‘Rape Day’: A new video game glorifying sexual assault raises questions on law

A new online game called Rape Day, set to release in April, induced a quick and vast public outcry. Created by using an unbiased developer, Rape Day is set in a zombie apocalypse, where the participant controls a protagonist described as a “menacing serial killer-rapist.” Rape Day is a “visible novel” – gamers pick from a diffusion of sequences of nonetheless snapshots that contain written dialogue options and prewritten story choices. And the rape of ladies is recommended to develop the plot.

Crossing the line

But why will we consider depictions of rape in video video games to go the line, however no longer other kinds of violence? Sexual violence is connected to a complicated interaction of societal attitudes and inequality.
For too lengthy, society’s reaction to sexual violence became to ignore the issue. It is a nicely-installed reality that most incidences of sexual attack continue to be undetected. In contrast, homicides are usually exposed, and perpetrators are brought to the attention of the authorities. Violent video games where sexual assault is the specific purpose must by no means be allowed. And a few research observed gambling video games with sexually violent content material become related to rape myth acceptance: “she asked for it” and “no means yes”. It is critical, but now not to fall into the lure of assuming a definitive motive-effect dating. Video games like Rape Day make a contribution to the rape subculture. However, it joins a raft of different cultural influences.

But we see a global, cultural shift. The worldwide #MeToo motion resulted in lots of victims of sexual harassment and violence coming forward. They used a collective voice to speak out towards gendered violence, sharing their experiences of unacceptable masculine sexual domination and is still empowering. However, sexual violence has also brought about country-wide techniques to steer societal and man or woman attitudes, inclusive of enticing guys to change gender norms and assumptions. And we see this cultural shift meditated inside the full-size public outrage against Rape Day. Public reaction The sport went online on March 6, 2019, sparking a petition on trade.Org, which garnered almost 8,000 signatures. It is in all likelihood to have contributed to the selection to pull Rape Day from the gaming distribution provider Steam Direct.