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Major Nikon

(36,922 posts)

38. Definining anything as culture is highly subjective

Mon Mar 31, 2014, 02:12 AM

Mar 2014

Good luck finding consistent definitions for any of them, let alone all of the ones you are describing. Some of the feminist groups who promoted the first use of the term have a very different definition of rape than I do, let alone whatever culture propagates it.

"Rape culture" means whatever whoever is using the term wants it to mean. It's also an intellectual shortcut which allows whoever is using the term to define things as contributory to "rape culture" without much, if any, relationship to cause and effect. As far as I can tell the term seems to introduce far more problems than it could ever hope to solve and just doesn't seem to have much academic value. Furthermore items some throw into the "rape culture" bin have grown exponentially while the actual problem of rape has shrunk significantly, which also leads one to wonder what value the term really has.

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RAINN rejects "rape culture" [View all] lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 OP

Hmm kjones Mar 2014 #1

The arguments against "rape culture" as a useful paradigm; lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 #2

"the purpose of "rape culture" rhetoric is to assign collective guilt" rrneck Mar 2014 #4

I also disagree with kjones's association between drinking and rape Doctor_J Mar 2014 #5

Generally speaking, predators do need a relatively clear head to operate. So you're probably right. nomorenomore08 Mar 2014 #6

I didn't say the rapists were the ones drinking kjones Mar 2014 #16

Absolutely, just saying "rape culture" means nothing, and solve nothing. kjones Mar 2014 #17

#4 stands out prominently. Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #32

Wait are you telling me outliers aren't a good way to measure society, back to stats 101 for me Exultant Democracy Mar 2014 #3

It is true that only a small percentage of men commit rape. nomorenomore08 Mar 2014 #7

50,000 people at Dartmouth demand reforms to campus sexual assault policies Bonobo Mar 2014 #8

50,000 people? That's fantastic, honestly. We need a lot more of the same. nomorenomore08 Mar 2014 #9

there aren't anywhere near 50,000 people total at Dartmouth. Warren Stupidity Mar 2014 #10

My error. nt Bonobo Mar 2014 #11

Steubenville is indeed an example of a rape "micro-culture". Bonobo Mar 2014 #12

that is pathetic. Warren Stupidity Mar 2014 #14

And that's just an empty statement Bonobo Mar 2014 #15

That's where I certainly disagree. kjones Mar 2014 #18

America has a nascar culture. Warren Stupidity Mar 2014 #19

Now that's a ridiculous statement. kjones Mar 2014 #20

"Whatever groups you weren't a part of didn't stop existing just because you weren't a part nomorenomore08 Mar 2014 #35

America has a rape culture. IMO: Anyone who does nothing to stop a rape in progress supports the act In_The_Wind Mar 2014 #25

In most situations of "discouragement," we are speaking to the choir. Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #33

No, they don't have a sign around their neck. That's kind of the point. nomorenomore08 Mar 2014 #34

I understand. But I run through a list of my friendd Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #37

Can't find the part where they "reject" rape culture. cui bono Mar 2014 #13

... opiate69 Mar 2014 #21

"While it is helpful to point out the systemic barriers to addressing the problem" cui bono Mar 2014 #22

It certainly does exist in pockets Bonobo Mar 2014 #23

Well rape culture as a whole doesn't mean every single person cui bono Mar 2014 #27

"Racism exists" vs "America is a racist culture" Bonobo Mar 2014 #28

For me when you say "racism exists" it means there are some racists in the country, cui bono Mar 2014 #29

I'm big enough to admit Bonobo Mar 2014 #30

Heh. cui bono Mar 2014 #31

Thank you for your posts. You broke it down better than I probably could. nomorenomore08 Mar 2014 #36

Definining anything as culture is highly subjective Major Nikon Mar 2014 #38

Going by their definition.... ProudToBeBlueInRhody Apr 2014 #39

I've seen it, but I don't put a lot of stock in it Major Nikon Apr 2014 #40

Agreed. It's also rhetoric without any tangible policy demands. lumberjack_jeff Apr 2014 #41

It's never been anything other than rhetoric Major Nikon Apr 2014 #42

Rhetoric that doesn't effect change is by definition unproductive. lumberjack_jeff Apr 2014 #43

This message was self-deleted by its author lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 #24

Did you catch the part where blaming "rape culture" was described as an "unfortunate trend"? nt lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 #26