Do we live in a Rape Culture?

The last couple of years we have seen Latter-Day Saint culture come under scrutiny in relation to "Rape Culture" The Salt Lake Tribune received a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of victims of sexual assault at BYU and the ways in which those cases were handled. Recently the discussion has moved to Bishop's interviews, Rob Porter, and the previous MTC president admitting sexual assault.

As a Latter-Day Saint, the accusation of rape culture can be quite frustrating. The implication is that Mormon's are broadly responsible for the actions of malicious bishops, Rob Porter, and the previous MTC president.

Many commentators propose that the solution for preventing rape is to teach men and boys about sexual assault and consent. These accusations and proposals seem like a slap in the face to Mormons. We work hard to uphold high standards. We do teach sexual morality and uphold the family. They seem to act as if every male would rape if he weren't taught otherwise. It seems awfully unfair for national media commentators to discuss Mormonism and rape culture without acknowledging how our high standards contribute to preventing sexual assault. Right now the conversation seems very incomplete.

These commentators are right that the main solution for preventing rape is through better education. Most approaches that I have seen seem to be a shaming, patronizing reeducation of men that assumes they don't even know what consent means. I am not talking about that kind of heavy handed education. I am talking about real education where you actually learn something you didn't consider, know, or realize. Consider this: most American males' first sexual experiences is with a knife to his genitals.

The Tribune, and other commentators should stop pointing to our moral standards as a source of rape culture, they should start pointing to circumcision.

American circumcision (posthectomy) sends all the wrong messages to boys and men.

In America the procedure isn't religious and is largely cultural. Without the religious tradition the procedure doesn't have the same narrative of sacrifice and bringing oneself closer to God. Instead other ideas and narratives fill the void. The major reason that people cite is aesthetic. Parents want their boys to avoid locker room ridicule and to look like their fathers.

In our circumcising (posthectomising) culture we send these unavoidable messages to men and boys.

- It's okay because he will like it.

- Consent doesn't matter because adult desires are more important.

- It's not painful or he won't remember the pain.

- Victim blaming: considering men butthurt if they resent being circumcised.

- Fetishizing and objectifying the male body.

- Defending the practice on the basis of culture, tradition or normalcy.

- Being more sensitive to circumcing proponents' feelings than upset victims' feelings.

We also live in a larger cutting culture too.

- unnecessarily high rate of cesarean sections

- the continued use of episiotomies (even though they have been proven ineffective)

- other unnecessary surgical interventions including non-therapeutic plastic surgeries.

- Previous overzealous surgeries such as lobotomies and tonsilectomies

Perhaps we do live in a rape culture and a cutting culture in America. If you look at medicalized circumcision we are teaching boys and men that sexual assault is okay. We would do good to drop this pernicious cultural practice.

#metoo #metoo #rapeculture #circumcision #posthectomy