It’s been a rough few weeks for Australian women.
We’ve watched Chanel Contos collect the testimonies of girls and women in Sydney — and increasingly across Australia — about the horror show we call ‘sexual relations’ amongst teenagers.
We’ve had to endure the painfully ignorant response of our current Prime Minister to the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House. We then watched other women go public about being raped by the same man.
The current Attorney General has been accused of rape and the Chief of the Defence Force perpetuated a classic ‘blame the victim’ tactic, telling new cadets not to fall victim to the four ‘As’; alcohol, out after midnight, alone and attractive. Then we heard from the incredible Australian of the Year Grace Tame speak about her own experience of sexual abuse.
Watching all of this has been triggering and distressing. At the same time, I’ve allowed myself a glimmer of hope; will this be the generation that finally wrestles with the deeply pernicious rape culture that exists within our society?
Rape culture is defined as an environment where rape is normalised and pervasive. It starts with the objectification of women’s bodies, is carried through society via the use of misogynistic language, and is idealised and glamorised by the porn industry.
