Rape is not a matter that can be joked about or trivialised

I REFER to the ongoing news articles on the case of the student who lodged a report that a classmate had threatened to rape her after she called out her teacher for making jokes about rape in a TikTok video. Since then, some have attempted to play down the issue with comments like “Female teenage students are a bit sensitive and emotional.”

But this is a matter of major concern. Why? Because a growing body of research has revealed that exposure to and tolerance of sexist humour fosters a social climate of discrimination against women (Woodzicka & Ford 2010, “Framework for thinking about the effects of sexist humour”, Europe’s Journal of Psychology 6(3), pp 174-195). In fact, men who were exposed to sexist jokes reported greater acceptance of rape myths and violence against women.

We may say these are just foolish young boys. But what happens if such attitudes are allowed to persist and these foolish young boys become men of tomorrow? Men like the PE teacher who seems to think that joking about raping someone over 18 is acceptable? Men like the former US president, Donald Trump, who was caught on tape bragging about kissing and groping women? Men who think that a rape threat is a “joke”?

Do we really want to stand by and allow our boys to develop into such men?

The #MeToo movement reminded us that male sexual violence, harassment and abuse towards women is not a new phenomenon (Lockyer & Savigny, 2018). In fact, rape jokes continue to normalise and legitimise sexual violence towards women through “humour”. It is disgusting that girls/women are expected to just quietly smile and accept this form of degradation to our dignity.

I am glad this girl publicised this matter. She has shown us that such patronising, perverse and patriarchal attitudes are still prevalent today. Will the good men out

there please tell us if it would be as funny if the PE teacher were to crack this joke to your own daughter, sister or mother? Would it be a joke if your daughter, sister or mother (who is obviously above 18) were raped because this attitude has been encouraged and fostered?

If the answer is a resounding “no”, then pray tell me, why would it be a joke to someone else’s daughter, sister or mother?

As a matter of fact, it would

be a nice change if decent men speak up for the women and girls in their lives. It is said: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

In this case, the only thing necessary for the triumph of sick, perverted men is for upright men to say nothing.

REBECCA CHIENG

Kuching