Real-Life Examples Of "Rape-Free Societies"

By Ajax the Great (Pete Jackson)

(Originally posted on the Vive La Difference! blog)

In a similar vein as several of my recent articles, I decided to ask Dr. Google, in its infinite wisdom, for some examples of (practically) "rape-free societies", as the late anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday had observed.  These are merely mythical utopia's or fantasies, but documented, real-life examples. And here is what I found:

Anthropological studies—most notably by researcher Peggy Reeves Sanday—classify societies as "rape-free" when sexual assault is either completely absent or statistically rare, heavily punished, and viewed as a severe loss of status rather than a sign of masculinity. [1, 2]

Documented Examples of Rape-Free/Low-Rape Societies

The Mosuo: A matrilineal society in southwestern China where family lineage and property pass through women, and male sexual dominance or entitlement is absent. [1]
The Minangkabau: The largest matrilineal society in the world (located in West Sumatra, Indonesia), characterized by high gender equality and shared decision-making. [1]
The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee): Historically exhibited high political and social power for women, who controlled agriculture, land, and a significant voice in clan governance. [1]
The Ashanti (Asante): A matrilineal culture in Ghana where women traditionally held prominent roles in commerce, politics, and social continuity. [1]
The Vanatinai: An egalitarian society in Papua New Guinea where men and women share economic and social authority with minimal gender-based violence. [1]
Additional Cultural Examples: Anthropological data also identifies low or absent rates of rape among the Bougainville, Apache, Guajiro, and Trobrianders. [1]

Key Characteristics of Rape-Free Societies

Gender Equality & Complementarity: Both sexes hold respected, integrated positions in public life, governance, and daily affairs. [1, 2]
Matrilineal Structures: Lineage traced through mothers diminishes male heterosexual authority, sexual entitlement, and structural dominance. [1]
Rejection of "Toughness" Culture: Rather than celebrating aggressive male competition or dominance, social norms value interpersonal connection, mutual respect, and shared consent. [1, 2]
Strong Social Censure: Sexual violence is treated as shameful, dishonorable, and subject to swift communal disapproval or punishment rather than being ignored or normalized. [1, 2]

Thus, such a thing is indeed possible (with the caveat that at least some degree/flavor of Matriarchy seems to be a prerequisite).  In other words, it looks like nurture > nature after all.  Rape is always and everywhere a cultural problem, at its very roots, and thus the "myth of inevitability" has now been completely laid waste.

And while affirmative consent laws (aka "Only Yes Means Yes" laws), consent education, bystander intervention, media campaigns, resistance training, and things like that are necessary to effect cultural change, these surface-level measures are sadly not sufficient by themselves to truly strike the very deep cultural roots of this problem overnight.

So what are we waiting for?  Let the planetary healing begin!  And Goddess willing, let us thus finally make rape as bizarre and unthinkable as cannibalism!

(Mic drop)

WILLIAM RESPONDS:

Obviously having a matriarchal society is going to prevent rape but another factor to consider is men's access to sex. It seem crazy to me that in societies ruled by men, barriers are put up to make it difficult for men and women to come together for sex. So women who are promiscuous are slut-shamed and prostitution is made illegal while sex is condemned as sinful and dirty. I think without these barriers rape would be far less commonplace. 

PETE RESPONDS:

I know, right?  So very true indeed.  Yet another way that patriarchy backfires hard on men.  It effectively sets a ridiculously artificially high "price floor" for sex, while using that as leverage to grind the vast majority of men into dust just to make the rich even richer.

And what do the oligarchs do with all of that power?  They build phallus-extending Towers of Babel that endanger the very Mother Earth that gives us all life.  Natch.

When enough men FINALLY realize this, how much they have been RIPPED OFF by the patriarchy in so many ways, and see just how much common ground they have with the vast majority of Women, a critical mass will form to put an end this evil system once and for all, Goddess willing.

Thank you for sharing your insights, William 😊

FINAL THOUGHT:

When spearheading a sexual revolution of any kind, we must always remember to fight TWICE as hard for the right to say NO as we do for the right to say YES. Lesson learned the hard way, over half a century too late. Sincerely, The Anglosphere.