is justifiable) in our society. What this narrative leaves out is anything that resembles the "truth." What is apparent however, is who benefits from this mythology. The recurrent theme in the mythography of rape is simple: white men are not rapists. When women present the charge of rape against a white man, they are liars. They are vindictive. They are whores. They are "scorned women." As a result, rape as a social construct shapes women's behavior; it also happens to ensure access to white women for white men (according to the narrative, they are the only "safe" men). In reality, rapists are most likely to be a friend, a date, a boyfriend, a neighbor, a peer, a husband--someone of your socio-economic class and race--not the dark man hiding in the shadows or under your car. The mythography of rape
serves to benefit rapists and men in general; giving them the benefit of
the doubt in rape cases. This tale also serves to deter the majority
of rape victims from reporting rape in fear of the cultural response they
will receive. Rape victims who were not raped by the "right rapist"
or who do not meet the correct "victim composite" are even less likely
to report assault (e.g., male victims, women raped by other women, women
raped by men of status, sexually promiscuous women, etc.). Rape is
the most underreported crime in the nation--it's time we stopped and asked
why that is.
1. Koss, Gidycz, and
Wisniewski 1987--also known as "The Ms. Magazine Study"
|