It's an interesting idea. I don't know that I find it compelling. I understand how it could work via the long term presentation of a group in a certain way slowly altering how that group is treated but I also feel like humanity has evolved to a point that just because I make "kitchen" jokes means I will slowly change my norms to allow for rape.
I also feel like the person that would commit a rape might manifest that tendency in sexism and befriending victims to create situations to rape. Not that those thing lead to norms that make sexism and rape ok.