Hello, watchers. I've got another unrelated art topic again because I just love talking about these things okay? Stop judging me! Besides, I thought it was something worth thinking about with the New Year coming in. The topic at hand is . Rape culture is kind of a hard thing to fully define, but I'm going to attempt it. Basically, rape culture is any society in which rape and sexual violence are common and in which prevalent attitudes, norms, practices, and media condone, normalize, excuse, or tolerate sexual violence. Wow what a mouthful. To me, the term has come to include repressed ideas about sexuality and double standards for men and women. It is the umbrella term to describe a type of attitude in society. In essence, that definition really doesn't mean much, but it's the effect it has on the population that's the deciding factor. Rape culture has allowed hard ingrained misogyny of the past to hide itself in plain sight, and it doesn't just target women. It attacks men who show even the remotest sign of femininity. (Ever heard the term "mangina?")  But it's best understood through examples:

Rape culture is a male always expecting a positive reaction when he hits on a woman even when it's done in the most demeaning way. Nice tits. Hey, I'm talking to you. Take it as a compliment. Fine then you ugly ass bitch.

Rape culture is congratulating males for sleeping around while branding females as loose whores. Rape culture is making women feel guilty for wanting and enjoying casual sex or being anything other than the pure, dainty flowers that they are.

Rape culture is my family thinking that all delivery guys will rape women given the chance they find them home alone.

Rape culture is teaching boys that 'no' actually means 'try harder.'

Rape culture is the belief that once you've consented to sex, you can't stop it at any moment or else you're a horrible tease.

Rape culture is idealizing virginity in one sex while shaming it in the other instead of calling it for what it is: inexperience.

Rape culture is the prevalent myth that false rape cases are common.

Rape culture is saying a person deserves to be raped for the way they dress or act or who they hang out with.

Rape culture is when the people in charge use their power to silence the victim because it's "bad for the company's reputation." Rape culture is when it's perfectly legal to fire an employee because you think she's too irresistibly sexy.

Rape culture is Rep. Todd Akin—member of the House Science, Space, and Technology committee— believing the uterus is made of magic and can differentiate between consensual sperm and rape sperm.

Rape culture is authorities allowing rapes to happen between prison inmates because it deters crime, even though male rape victims are more likely to become aggressive in response to their rape and commit more crimes. Rape culture is demeaning male rape victims as not being "real men" because they "let that happen to them."

Rape culture is devaluing anything that is not heterosexuality. Rape culture is comparing homosexuality to bestiality or pedophilia. Rape culture is using rape as a corrective for gay men, lesbians, and asexuals.

Rape culture is students not being properly taught what constitutes as sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape—believing that rape only happens from strangers, at night, down a dark alley. Rape culture is the belief that the only "real rape" is a violent one.

Rape culture is burdening the victim with rape prevention and if you didn't follow all of the rules, it's YOUR fault.

Rape culture is blaming the victim instead of blaming the rapist. What were you wearing? Do you have a boyfriend? Why were you out so late? Why were you by yourself? Did I already ask what you were wearing?

Rape culture is when star athletes and celebrities get media protection when they rape. Rape culture is when people think dog fighting is worse than raping a woman.

Rape culture is when 60% of sexual assaults and rapes go unreported because it's more trouble to have to press charges with small likelihood of any justice because rapes are hard to prove.

Rape culture is the police and court system accusing the rape victim of lying about being raped and picking apart every bit of their sexual history to prove that point. (We have rape shield laws against the latter now but I get the feeling it still happens.)

Rape culture is when a 13 year old girl in India gets raped by 8 males over the span of a week and a half and the perpetrators get little more than a slap on the wrist.

Rape culture is an understanding laugh between "the boys" when a man forces himself on a woman. Eh, you should find it flattering you were able to inspire so much bodice-ripping desire in him. Rape culture is two guys throwing you on a bed, jumping on top, and pinning you down while your male "friends" watch. Rape culture is when you say no and a guy forces a kiss on you anyway. Yeah, those things happened to me.

Rape culture is the idea that only certain people rape—and only certain people get raped. Considering that 70% of rape happens between persons the victim knows, it doesn't matter if you appear strong or weak, ugly or beautiful, young or old. Anyone and EVERYONE is at risk.

If this all sounds familiar to you, you may be living in a rape culture.