Discussion: Should Rape be a Capital Crime?

[Ms. Toad]

65. Rape culture is exactly what it is

We live in a culture where rape, unfortunately, is the norm rather than the exception and we train both genders to play their proper role nearly from the day they are born. when Sally is playing nicely and building castles, and Johnny comes along and knocks them down, as often as not the refrain is "boys will be boys." Sally learns there is no point in complaining - it is just how boys act. Johnny learns that he is permitted to have his way and that he need not worry about Sally's feelings - or respect it when Sally says, "No." That is a generalization - but before you (or anyone else who will likely chime in) rejects it, think when the last time you saw a female child act aggressively and heard someone excuse it by saying "girls will be girls." And it isn't that we're training boys to be bad - although we are - we are also training girls that there isn't anything that can be done about they aren't worth very much. It is not healthy for anyone.