What is the term for the societal environment that normalizes and trivializes sexual assault and violence?

The term for the societal environment that normalizes and trivializes sexual assault and violence is "Rape Culture." This concept encompasses the ways in which society perpetuates attitudes and beliefs that enable and excuse sexual violence, creating an atmosphere where such behavior is normalized. Rape culture includes the trivialization of sexual assault through jokes, media portrayals, and social attitudes that diminish the severity of the acts. It can also involve victim-blaming, where the responsibilities are shifted away from the perpetrators and onto the victims.

Understanding rape culture is essential in discussing and addressing sexual violence in society because it highlights the systemic issues that allow such behaviors to continue unchecked. This cultural framework influences everything from the judicial response to sexual violence to the everyday interactions among individuals, setting a stage where consent is often overlooked or misinterpreted. Rape culture, therefore, is deeply rooted in societal norms and expectations surrounding gender and sexuality, making it a critical area of focus in sociology and gender studies.