Rape Culture: What It Is & How To Combat It When Raising Kids

The term “rape culture” is being used in the media and across social platforms a lot lately. Though we may have thoughts about what it means, what are we actually talking about here? Roughly speaking, “rape culture” is a sociological term used to describe a culture in which sexual assault and the routine violation of female autonomy is not only permitted but woven, both subtly and overtly, into the very fabric of our society. In light of the rise of #metoo and #timesup, there’s a widespread interest in better understanding the social forces that are contributing to these horrific and routine violations. As parents of both girls and boys, this interest is multifaceted; we want to understand the forces at play, protect our children from the evils that surround us, and figure out how to raise children who will help to disrupt these horrible cycles—lest we be complacent in perpetuating them.