About three weeks ago, I started college at Hofstra University as a Journalism and Linguistics double major. For the majority of these three weeks, I've been having an amazing time, despite an awful cold and a whole new amount of school work. I remembered in the past few weeks that I do, actually, like school and learning (something I forgot in my last couple years of high school).
Although I have infinite praises to sing of my college, classes, and experiences, there has also been an issue I've been facing that needs discussion. In one of my classes, our first assignment is a research paper, but a research paper told as a narrative (opening with a story about why it matters to us, using a lot of 'I' throughout, etc.). I immediately wanted to research and discuss how things like dress codes and jock culture may contribute to rape cultures in schools- discuss how these things are biased and harmful, discuss both the benefits and drawbacks to both, and how we can improve them. Upon trying to explain this to my teacher, I was stopped.
I know that this isn't a perfect concept for a research paper. It's controversial and jock culture's relation to rape culture is not something that's been researched enough for me to find facts on. I will admit that there were flaws and places that could be improved on within this concept. However, what my professor stopped me for was my use of the term 'rape culture', because it's existence is highly debatable, and not something that is accepted fact.
I was told that I could, if I wanted, write a paper on the existence of rape culture, but since even that might be difficult to prove, he recommended I change my subject entirely.
I was so incredibly blown away by this response, I left his class, went to my dorm, and wrote the first page of my essay as if my question was 'Why are we still debating rape culture?'. It was scathing, and pointed, and not something I could have turned in, so I rewrote it a little later, printed that rough draft and went into class Friday ready to be torn apart.
My professor didn't ask us to hand in the essay and I wasn't asked to read. I left the class, took this opportunity as a sign, and re-wrote the whole thing about a new topic.
I was, and am, proud of that original paper. It was experience based and some of the better writing I've done in my life. I will link it at the end of this post, because it's an important question, I think, for us to ask. That said, the question I want to ask you all now is different.
Real talk time, readers: Do you think it is too much of a leap in research to accept rape culture as real? Should I have had to change my topic?
Here is the link to the original essay.
Here is a great definition of rape culture, if you're unsure of what I mean exactly.
And if you aren't sure whether or not rape culture exists, I encourage you to 1.) Learn about how it manifests itself in everyday life and learn how to identify it for yourself. Or 2.) Sign into Twitter sometime, search tags #YesAllWomen or #EverydaySexism.
If you still are doubtful, I'd love to talk to you about it! Feel free to comment or email me.
I love the title of your blog. I certainly don't think you should have had to change the topic of your paper. I only wish I'd been as inspired as you are when I was in college. So many students dread essays and write half-hearted papers at the last possible moment. It seems a shame to try to discourage a student who is passionate about writing and who has such insightful things to say.
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