Topic > Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture Ayres Boswell...

In "Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture" Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Spade analyze the social perspective of gender relations in men's fraternities that add to the high rate of violence against women on many college campuses. They list a number of factors that distinguish higher risk atmospheres from lower risk ones when discussing college rape rates and state how “1 in 4 college students say they have been raped or have experienced an attempted rape” (217 ). Additionally, “1 in 12 college students say they have forced a woman to have sex against her will” (Boswell, Spade 217). In other words, Boswell and Spade indicated that rates were high when it came to women being raped at colleges by men who also attended those colleges. Furthermore, Boswell and Spade detail how most people are aware of rape but know very little about rape culture (Boswell, Spade 217). First, Boswell and Spade describe how rape culture is a set of values ​​and beliefs that provide an environment conducive to rape. to rape (217). As they do a study, the list indicates a number of factors that distinguish higher risks of rape and some setting examples were the highly distinct relationships between parties (Boswell, Spade 219). They observed 2 opposing fraternities at the same school and noted distinctions between high- and low-risk groups where they generated sexually violent behavior by observing the interaction between men and women. For example, in high-risk homes, women were said to be treated differently during their conversations. they were based on flirtation, with meaningful one-on-one conversations and this stated that there would be more interaction between these college men and women. However, the way college men were towards girls was said to be more aggressive, such as insults and pushing. In high-risk homes there was more heavy drinking and all anyone talked about was “sexual talk” about the previous night (Boswell, Spade 219). Unlike high-risk homes, in low-risk homes behavior was said to change as settings changed. After all, some of the same people who attended the high-risk parties would also attend the low-risk parties. Boswell and Spade said lower-risk parties were said to have a friendlier environment. The men were said to treat the woman with respect and also not talk about them as high-risk people would (Boswell, Spade 220).