The rape culture in the United States is alive and well. Thriving, even, if you really want to think about it. Media coverage of the Steubenville rape trial was only the tip of the iceberg. Some insist that rape culture is merely a “fabrication” of feminists and liberals, but I say no. Instead, this rape culture is a fantastic example of the resurgence of a terrifying and violent war against women.

Since when, exactly, has a rape been the fault of the victim? To say this is very similar to blaming an innocent man’s murder on his unfortunate choice of location. Yet somehow media, politicians and everyday people continue to claim that women who are raped “asked for it,” by dressing provocatively or by being under the influence of alcohol. Even more disturbing is the presence of a large group of people in our society who attempt to excuse the behavior of rapists. The Steubenville rape is a perfect example of this phenomenon. Not only was the teenage girl faulted for the rape, due to her level of intoxication, but the boys were sympathized with and even excused for their actions, due to their “promising future.”

But how does this happen? How is it acceptable, in a supposedly free and equal society, to rape a woman? Sadly, I think the strong presence of a rape culture is indicative of several much darker truths: women are not equals; women are not only considered the weaker sex but also the subservient sex; rape is accepted, if not condoned, because it is considered acceptable for a woman to “serve” a man’s needs. So, then, the rape culture does not exist as some standalone entity, but is created by a society that accepts a deeply rooted inequality. This inequity is in fact so deeply rooted that men are not the definitive perpetrators. This is also not to say that all men are misogynists; I’ve met men who fight for the plight of women much harder than some women do. In fact, women are often the biggest perpetrators of this anti-female culture. Female newscasters remark upon the ruined lives of the Steubenville football players as often as men, and female legislators continue to back laws that prevent abortion after rape.

Whether you argue it or not, this rape culture is very real. It will continue to be unless issues of gender equality are acknowledged and tackled. There is no one person to blame. Instead, we must fault society. Until women are recognized for their capacity to function as beings equal to men, there will still be those who hear of a violent sex crime and think, “She was asking for it.”