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rape culture

American  
[rayp kuhl-cher] / ˈreɪp ˌkʌl tʃər /

noun

  1. a subset of values, beliefs, and behaviors in a society that trivializes or normalizes sexual violence, including rape.

    Slut-shaming is one manifestation of rape culture.


Etymology

Origin of rape culture

First recorded in 1970–75


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The French woman, identified as Ms H.W, celebrated the decision as a step forward in ending "rape culture" and promoting consent within marriage.

From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2025

In 2019, many rallied behind Ms. Liu using hashtags like #NoPerfectVictim, sparking a broader debate in China about rape culture and consent.

From New York Times ● Sep. 28, 2022

Sara Haines states that activist Tarana Burke, who is the founder of the movement against sexual abuse, sexual harassment and rape culture, has also said that the case doesn't fall under #MeToo.

From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2022

The next administration needs to not just talk about how we support sexual assault survivors but also show up in the concrete actions we take to dismantle rape culture.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 3, 2021

The novel nods toward a lot of hot buttons — transphobia, rape culture, hot takes, the whole post-truth smorgasbord — without ever really pushing any.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2021

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