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  • Essay / Analysis of Susan Griffin's Rape: The Pan-American Crime

    The civilization of men is called chivalry and is won by women at the cost of their own civilization. “For women, civilized behavior means chastity before marriage and fidelity within it. The chivalrous behavior of the male is supposed to protect this chastity from involuntary defilement” (Griffin, 516). Unfortunately, the definition of civilization for women requires them to be feminine, delicate and submissive while men are strong and dominant. This robs women of the mentality that they can be strong and independent and forces them to seek protection from men instead of finding it within themselves. This mentality and dependence robs women of the ability to protect themselves from men, creating a world of fear in which they can live. They also keep women submissive because they don't want to step out of line and risk getting hurt. Essentially, men keep women submissive by defining femininity and using it as a cage to restrict their behavior and thoughts. Furthermore, their chivalric protection does not apply to women who deviate from required behavior. This means that women who act independently cannot be raped, they are beyond violation and an open target for all men. This double standard serves to make rape acceptable, even encouraged, behavior while keeping women calm and well-behaved, lest they be taken for a bad girl worthy of being.