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rape culture

American  
[reyp 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:

Dr Yelin says: "Their understanding of misogyny and rape culture was so sophisticated and so devastating, because they're living it all the time, every day."

From BBC Apr. 12, 2026

One is Lindy West’s 2013 Jezebel piece she wrote in the wake of debating Jim Norton concerning comedy’s role in perpetuating rape culture on the canceled FX series “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.”

From Salon Aug. 10, 2024

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

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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