• About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • The Wellesley (COVID) 100
      The Wellesley (COVID) 100
    • In memory of Professor Rebecca Summerhays
      In memory of Professor Rebecca Summerhays
    • Trans flag controversy: College power washes staircase after trans flag is painted over Harry Potter spray paint
      Trans flag controversy: College power washes staircase after trans flag is painted over Harry Potter spray paint
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • The News in Conversation: Wellesley Against Mass Incarceration
      The News in Conversation: Wellesley Against Mass Incarceration
    • Editorial Board calls for keeping up trans flag murals
      Editorial Board calls for keeping up trans flag murals
    • No, Elon Musk’s Twitter will not restore free speech
      No, Elon Musk’s Twitter will not restore free speech
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • Be/longing Centers Connection and Care
      Be/longing Centers Connection and Care
    • No image
      Birds Falling Upwards: Wellesley College Theater’s The Moors is a Must-See
    • No image
      Sometimes you just need to read a YA “Groundhog Day” to feel something
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
    • Books Before Boys
  • Health and Wellness
    • February Student Athlete of the Month
      February Student Athlete of the Month
    • Athletics Update
      Athletics Update
    • Victoria Garrick Speaks on Mental Health
      Victoria Garrick Speaks on Mental Health
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Wellesley News Leadership Changes Completely Peacefully Without Any Suspicious Disappearances At All
      Wellesley News Leadership Changes Completely Peacefully Without Any Suspicious Disappearances At All
    • Solve Your Connection Problems With Wellesley Insecure
      Solve Your Connection Problems With Wellesley Insecure
    • Mayhem strikes Wellesley as paper towels removed from campus
      Mayhem strikes Wellesley as paper towels removed from campus
  • Miscellanea
    • President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
      President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
    • Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
      Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
    • 50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
      50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
    • The Dose
    • The Olive Branch
    • Multimedia
      • Galleries
      • Infographics
      • Videos
By Danni Ondraskova OpinionsOctober 9, 2014

Rape culture, not drunk females, poses biggest threat to fraternities

Padma Paramita '18, Opinions Editor

With the increase of sexual assault reporting, stories of grisly fraternity rapes now permeate the media. The recent reports of rapes — often in fraternity basements — are often attributed to “overly aggressive men” and negative peer pressure from fellow fraternity members to be “more manly.”

In the controversial article “Drunk Female Guest Are the Gravest Threat to Fraternities,” MIT alumni and past Chi Phi Beta (CPB) president Bill Frezza rejects this conventional explanation, instead claiming that “drunk females” are the single largest threat to the existence of fraternities. Forbes later redacted the article. Organizations like CPB can be closed if rapes are reported to and proven by the police. He also claims that society often overlooks inappropriate female behavior while reprimanding male drunkenness. On the other hand, his opponents attribute the rapes to misogyny and fraternities’ drinking culture. Nevertheless, both sides fail to identify the true propagator of fraternity-based rapes: our country’s widespread rape culture.

The cause of rape culture, much like the origin of World War II in the classic book “Catch-22,” is paradoxically both no one’s and everyone’s fault. Both World War II and rape culture cannot be directly attributed to one person, but society often plays a role in perpetuating both phenomena. During World War II, Americans supported the Allies by planting victory gardens and working in the expanding defense sector. Now we purchase video games and R-rated movies propagating sexual violence by the bucketful.

Both have encountered backlash from many sides. American isolationists like Charles Lindbergh voiced their opposition of WWII in its early stages. Feminists and conservative groups oppose pornography and films advocating sexual violence. Despite their efforts, however, rape culture has created a niche in our society and in many fraternities as well.

From the fraternity to the workplace, rape culture is manifested through negative stereotypes of both men and women. Men are often portrayed by the media as aggressive, uncouth and otherwise macho. Women are shown as dependent accessories of their male counterparts. Rape culture encourages the perception of women as docile objects and relegates men to the position of abuser. These stereotypes are the culprits of both fraternity rape and domestic abuse. Beyond that fundamental level, inaccurate stereotypes can result in misunderstanding between genders. To complicate the situation, while stereotypes contribute to the thriving of rape culture, so too does rape culture support stereotypes of men and women.

Problems of the outside world like rape culture enter even the cloistered walls of colleges like Wellesley. Wellesley women frequent fraternity parties where stereotypes and an infinite combination of alcohol mixtures are sometimes found. While attending fraternity parties isn’t a problem, Wellesley women should always maintain a Plan B for various problems that may arise. Some ways to increase safety prospects at fraternity parties are to bring emergency cash, attend with a trusted friend if possible and keep an eye on blood alcohol levels.

However, if a Wellesley woman does not take these steps and is raped, she is not to blame. Rape is not the result of a woman’s negligence — it is the byproduct of violence and a terrible act on the rapist’s part. Her refusal to give consent, in whatever state of mind, should be taken seriously. Any actions she took after overdrinking cannot be held against her due to the vulnerability and impairment of judgment that comes with intoxication. If she is raped, it is the job of the Wellesley community to take care of her and let her know that she bears no blame.

While Frezza was grossly inaccurate on many points, he did make one correct assumption: Women are just as accountable while sober as men. Wellesley women and fraternity members have a duty to make sure they do not hinder themselves and others through irresponsible actions like overdrinking to the point of unconsciousness. There are few greater tragedies in life than seeing a young person get raped, fall into a coma or die because they drank a few glasses too many. By acting responsibly, Wellesley women and others at parties can in one stroke prevent suffering and prolong the festivities.

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleCounterpoint: US airstrikes in Syria remain illegitimate despite moral justifications
Next articleSolidarity with Hong Kong student protestors

You may also like

The News in Conversation: Wellesley Against Mass Incarceration

Editorial Board calls for keeping up trans flag murals

No, Elon Musk’s Twitter will not restore free speech

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

Top Articles

Sorry. No data so far.

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @Wellesley_News

The independent student newspaper of Wellesley College since 1901.

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

  • About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
COPYRIGHT © 2022 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top