For my paper I will be examining an apparent counterintuitivity in modern American culture; the fact that men have historically determined what rape legally is, despite the reality that many more men perpetrate rape than are raped.

The main argument of my essay will hinge on the obvious patriarchy in American society, and how that directly leads to the counterintiutive reality that we live in. The historical fact that men have been more powerful than women leads to more men raping women as an exertion of that power; it also leads to men making up the vast majority of the legal bodies that legally define rape.

Sources:

1. Cohen, Philip. “America Is Still a Patriarchy.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 19 Nov. 2012. Web. <http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2012/11/america-is-still-a-patriarchy/265428/>.

Background: This is an article written for the Atlantic that argues that modern America is a patriarchical society.

How I Intend to Use It: I will use this source as a framework to help me define American society as patriarchical.

2. Eichelberger, Erika. “Men Defining Rape: A History.” Mother Jones. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/08/men-defining-rape-history>.

Background: This is a piece that gives historical examples of the kinds of laws men make regarding rape of women.

How I Intend to Use It: I will use this article and its contents in my paper the same way that Erika Eichelberger uses her arguments in her article — to demonstrate the level of absurdity of some sexual assault legislation.

3. McKelle, Erin. “On ‘Choice’ Feminism and Internalized Misogyny: Why We Participate in Patriarchal Oppression.” Everyday Feminism. N.p., 25 July 2014. Web. <http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/07/choice-feminism-internalized-misogyny/>.

Background: This is an article written for a feminist publication. The article seeks to explain the genesis of the internalized misogyny with which many women struggle.

How I Intend to Use It: I’ll use this to demonstrate how deep the patriarchy goes; our society is so toxic toward women that even women can be misogynists.

4. “Sexual Assault Statistics.” One In Four USA. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.oneinfourusa.org/statistics.php>.

Background: This is a report done by the private organization One in Four, which seeks to give statistics on the frequency of sexual assault, as well as demographics on the assaulters and victims.

How I Intend to Use It: These statistics help me to to argue that some women are victimized by some men in American society.

5. “Who Are the Victims? | RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.” Who Are the Victims? | RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assault-victims>.

Background: This is a report from the Rape and Incest National Network, a well-known resource for sexual assault nationwide.

How I Intend to Use It: This source is very similar to the One in Four source, and will fill the same primary role.