Essay on Fraternity Gang Rape - 2814 Words

Of 24 documented cases of alleged gang rape by college students, 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 fraternity’s system causes a â€Å"group-think† mentality that promotes and sometimes causes group sexual assault. This group influence, along with the fraternity’s selection of men and their adherence to†¦show more content†¦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 â€Å"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 membersShow MoreRelatedAnalysis on Fraternities and Rape on Campus Essay examples873 Words   |  4 PagesThe first main sociological question in the Fraternities and Rape on Campus study performed by Patricia Yancey Martin and Robert A. Hummer was, What characteristics do fraternities have that make them prone to objectification of women and more likely to commit gang rape on college campuses and why fraternities encourage the sexual coercion of women. According to Martin and Hummer (1989: 459), fraternities are vitally concerned Ââ€" more than anything else Ââ€" with masculinity (cf. 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