FEMST 150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Denim Day, Denim, Victim Blaming
Fem 150
5/22/18
Party Culture and Gender Double Standards
• “Boys will be boys” vs “She’s an inebriated slut”
• Studies show male rapists more likely to have been drinking than
their female victims
• Warnings about drinking are aimed at women
• Training for men that alcohol may impair their ability to respond
appropriately if a sexual partner says ‘no’ → Valenti and
Friedman ask if this would help address the crisis
• Often victim blaming discourse cites attire of victims
• Implies that provocative dress is an invitation for sex
• Shifts responsibility to victims of crime
• Makes rape seem to be mainly about sex rather than about
power, control, anger, and humiliation which take the form of
sexual assault
• Excuses perpetrators as simply having misunderstood intentions
of victim
• 1998 Italian court ruling overturned conviction of a jailed rapist
cite the “jean alibi” or “denim defense”- jeans can’t be removed
easily & impossible to pull off if victim is fighting against her
attacker → repealed in 2008 and led to Denim Day (Apr 22, a
worldwide protest)
• Some see feminist movement against ape culture as
discriminatory against men & fostering culture of victimhood
among young women
• Myths that rape is less prevalent that stats show & is being
exaggerated by activists and false reporting by lying victims
• Myths that victims initiated assault by acting irresponsibly, are
responsible for sending mixed messages, really did consent &
change their minds after feeling guilt & remorse
Pop Rape
• Extreme popularity of rape in pop culture forms
Rationalizing Rape Culture
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