Eng 105 - Rape Culture

Jordyn Sunghera

English 105

September 24, 2014

Andrea Alden

Rape Culture is not a culture at all

Rape culture is designated to show the ways in which society blamed victims of sexual assault and normalized sexual violence. In “Teach men not to rape: turn off the outrage machine” Cathy Young claims that society cannot teach men to not rape women. Also that society can’t stress enough to women to not put themselves in risky situations. Young is very effective in persuading men and women that society cannot put rape culture to an end. She uses a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos to convince the reader her claim is true. Society is not at fault for rape culture. Young briefly discuss how most rapes are typically experienced with a acquaintance, “acquaintance rape is a misunderstanding rather than a deliberate act of violence” (2014, par 7). In addition teaching men not to rape is not going to change rape rates, because in the end some man will still rape some women. Also society can only caution women so much on tips to not get into such situation. Young was called to write this article because many women groups who are against rape blame all men for rape. Young aims to speak out and address both factors, and both sides of rape culture. She is striving to address both the victim, who she address as the women. As well as the predators who she address as the men. Young states “anti-rape efforts should focus on only educating men…men don’t need no teaching that rape is an repugnant crime. Yet some still commit it”(2014, para 4). This specific piece of evidence proves that society can teach people not to not to commit a crime, and how to avoid dangerous situations but it doesn’t mean people have to listen. Young strives to catch young men and women’s attention. Throughout the article she speaks to both men on not committing the crime. As well as women on precautions they can take to defend themselves.

Young is effective in using ethos to convince the audience she is reliable. She is able to give two sides to rape culture, and address each with little biasness. Although in the end it is evident on her perspective. Young’s article is published in the “Boston Globe”, a leading news source in Massachusetts. Young provides knowledgeable evidence such as “Much has been made of claims that a Canadian poster campaign reminding men that an unconscious woman cannot consent led to a 10 percent drop in reported sexual assaults”(2014). This evidence proves that Young is a well-informed writer, giving information on both sides of the rape culture. She is able to give new information and continually able to make credible points.

Young doesn’t use many pathos, simply because she is aware that rape culture already has an emotional connotation. She doesn’t want to draw sympathy for men or women. She knows most readers already have strong beliefs on rape culture. Young does use certain words to create some pathos for example, “four decades ago, ‘loose’ women were often seen as undeserving victims, and vestiges of such beliefs may linger today”(2014). Using the word “loose” gives readers a negative feeling. Rather than saying a women who is easy and often has sexual relationships, Young choses to use language such as loose. Young also states “Nor would anyone claim that we are condoning pedophilia by educating kids about inappropriate touching instead of teaching people not to molest children.” She is using pathos