There are many things that people find challenging about feminist activism, but rape culture continues to be one of the most confronting and difficult topics. Although the number of people prepared to accept that rape culture exists is growing, there are still far too many who wilfully resist understanding the concept altogether. Reactions prompted by discussions of rape culture invariably include exclamations like "rape culture doesn't exist!", "how can anyone be taught to rape?!" and "rapists are considered to be the scum of the earth!"

But as feminist writers continue to reiterate, rape culture isn't the simplistic notion that sexual assault is somehow being taught as part of the HSC. It's far more subtle than that, and refers to a state of existence in which the impact and reality of sexual violence is minimised while the perpetrators of it are supported by a complex system built on flawed human beliefs, mythologies about gender, and good old fashioned misogyny.

Sexual assault is not a "bad thing" sometimes done by otherwise "good men". Yet good reputations continue to be used as excuses for rape. Credit:Stocksy

The offering of "boys will be boys" in response to coercive sexual assault is a good example of this, not to mention the frequency with which the female victims of such behaviour are dismissed as "sluts" who "should have known what they were getting into" with men who are described as "good blokes" who let things "get out of hand".

Rape culture isn't just about the impulse to excuse or deny perpetrators' actions. It also manifests in the way people – many of them in positions of power in their own communities – will bend over backwards to defend and diminish culpability of perpetrators, despite recognising the reality of their predatory and violent actions.