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GOOD GUYS DON'T RAPE: Gender, Domination, and Mobilizing Rap

Authors

C. J. Pascoe, Jocelyn A. Hollander
University of Oregon, USA

Introduction

In early 2015, the University of Oregon Ducks football team celebrated their victory over the Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles at the Rose Bowl. During the celebration, several Oregon players were filmed singing "No Means No!" to the tune of the "War Chant," a song regularly sung by FSU fans. This chant directed at FSU quarterback Jameis Winston, who had been accused (but not charged or convicted) of raping a female student, drew varied interpretations.

Initial Interpretations
  1. Victorious Shaming: Some commentators viewed the chant as young men publicly reprimanding another man accused of sexual violence, seeming to embody the feminist slogan "no means no." This perspective suggested the chant called into question traditional assumptions regarding sexual assault as a tool for enforcing gender inequality.
  2. Alternative Perspective: We propose an alternate interpretation. The chanting players might not be decrying the practice of rape but rather publicly shaming their opponent, reinforcing their own masculine identities. The chant could serve to position Winston as a "failed man"—someone who needs to utilize force for sexual access.
  3. Real Man Ideology: The implication is that a "real man" does not need to resort to force for sexual interactions and should control his urges, thereby elevating the chanters' masculine status.

The Role of Masculinity

Exploring this incident highlights the complexities of masculinity in the context of rape and sexual violence.

  1. Feminist Theorizing: While men and masculinity have historically been pivotal in feminist discourse on gender and sexual violence, the current academic and activist approach often casts men as merely perpetrators.
  2. Identity Dilemmas: The dual acts of participating in and opposing sexual violence create identity dilemmas (Wilkins 2009) for young men, as they navigate conflicting societal expectations of masculinity.
  3. Hybrid Masculinities: Contemporary dynamics between masculinity and rape may reflect “hybrid masculinities,” where young men leverage new expressions of masculinity while reinforcing existing power structures.

Mobilizing Rape

We introduce the concept of mobilizing rape—the idea that sexual assault can be symbolically utilized in various ways to reinforce current gender relations.

  1. Definition of Sexual Assault: Sexual assault is defined as a scenario wherein one or more persons impose unwanted interaction upon another. This definition should encompass a spectrum of behaviors and attitudes that contribute to the perpetuation of gendered domination.
  2. Interactional Accomplishment: Mobilizing rape includes engaging in acts that may not legally define as rape but still contribute to a cultural understanding which supports gender inequality. This process involves:
    • Engaging in jokes and narratives about sexual violence.
    • Blaming survivors for their victimization.
    • Symbolically deploying the idea of rape.
  3. Dominance Structures: Dominance—central to contemporary Western masculinity—is often maintained not just via violent means against women but also through hierarchical social relations among men, potentially through acts of non-consent or through the disavowal of rape.

Rape Culture

The concept of rape culture describes environments where rape is normalized and sexual dominance is perceived as desirable.

  1. Heterosexual Relationships: Numerous studies indicate that heterosexual relationships often thrive within a rape culture. Examples include:
    • Symbolic violence in school environments.
    • Normalization of behavior indicative of sexual assaults.
  2. Definitional Struggles: The definition of rape has evolved over decades, leading to uncomfortable middle grounds that allow for behaviors to enact dominance without fitting neatly into the categories of rape or non-rape.
    • Examples: Coercion, simple persistence, and ambiguous consent all contribute to this definitional murkiness, allowing men to navigate masculinity while maintaining non-rapist identities.
  3. Reassertion of Masculinity: Within this context, men can engage in dominant behaviors towards women while simultaneously distancing themselves from the label of rapist due to cultural shifts in perception regarding consent and sexual relations.

Navigating the identity dilemmas presented by rape culture poses challenges for men. For example:

  1. Personal Narratives: Individual accounts from respondents reveal the tumultuous balance between personal victimization and the endorsement of rape culture. Examples include:
    • A young man’s frustration at being wrongfully accused juxtaposed against casual discussions endorsing sexual violence against women.
  2. Dominance Demonstrated: To be viewed as masculine, young men often feel the need to demonstrate dominance over women. This need persists even as cultural understanding of sexual violence evolves.

Institutional Responses

Some organized efforts against sexual violence can also be analyzed through the lens of mobilizing rape.

  1. Chivalrous Constructs: Campaigns that emphasize men’s strength being for protection imply women’s vulnerability without addressing deeper social power structures.
  2. Public Campaigns: Initiatives that teach men to oppose sexual violence may reinforce the dominant narrative that masculinity equals power. Examples include:
    • Messaging that conveys men hold the power to stop rape, reiterating patriarchal norms.

Conclusion

The shifts surrounding rape prevention and masculinity need to be viewed through a lens that embraces the intersection of gender, race, and class dynamics. Distancing oneself from rape while concurrently engaging in behaviors that reinforce gendered inequalities reveals complexities in masculinity and power structures. To challenge sexual assault effectively, we must rethink the cultural narratives that surrounding masculinity, ensuring they don't perpetuate existing inequalities.