Roots of rape culture lie within society

In today’s Bangladesh or anywhere in the subcontinent, no one is shocked anymore upon hearing news of rape. Words like “rape”, “gang rape”, “murder after rape”, in newspapers or TV screens, have become familiar entries in our everyday vocabulary. When a rape occurs, blame is placed on the government, law enforcement is put on trial, and some people vent their anger on the administration. There seems to be a kind of self-satisfaction within this act of blame— “Look, we are protesting”, “We are not responsible”.

But the truth is, merely criticising the government will not stop rape culture. Because rape is not simply a result of state dysfunction; it is the outcome of a long-standing mental structure within society where women are constantly viewed as consumable objects, and masculine arrogance is expressed through the exertion of power over women’s bodies.

We often try to present rape as something that happened “suddenly” or “in a moment of excitement”. But statistics reveal a different reality. Rape occurs cold-bloodedly, with forethought. In many cases, the situation is created in advance, the victim is lured into a trap to ensure her helplessness. And then that moment is used to carry out the assault. Behind this timing and planning lies a confidence — “No one will catch me”, “I have connections”, “I have power”, “You won’t be able to do anything”.

This confidence is not given by the state or the government, it is given by society. The way we look at women, the way we judge them—based on that, some commit rape while others shield the rapist.

Rape culture is not merely the result of an individual perpetrator’s moral depravity. It is a social norm, formed continually through misogynistic language, humour, slurs, content, advertisements, films, songs, and even casual conversations.

When a popular leader says, “Go on, paint it red”; we clap on social media, indulge in likes and comments. When the same phrase is uttered at the street corner, in a university hall, or a schoolyard; it no longer shocks our ears, rather it amuses us.

Those slurs, rooted in the degradation of women, where the genitalia of mothers and sisters are weaponised—we absorb them in such a way that not uttering them makes us feel outdated, not smart. As a result, the misogyny hidden within curses becomes a marker of “coolness”.

In today’s era, social media has become the new society. There, patriarchal capitalism works in its most strategic form. Women themselves are branding their bodies in pursuit of “views”, “comments”, “subscribers” or “monetisation”. But the blame isn’t entirely theirs. Because the market has been shaped under a condition that success does not come without commodifying the body.

Women write captions about their own bodies—infused with humour, sexual innuendo, or direct invitation. Consequently, comments flood in from viewers— “That body, wow!”, “I want a night with you”, “I’ll grab you…”. The woman might respond with a “haha” reaction, because this is part of her marketing strategy. But behind such comments lie the seeds of persistent sexual violence.

In this way, a woman becomes a product through a single social media post. Here, she is identified not by her name, but by various parts of her body. This is where a new branch of rape culture grows when even if physical rape doesn’t occur, imaginary rape takes place with every scroll.

We often explain pornography as a “matter of preference” or “adolescent curiosity”. But the reality is more terrifying. In India, rape footage is sold as “porn”. During the Covid era, there was peak demand for child sexual abuse videos. Porn has become a marketplace where not only sex but also violence is sold.

These acts of violence also exist in video games, in reels. In response to the question— “What would you do if your girlfriend disobeyed you?”—many create reels: “Slap her, pull her hair, punch her chest…”. These kinds of content are viewed, shared, and imitated by thousands.

In such circumstances, if we view rape incidents solely as a failure of a particular government or political regime, then we are avoiding the root cause. Because a state is governed based on the sentiments of its society. Laws are made on the foundation of that society’s moral compass. And if that society sees women merely as bodies—then how can the state protect women’s dignity?

It is time to understand that rape is one of the methods of exercising power. Rape is not just about sexual desire; it is a means of revenge, humiliation, and asserting dominance. To rape someone’s wife means to steal their “honour”. Here, once again, the woman is an object of consumption—a trophy, where establishing possession equals victory.

On social media today, the content that goes viral most often explicitly features women’s bodies, and these women are often married. The “pleasure” of enjoying someone else’s “property” doesn’t end with sex. It includes the satisfaction of insult, the “dominance over another’s wife”—this too is a form of power play.

Rape, therefore, is not merely a physical act, it is a symbolic aggression—where a woman is suppressed by violating her lack of consent. This mentality has been ingrained in society for generations.

The state can reduce incidents of rape—by enforcing stricter punishments, ensuring honest policing, and accelerating judicial processes. But to eradicate rape culture, society’s perception must undergo a radical change. As long as women are seen as sexual objects, rape will remain “normal”.

This change must begin with women themselves—by recognising themselves through the lens of self-respect and sensitivity. Yes, in the battle of life, the body may at times seem like an asset, but one must always remember—this very thorn pricks the flesh. Let the daily excruciating pain not become so permanent that we start accepting the pain as normal.

What we need now is a cultural battle, where a woman will define her place in society not through her body, but through her thoughts, her voice, her dreams, and her rights. Where a girl’s body will not be “content”, not be “competition”, but be a natural body—a part of human existence.

Only then will rape become “abnormal”. Only then will society learn—not just to touch, but even to consume her with the eyes, requires her consent.

Author: Columnist