Recently, on TikTok to the question “What would you do if you only had 5 hours to live?”, a slew of TikTokers responded “I’m going to do a griffith”. Obviously, each with their own “literary” prose.
My first reaction? What is this thing? A parachute jump? A new kind of life insurance? A recipe for Halloween?
What was my surprise to discover “Griffith”. A rather fascinating character of great complexity portrayed in the manga Bersek by Kentarō Miura. The kind of tortured character, torn by the absurdity of life, torn between Good and Evil.
A warrior in quest of an absurd dream and who, during a demonic transformation, rapes Casca, one of his traveling companions (the only woman in the group) before the bewildered eyes of her lover, Guts.
The scene is very violent and clearly expresses Griffith’s hatred/love (we don’t really know anymore) towards Guts. A hatred whose receptacle is once again the body of a woman.
You will have understood that the hidden meaning of “to make a griffith” is “to make a rape”. Some even associate this “expression” with a photo of the potential victim or the one in their fantasy.
Rape culture
Are you one of those who think that rape culture is a hysterical and demagogic utopia invented by uptight, radical leftist feminists? Take a deep breath and think about medication.
Let’s first ask the question: what is rape culture?
Frankly, let’s not fall into the big sociological debates, let’s stay down to earth. Let’s say that when you make a post on Instagram with the expression “doing a griffith”, you are participating in the trivialization of rape, even though you say you are making a joke.
Comments like “she says no, but she means yes”, “a man can force his wife to sleep with him, it’s her marital right”, “she cries wolf, but she dresses like a S .”, and so on, are also part of the lot.
In other words, rape culture is words, behaviors, thoughts, beliefs, practices, fantasies that justify and normalize rape, while placing the blame on the victim.
Male victims
Although they are the primary victims, this form of toxic masculinity does not only target women. In 2022, around 14% of the number of victims of police-reported sexual offenses were men. A rate which is far from representing reality.
In fact, men are less inclined to report their victimization and this trend is even more pronounced among gays and bisexuals. Note that only 6% of sexual assaults are reported to the police in Canada.
Regardless, this rape culture exists and persists. Laughing about it or brandishing the specter of feminism will not make it disappear.
Change starts with yourself.