My paper states that the lines between consensual and nonconsensual sexual activity are blurred and more complex than universities and law enforcement treat them. I argue that sexual violence is the foundation for rape culture and rape culture normalizes sexual violence. More specifically, I point to how rape culture has probably shaped Nungesser's actions in the Emma Sulkowicz case at Columbia University as well as men everywhere. I also argue that perhaps unwanted sex is perpetuated by the hookup culture that is also so normalized among college students.
One counter-argument could be that the rape culture theory is not real (http://time.com/30545/its-time-to-end-rape-culture-hysteria/) and that, while rape does exist as a problem, the theory does not help victims and instead leads to women creating hostile environments for innocent men. This could also help disprove the idea that Nungesser did commit the nonconsensual sexual act, blaming it on the idea that rape culture theory poisons women's mind, in this case Sulkowicz. There is also the counter-argument that hookup culture does not necessarily lead to sexual violence but does condone sexual freedom and help with gaining and maintaining sexual confidence (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/fashion/sex-on-campus-she-can-play-that-game-too.html?pagewanted=all), and that Sulkowicz succumbing to the hookup culture actually freed her from entering what could have been a monogamous but potentially abusive, trapping relationship had he continued his alleged habit of forcible sexual assault.
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