Fraternities And Gang Rape Essay Example For Students

Fraternities And Gang Rape Essay Of the 24 documented cases of alleged gang rape by college students in the past 10 years, fraternity men perpetrated 13. The problem of group sexual assault on college campuses mainly occurs in an environment where group behavior and acceptance is important to the men involved, i.e. fraternities (Bechhofer Parrot 144). Looking at the environment surrounding this type of group one can see what causes the prevalence of this type of assault in fraternities. Why does this violence occur within these groups and how is it handled? The dynamics involved in the fraternitys system causes a group-think mentality that promotes and sometimes causes group sexual assault. This group influence, along with the fraternitys selection of men and their adherence to traditional sex role stereotypes reinforces myths of acceptable behavior in men and women and how these play a role concerning consequences. Specific dynamics come into play when discussing how groups of people who might not otherwise act in dividually take part in sexual assaults with other members of their group. The theory of diffusion of responsibility suggests that in situations where the presence of others acting in a similar fashion diminishes the feeling of responsibility any individual feels for the harmful consequences of his or her own behavior (Bechhofer Parrot ed. 147-148). With respect to fraternities, the brother feels less like his own self and more like he is just participating in something that all his brothers are doing as well. They share the blame. A fraternity brother begins to think of the activity as something his brothers are doing and joins in under the influence of a shared activity. Other things may play into the idea that the assailant is not acting alone and is not solely responsible for his actions. Deindividuation is a theory of group behavior that refers to a state of loss of self-awareness, including awareness of ones beliefs, attitudes, and self-standards. This promotes group spirit. In fraternities, Alcohol is used to get group consensus by allowing an escape from ones self-consciousness. Group loyalty will also cause people in a group to deindividualize by taking on the groups identity (Bechhofer ; Parrot 148). In an environment such as a fraternity where incoming pledges are looking to be accepted by a group of men who have the power to reject them, they are greatly influenced by the behavior of the group. Modeling can become a factor in making sexual assault seen as something that is acceptable. Not only does it give the information to the member, it at times shows them how it is done. This can be very influential to incoming members who see fraternities as social leaders and may not question their behavior. Along with these dynamics of group behavior, there are significant attitudes present in the fraternity environment that breeds sexual violence. Sex-roles play an important part in fraternities and how and what is expected from women and men. Peggy Reeves Sanday, suggests that there are Rape-free and Rape prone societies, and fraternities fit the mark for attitudes in a Rape-prone environment. Sanday states that,A rape-prone society is one in which the incidence of rape is reported by observers to be high, or rape is excused a ceremonial expression of masculinity, or rape is an act by which men are allowed to punish or threaten women. (Sanday, VIOLENCE p. 193) Fraternities can be an example of this type of environment. Sanday also suggests that these men fall into the Western cultural myth that man is an animal that evolved with his dominance over women. These men see themselves as being powerful and privileged in their situation as a brother, as well as in being a man in general. Playing out this traditional misogynistic view rationalizes a boys will be boys attitude that, as will be looked at later, affects how this behavior is seen by the community (Sanday 193). The types of men selected to become members of the fraternities reinforce the behaviors and ideas of powerful macho men and perpetuate the cycle of behavior. Fraternities attract a certain type of male, more insecure than average: men whose psychological and social bonds to parents, especially their mothers, have not yet been broken (Hirsch 53). These insecure men tend to find the fraternity life attractive, it allows them to find an identity within the group. Initiation rituals for pledges that wish to join the fraternity back up the misogynistic and unequal views on the masculine and feminine. Sanday states that:The ritual produces anxiety by representing the feminine to the pledge as both dirty and as part of his subjectivity. The ritual then resolves the anxiety by cleansing the pledge of his supposed feminine identification and promising him a lifelong position in a purified male social order. (Sanday 171)These rituals often involve the violent abuse of pledges, therefor showing them that this type of violence against those who are being submissive (pledges), is an integral part of their bonding. Out of this feeling of superiority and power that the members get from being in their privileged male status, a sexual double arises. Men are predators who are rewarded for their conquests; women on the other hand are punished either way. One Greek man stated that, Women who sleep around are sluts and get bad reputations; men who do are champions and get a pat on the back from their brothers. Greek men have also stated that they feel pressure to disrespect women when they