Comm 3 Persuasive Speech

ENDING RAPE CULTURE

ATTENTION STEP:

You were asking for it!

I was actually doing you a favor, Im the real victim here!
Dayyyym. I would TOTALLY hit that.
You were drinking with boys wearing those clothes, what did you expect?
You should dress appropriately, never draw attention to yourself.

How many of you have been at the receiving end of these phrases? How would you feel if you
found out that the people you love go through this? How would you feel if someone took away
something very important to you, if you were the victim, but society blames you for it?

Let me introduce you to rape culture. Many people believe that this kind of mentality is just
another Feminazi issue that women talk about because we have nothing else to say. But I am here
to tell you that it DOES exist, and that we have the power to change this.

NEED STEP:

Rape culture exists because we refuse to believe that it does, which is why its important for us
to know about it. Emilie Buchwald, author of the book Transforming a Rape Culture, describes it as
an environment that views sexual assault as a trivial issue. By excusing acts such as catcalling, rape
jokes, and victim blaming, it supports violence against not only women, but against all possible victims
of abuse.

Being aware of, not to mention ending, rape culture is a difficult and painful task, but it is
necessary because too many victims have suffered, and because it has become normal for people to
think that this is just the way things are." According to Lee Lakeman, spokesperson for the Canadian
Association of Sexual Assault Centres, there are many things in our culture that promote rape.

From using rape as entertainment in movies, music, books, and video games by telling rape
jokes and using the word rape casually, for example: Your hair is so messy, were you raped on your
way here? to telling women to change what we wear, how we carry ourselves, and where we go
because it would be OUR fault if we get raped. We werent careful enough, we didnt fight back hard
enough. Parents teach young girls not to get raped, instead of teaching young boys not to rape.

In a survey of American college men conducted by Dr. Margo Maine in 2000, it was known that
58% of them would force a woman to have sex if they were sure they could get away with it, while 83%
of them agreed that some women look like theyre asking to be raped.

In 2013, 2 male students of Vanderbilt University raped an unconscious female and blamed the
campus culture of sexual freedom and promiscuity for their actions. In a case in Ohio reported by CNN,
it was stated that the promising lives of the rapists fell apart after the incident. There was no mention
of how the victim was going to cope with what was done to her. How would you feel if you were the
rape victim in these situations?

This just goes to show that we are very apologetic about rapists blaming everything but
themselves their surroundings, their peers, even the victim and that we sometimes justify their
actions and see them as the real victims. The truth is, there is no one to blame but the rapists, but we
fail to see this.

In addition to this, the 2016 Philippine National Police records showed that there were 7,037
reports of rape, implying that 1 Filipino is raped every hour. However, a study by the Rape, Abuse, and
Incest National Network (RAINN) in USA stated that only 31% of incidents are reported to the police,
and a measly 0.6% of the rapists go to jail. This proves that our justice system and the way we handle
rape cases must be improved.

SATISFACTION STEP:

Rape culture is also becoming increasingly rampant in the Philippines, with even our president
telling rape jokes, with the rising fame of Pastor or Hokage groups on Facebook, where men share
nude pictures of women, and with men masturbating in jeepneys while staring at women.

In order to change this, we must first do something about the way we view sexual harassment
by educating ourselves on this topic, and sharing the information. We must demolish the double
standards of men being made fun of if they are still virgins, and of women being shamed if they are
sexually active.

You guys must be thinking that this kind of thing wont happen to you, but according to RAINN,
male college students are 5 times more likely to be a victim of assault versus non-students. Given this,
we have to get rid of the idea that only certain people rape and get raped, because even sex workers,
wives, men, and members of the LGBTQ community go through this. Its a relevant issue to ALL of us,
since we are all possible victims of sexual harassment.

VISUALIZATION STEP:

By doing these things, we would be able to gain personal, social, and global benefits. First, we
would all feel more secure in our surroundings. Everyone would be able to wear and do what they want
to, without being looked down on by society. We would all grow up to be more respectful towards others,
allowing us to build stronger relationships.

Second, we would be able to protect the next generations from suffering the struggles that we
face today. Ending the stigma attached to rape victims would mean less incidents, and more victims
choosing to report sexual abuse cases. This would also result to an improved justice system, one with
better laws regarding rape and one that doesnt discriminate against others.
 Lastly and most importantly, we would be able to prevent rape victims from undergoing trauma
caused by these incidents. Psychiatrist Ann Burgess and sociologist Lynda Holmstrom studied a
condition called Rape Trauma Syndrome, where there are negative effects on the physical, emotional,
and mental well-being of the victims. These include sexually transmitted diseases, loss of interest in
sex, self-destructive behavior, and depression.

Too many people have suffered because of rape culture, but we have the power to change this.
Will we wait until it happens to someone we love, or will we start today? I dont know about you, but I
would choose to start today.

ACTION STEP:

I shouldnt have to be this covered up to be respected.

No, I am NOT asking for it.
No, you are NOT doing me a favor, and you are NOT the real victim here.
Rape is NOT a joke.
I can dress however I want to, and I can draw attention to myself, because I am worthy of it.

I am not just another pair of breasts to stare at. I am a woman. A woman who is capable and
independent. A woman who is allowed to do what she wants to, who has the right to be free from the
constraints of our flawed society. A woman who has suffered enough, who deserves, and who is willing
to fight, to see a better world.

Will you join me in that fight?