I felt it was necessary to write a follow up piece to my Rape Culture article due to the response from a male coworker of mine. After reading my piece he immediately replied, “why are women buying these products and supporting the anti-rape market?” What he failed to see by asking that question – he unequivocally proved my point. His response speaks directly to the historical patriarch and policies that support the cultural and social objectification of women. These are the same men that will never know what it’s like to avoid parking garages, to always walk with their keys in between their fingers, to have their eyes on their drink at all times, or to be catcalled on the streets every day.
If we are going to have an honest conversation about rape- placing the onus on women to protect themselves when the system fails is not an encouraging solution. It is imperative we challenge this narrative- a narrative that is consistently reinforced by the media, socially accepted as the norm and carried out though policy. Instead of asking why women are buying anti-rape products, perhaps we start the conversation by addressing society’s inability to hold the perpetrator accountable. While at the same time identifying and acknowledging “Rape Culture”. These products, the expanding anti-rape market and my coworker ‘s response, are largely ineffective when it comes to creating a world that is safe for women.
Challenge The Narrative 