It is three days a week when my social feed is filled with heartbreaking stories of new victims and their subsequent
protests. Yet, despite this constant outcry, I find myself questioning: what truly changes? While every child learns
self-defense, have we done enough to teach them not to be the cause of someone else's need to defend
themselves? The epidemic of sexual violence, rooted in deeply ingrained societal attitudes, demands our urgent
attention.
The normalization of misogyny creates a dangerous foundation for sexual violence as disrespect gets woven into
the fabric of our society. Thereby when hurting remarks over women are merely laughed off as just jokes,
disrespect then becomes the first step towards violence. The memes and jokes that proliferate mundane domestic
violence and gender discrimination over time make the individual grow numb toward the offending behavior.
These combine with a gap in understanding consent education to join together in a cultural perspective that not
only tolerates the mindset of abuse but often tolerates and then condones it.
Social media bombs us with objectifying content every single day, attracting the potential perpetrator and making
us forget the meaning of consent. And to mention the excuse of "men will be men"; change is impossible in this
scheme. Hypersexual attitudes are unfortunately validated, and abuse continues from generation to generation
with mothers and grandmothers defending their partner's aggressive actions. When one in ten citizens disrespect
the fairer gender, the rest keep quiet, and disrespect brews. We should admit that it is not just women who are
victims; young boys are equally victimized.
At a time when sexual violence remains rampant, not taking the claims of victims seriously just digs a further hole
into the culture of silence and fear. Institution-speak may cost schools or workplaces their reputation in their
pursuit of justice: someone handles it but also sweeps it under the carpet. This emboldens perpetrators but sends
a sadly discouraging message to victims, making them feel altogether unheard and unsupported. Only by
combating such immediate causes can real efforts against sexual violence be successful, but only if it guarantees an
all-rounded people's environment in which claims are taken seriously, where accountability is the bottom line and
the word justice does not come after the word victory but vice versa.
Women have a serious role in perpetuating sexual violence by silencing victims and most of the time keeping them
mum. Women posting on social media open themselves with a very candid purpose; this may invite unwarranted
attention and complicate the issue of consent. Mothers who continue to come to their sons' defense and ridiculous
behavior reproduce denial culture as well making it possible for it to continue. Women bear the huge responsibility
of raising children; however, they often surrender the primary role of teaching boys about respect and consent. It
is crucial to understand that they too have a role and effort in creating an environment where accountability and
respect can coexist.
Rapists are not born; they are shaped by a society that allows harmful attitudes to fester. As individuals, we must
confront the uncomfortable truth that eight out of ten of us play a role in sustaining a culture of sexual violence,
whether through long-term, indirect, or immediate actions. We contribute to the cycle that remains unbroken.
Look at your innocent children; they are as delicate as flowers, yet face an alarming probability of becoming
victims in a world increasingly indifferent to their safety. If we remain careless, we are exposing them to a future
filled with potential rapists and murderers.
