Estes 1

Elizabeth Estes
DeBock
6 October 2016
English 4

The normalization of sex and pornography makes it acceptable for boys to see women
as sex objects, and boys are pressured by their peers to buy into this view of women to prove
their own masculinity. The American Psychological Association's found that the portrayal of girls
and young women as sex objects harms girls' mental and physical health. This should be
addressed at the root cause: the media. It is appalling that when another rape or sexually violent
crime is reported on the news it is never followed by a report asking: "Why are boys and men
sexually abusing and raping girls and women?

Toxic masculinity defines itself not only in opposition to female-ness, but as inherently
superior, drawing its strength from dominance over women's weakness, and creating men who
are happy to deliberately undermine womens power, it is only in opposition to female
vulnerability that it can be strong. You can bet that any customs that require impunity for
violence against women are built on toxic masculinity. If we want to end the pandemic of rape, it
is going to require an entire global movement of men who are willing to do the hard work
required to unpack and interrogate the ideas of masculinity they were raised with, and to create
and model new masculinities.
Statistics show that 84% of all sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance of the
victim, 57% of all sexual assaults occur during a date, and 43% of all rapes involve two or more
perpetrators. Problems victims face even though rape is the most under-reported crime due to

all the fear, pain and humiliation the victim suffers, first at the hands of the rapist, then at the
hands of the justice system, many people believe that women frequently "cry rape." No one
asks to be raped, but it is easy to understand why a victim might choose not to report a rape.
Perhaps if we as a society were to take the stigma away from the victims and place the blame
and responsibility soundly on the perpetrators, more victims would feel safe to come forward
and eventually we would have fewer crimes of this nature.
Rape and other acts of sexual abuse and sexual assault have devastating, long-term emotional,
psychological and, in the case of children, developmental consequences to the victims. That is
why it is so important for victims to be heard and believed and supported through the ordeal of
the legal process, if they choose to report, and during the long recovery process so that they are
able to reclaim their lives.

CClark001@horrycountyschools.net

Works Cited
Bell, Rachel. "Sexualization of Girls Teaches Boys to Be Sexually Violent." Is Childhood Becoming Too
Sexualized. Ed. Olivia Ferguson and Hayley Mitchell Haugen. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Rpt.
from "Our Sexual Obsession Damages Boys as Well as Girls." Independent 15 July 2008. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 3 Oct. 2016.

Friedman, Jaclyn. "Rape Is Caused by a Culture of Toxic Masculinity." Violence Against Women. Ed.
Nol Merino. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "Toxic
Masculinity." American Prospect(13 Mar. 2013). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 30 Sept. 2016.

Repp, Bonita. "Rape and Its Effects on Victims." Rape. Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven
Press, 2001. Contemporary Issues Companion. Rpt. from "The Many Myths of Rape and the Effects on
Victims. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 30 Sept. 2016.