• About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
      Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
    • CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
      CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
    • WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
      WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
      Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
    • It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
      It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
    • What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
      What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • No image
      Pentimento’s Open Mic is Like an Old Patchwork Quilt–Worn, Yet Cozy
    • No image
      Kanye’s Antisemitism Steps on his Shoe Brand
    • Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
      Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
    • Books Before Boys
  • Sports and Wellness
    • Student-Athlete of October
      Student-Athlete of October
    • Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
      Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
    • The Case for Body Neutrality
      The Case for Body Neutrality
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
      Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
    • Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
      Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
    • The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
      The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
  • 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

Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification

It’s time to put traditional grading to the test

Banner reading this website has been seized over images of a book shelf

What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?

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 © 2023 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top