Rape Culture Explained in One Diagram

Rape Culture, sexism and misogyny is all around us, all around the world. The fear of being attacked in the middle of an alley way is not the only form of 'rape'. There is so much more more nuanced behaviours and relationships that people of all genders take part in that alludes to it and make women around the world uncomfortable in varying degrees from discomfort about what a family member or acquaintance tweets to downright life threatening situations. 

Sexual abuse is most often done by familiar people around the victim, be it family members, immediate or extended, co-workers, friends, and people you see often. I've experienced street harassment for literally 2 decades and it has accumulated to a constant fear, watchfulness, complete pent up anger and frustration for all these years. My story isn't uncommon, many girls experience sexual advances long before puberty hits.

This is why the empowerment and spiritual awakening of men and masculinity is so crucial, along with that for women and femininity. This is why parents sticking around for their children are so important, even if you separate from your partner; to teach children what their value is. Self-respecting children won't grow up to do these things to other people, they know what respect is. There are so many other factors that lead to this type of rape culture behaviour such as codependency and lack of self-love, lack of love in families, and so on but it isn't impossible to fix it, to heal, to re-write wrongs. 

Gender-based violence towards the LGBTQ community is also an example of this - it is not a duality, a black and white circumstance.