The rape culture of the 1980s, explained by Sixteen Candles

[Quixote1818]

The beloved romantic comedy’s date rape scene provides important context for the Brett Kavanaugh accusations.
By Constance Grady@constancegrady Sep 27, 2018, 5:20pm EDT

When a third woman accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct this week, Kavanaugh supporters immediately stepped forward with a familiar defense: It couldn’t have happened, because surely if it had, someone would have said something at the time.

In a sworn declaration delivered through her lawyer Michael Avenatti, Julie Swetnick avowed that she witnessed Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh drug girls at high school house parties where the girls were later “gang raped.” Swetnick further says that Kavanaugh was present at a party where she herself was drugged and raped, although she does not directly say that he participated in her rape.

In a statement released by the White House, Kavanaugh (who has denied all three allegations against him) called Swetnick’s statement “ridiculous” and “from the Twilight Zone.” His denial was widely echoed by supporters to whom the idea that such terrible things could happen on a routine basis, and that no one would do anything to stop them or even avoid the parties, seems absurd.



More: https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/9/27/17906644/sixteen-candles-rape-culture-1980s-brett-kavanaugh

[Johnny2X2X]

1. Date rape wasn't a term until 1987

Think about that. Not even a thing. Basically society in this country said most rapes weren’t rape.

[JI7]

4. yup, just like many saying it was impossible for a man to rape his wife

[Loki Liesmith]

2. It's s movie classic with a two way mutual rape

Two characters in the movie could arguably be said to have raped one another.

Very weird.

[Johnny2X2X]

8. Huh?

Not a chance. Anthony Michael Hall’s character was sober and raped the prom queen in Jake’s dad’s Rolls Royce. That girl was depicted as drunk and not in control and she passed out in his lap and then woke up the next day have had sex.

That is rape.

[Loki Liesmith]

10. Disagree

Farmer Ted committed the first sexual assault but Caroline remembers actually having sex later on while Ted does not, indicating that at that point she has more control than he did. He was passed out at that point and she was not. At that point she at best commits statutory rape and at worst also commits sexual assault.

But the point is the real rapist here is Jake. He violates both Caroline and Ted with his machinations.

[Downtown Hound]

3. Sixteen candles? Hell, go watch the original Revenge of the Nerds

The "nerds" in that movie do things that would get them lengthy prison sentences and lifelong inclusion on the sex offender registry if they tried them in real life. These include installing secret cameras in the girls dorm and spying on them in private moments, and dressing up in costumes to trick women into sex by making them think they were doing it with somebody else.

But in the 80's, it was all oh-so-funny, those crazy boys them.

[Quixote1818]

6. The author talks about Revenge of the Nerds in the article. nt

[SoCalDem]

5. Rich whiteboy entitlement

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211190198


when did Porky's & Animal House come out???

Perhaps these were role models for them

[betsuni]

7. I saw this movie for the first time last year.

It's on so many favorite lists, a beloved classic. I've never been so angry at a movie. I then understood comments like, "It was like a John Hughes movie, but less rapey." How anyone in 2018 can watch that movie and not be disgusted, I do not know.

[Quixote1818]

9. "It was like a John Hughes movie, but less rapey."

Who said that quote? It seems like I have heard that but nothing comes up in a google search. Such a great quote.

[betsuni]

11. Saw it at Jezebel in the comments.

I'm sure I've seen it more than once, seems to be common knowledge there.