are in the group (Boswell 141). Boswell states that fraternity men usually treat the girlfriends of members with more respect (138). This can be linked to the fact that they are already possessed by a man, whereas the girls with out boyfriends must be looking for a man. The idea that men must act out their sexual urges and women should remain passive and naive about sex is accepted and can be used against an assaulted victim if it goes to trial. A Tale Of Two Cities Theme EssayMany rituals in fraternities are done for the bond of the brothers, yet certain behaviors are extreme to separate any confusion of their heterosexuality, especially when it is a bunch of men living together. In party sexual activities, Sanday suggests that fraternity brothers split lust from love. She states that:Such a split is necessary for homophobic men living in groups structured by ties demanding mutual loyalty. These men must be careful not to act out sexual feelings for a loved brother lest it compromise their status as privileged, heterosexual males, nor can they show loyalty or love for a party woman lest this weaken the fraternal bond. (Sanday 37)The idea of fraternal bond as a male power transfers the act of gang rape not into a masculine claiming of power and dominance of women. Women being seen as those who are weak and need to be dominated. This motivation as well as the overall idea that women want it is underline in our culture and s ystem and have made it difficult for the prosecution of gang rapes. Many often lead to victim blaming and an idea that fraternity men have a sort of status in society, mostly coming from middle to upper class homes. The act of victim blaming comes up with gang rape, as well as many other rape cases. The fraternity gang rape cases are particularly hard due to a lack of concern from the University Officials. Usually no action is taken so that the University can look good. The Universitys actions were so mild in one rape case that the faculty put together a committee to investigate the proceedings. They learned that the mild sanctions placed on the six fraternity members who raped a student included, writing assignments, discussions, and community service. This was supposed to make the respondents understand why their actions were wrong and to foster their development as mature and responsible adults (Sanday 77). The mild punishment that was given to these men can be seen in many other instances of rape trials, where the women ends up on trial instead of the man or men who raped her. In an Michigan State University rape in 1984 where seven college students were tried for 3rd degree sexual assault of a 17-year-old MSU student in a dormitory. Five defense attorneys each displayed the victims jeans and football jersey before the court and asked why she wasnt wearing a bra when she went to the party (Bechhofer Parrot ed. 140). As Sanday states, By blaming women for provoking male sexual aggression, women are controlled through the agency of fear. This causes an aggressive attitudes in men and a passive, fearful attitude in women (89). This then keeps the gender hierarchy in check. The problem of gang rape in fraternities around the country is one that needs to be seen through the workings of an intricate system of values and beliefs. The facts that these men live in confined quarters together and have certain beliefs of power, privilege, and loyalty to their brothers, causes attitudes of misogyny and violent behavior toward women. The dynamics of group behavior as well as the environment that is created by many people with these beliefs living together and choosing new members, perpetuates this cycle of violence. BibliographyBechhofer, Laurie and Andrea Parrot ed. Acquaintance Rape: The Hidden Crime. John Wiley Sons, New York. 1991. Boeringer, Scott B. Influences of fraternity membership, athletics and male living arrangements of sexual aggression. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, V.2, NO.2, JUNE, pp. 134-147; 1996. ISSN: 1077-8012Boswell, A. Ayres; Spade, Joan Z. Fraternities and collegiate rape culture: Why are some fraternities more dangerous places for women? GENDER SOCIETY, V.10, NO.2, APRIL, pp. 133-147 1996. ISSN: 0891-2432Cook, Sarah L. Acceptance and expectation of sexual aggression in college students. PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN QUARTERLY, V.19, NO.2, JUNE, pp. 181-194; 1995 ISSN: 0361-6843Hirsch, Kathleen. Fraternities of fearGang rape, male bonding, and the silencing of women. Ms.; Vol. 1; pp. 52-6; S-O 1990. Hummer, Robert A. and Patricia Yancey Martin. Fraternities and Rape on Campus. Violence Against Women the Bloody Footprints. Ed. Pauline B. Bart and Eileen Geil Moran. California: SAGE Publications, Inc., 1993. 114-129. Koss, Mary P.; Cleveland III, Hobart H. Commentary: Athletic participation, fraternity membership, anddate rape: The question remainsself-selection or different causal processes? VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN,V.2, NO.2, JUNE, pp. 180-190; 1996. ISSN: 1077-8012Sanday, Peggy Reeves. Fraternity gang rape: sex, brotherhood, and privilege on campus. New York: NewYork University Press, c1990. Sanday, Peggy Reeves Commentary: Rape-prone versus rape-free campus cultures. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, V.2, NO.2, JUNE, pp. 191-208; 1996. ISSN 1077-8012Schwartz, Martin D.; Nogrady, Carol A. Fraternity membership, rape myths, and sexual aggression on a college campus. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, V.2, NO.2, JUNE, pp. 148-162; 1996. ISSN: 1077-8012