Rape chant explained

A rape chant is a type of chant made by members of a group that condones rape and sexual assault.

History

Historically rape chants have been associated with the acceptance of violence against women.[1] Rape chants relate to a sociological concept called rape culture. In the past chants have invoked violence against women, violence against children, paedophilia, political violence and even necrophilia.[2] [3] [4]

This topic is not covered widely in textbooks or academic literature but was explored at length in a The Agenda with Steve Paikin segment in 2013.[5] Carleton University associate professor Rena Bivens, has stated that both men and women are complicit in the rape culture that leads to these chants. Furthermore, she says these chants normalize rape culture.

Notable examples

Rape chants have occurred around the globe.

Africa

Over 100 members of the youth wing of the ruling political party engaged in rape chants in Burundi in 2017.[6] These chants were subsequently condemned by the United Nations.[7]

Americas

In 2013 chants occurred at two Canadian universities. These incidents garnered significant media coverage in Canada. The first incident occurred on Labour Day when a group of Saint Mary's University students participated in a chant during frosh-week.[8] [9] That same September, another incident occurred involving students from the University of British Columbia's prestigious Sauder School of Business. Students from the Commerce Undergraduate Society were recorded participating in these chants. Reforms were made following incidents at UBC and an investigation revealed that such chants were part of an "oral tradition" possibly dating back at least 20 years.[10]

In 2010, Delta Kappa Epsilon, a prominent fraternity at Yale University, was implicated in an incident where members chanted "no means yes, yes means anal." The fraternity was suspended for five years following the chant in 2011. [11] [12] [13]

Australia

A rape chant incident occurred on the University of New South Wales' campus in 2016.[14] The same chant was repeated by students of Melbourne's St. Kevin's College in 2019, resulting in widespread condemnation.[15] [16] [17]

Europe

In 2017 Jesus College, Cambridge, England disciplined students for allegedly shouting "woman-hating, rape-inciting chants".[18] In 2022, a chant occurred at Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. The chants were criticised by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.[19]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rape Chants Prevalent on University Campuses . The Trauma & Mental Health Report . York University . 26 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Young-Powell . Abby . First-year students 'encouraged to sing necrophiliac chant' by union reps . The Guardian . 31 January 2023.
  3. Web site: Clark-Flory . Tracy . Yale fraternity pledges chant about rape . Slate . 31 January 2023.
  4. Web site: UBC investigates frosh students' pro-rape chant . 26 January 2023 . CBC News.
  5. Web site: Rena Bivens: Rape Chant Controversy . TVO . 31 January 2023.
  6. News: Summers . Hannah . UN condemns 'grotesque rape chants' of Burundi youth militia . The Guardian . 26 January 2023 . Guardian story on Burundi youth wing.
  7. Web site: U.N. Condemns 'Grotesque Rape Chants' By Burundi Youth Militia . 26 January 2023 . NPR.
  8. News: Tutton . Michael . Saint Mary's University frosh chant cheers for rape, underage sex . The Canadian Press . CP article on Saint Mary's.
  9. News: Saint Mary's University frosh chant cheers for rape, underage sex . The Canadian Press . 26 January 2023 . CP article on Saint Marys.
  10. Web site: Hume . Mark . In wake of rape chant, UBC wants to change campus culture . 26 January 2023 . The Globe and Mail.
  11. News: Park . Alice . Yale opts out of DKE punishment . Yale Daily News . 2 August 2024 . Yale Daily News story on fraternity issue.
  12. News: Howard . Zach . Yale punishes fraternity for sexist chanting . Reuters . 26 January 2023 . Reuters Yale story.
  13. News: Kessler . Jason . Yale suspends fraternity for raunchy chants . CNN . 26 January 2023 . CNN story on Yale fraternity.
  14. Web site: Palin . Megan . College scandal: Sydney male students' pro-rape chants caught on camera . news.com.au . 26 January 2023.
  15. News: Silva . Kristian . 21 Oct 2019 . St Kevin's College issues apology after students' sexist chant on Melbourne tram . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201002959/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-21/st-kevins-apologises-after-students-sexist-chant/11623880 . 1 Dec 2021 . 2 May 2024 . ABC News.
  16. News: Oaten . James . Silva . Kristian . 25 Oct 2019 . St Kevin's College principal condemns 'foolish' students after sexist chant repeated in public . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211234133/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-25/st-kevins-sexist-chant-repeated-in-public/11638614 . 11 Dec 2023 . 2 May 2024 . ABC News.
  17. News: Ilanbey . Sumeyya . 25 Oct 2019 . St Kevin's head says 'misogynistic' problem is worse than he thought . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320211606/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/st-kevin-s-head-says-misogynistic-problem-is-worse-than-he-thought-20191025-p5347t.html . 20 Mar 2023 . 2 May 2024 . The Age.
  18. Web site: Elliott . Chris . Jesus College to discipline students accused of shouting woman-hating, rape-inciting chants . 31 January 2023 . Cambridgeshire Live.
  19. Web site: Hedgecoe . Guy . Complutense University: 'Macho, repugnant' - Spanish PM condemns students' chant . BBC News . 30 January 2023.

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