Changing the Perceptions: Tracing Feminist and Postfeminist Apprehensions of Rape Culture in Sohaila Abdulali’s What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape (original) (raw)
Related papers
2020
Gender discrimination against women is a prevalent issue in Bangladesh, but sometimes it is concealed. Rape cases, also known as-sexual abuse‖ in many cultures, are a special insidious type of sexual harassment. In other contexts, when you are familiarizing with the lifestyle of women, as a social worker it is likely to see victims of sexual abuse due to a large number of abusive offenders. Global WHO figures suggest that about 1 in 3 (35%) of women around the world endure physical and sexually intimate relationships or non-partner sexual abuse during their lives. Domestic abuse is the most heinous form of violence. Approximately one third (30%) of all women who have a relationship comment on physical and sexual harassment witnessed by their intimate partner nationwide. This review investigates several peer-reviewed journals and articles that have been developed for the comprehensive understanding of domestic abuse as rape. Still, this issue of rape must be addressed within and outside the scope of domestic violence. More experiments are conducted with a focus for future studies. The major argument of this review is that while raped women are suffering from the permanent effects of psychological and emotional damage, the issue of rape is not the problem of women. It is squarely a man's problem. As a society, victim allegation is preached as a flame, but the issue is with ancestors and older generations' minds and opinions. On a conclusive note, strategies for rape prevention have been discussed. It is crucial to recognize and increasingly teach young children about the effects of sexual harassment and how traditions can be changed to avoid social stigma.
Towards a cultural definition of rape
Women's Studies International Forum, 1999
Although rape is a cross-cultural crime stemming primarily from patriarchal ideologies and gender power, the analysis of its effect on victims from various cultural groups remains to be unveiled. This study analyzes dilemmas that face mental health workers when dealing with rape victims within a specific cultural context-namely, Palestinian society. It demonstrates the multidimensionality of the crime and the intricacy of social reactions to rape, the rape victim, and abuse of women, deriving from a sociocultural need to protect and/or control victims. The in-depth analysis suggests that sociocultural determinants, such as the need to silence the occurrence of the rape, preserve female virginity, and privatize the crime in order to safeguard family honor and reputation, revictimizes and weakens the victim. This article argues that there is no universal method of dealing with rape victims and that professionals who are assisting victims of rape need to anchor their efforts within the cultural context, while at the same time treating each victim as a world unto herself. This calls for rethinking at both the sociopolitical and individual levels.
Reflections on the society’s reaction towards rape victims in Delhi City
Temida, 2014
In general, most people display stronger beliefs in ?aggravated rape? or ?real rape?; including victims of such rape cases who often identify themselves as ?rape victims? than the victims of ?simple rape?, where none of the aggravating circumstances are present. Despite myths to the contrary these ?simple rape? cases in fact make up the majority of cases. This article considers the implications of ?real rape? and demonstrates how notions about what a ?typical rape? should be, in the form of rape myths, directly impact on societal attitudes towards rape victims and how the media continue to reinforce and perpetuate the notion of real rape through their selective reporting of ?serial rape?, ?stranger rape? or especially ?violent rapes?.
Male Rape: The Unseen World of Male Rape
This research explores the phenomenon of male rape and how the police recognise it, together with uncovering male rape myths in a local police force. Whilst male rape research is expanding, it was found that the police have a lack of knowledge, understanding, awareness, and specialised training of male rape. Therefore, police officers' attitudes, ideas, views, perspectives, and beliefs on specific topics pertinent to male rape are discussed. This project also seeks to comprehend gender expectations and stereotypes of men, so as to comprehend the prevalence of male rape, the negligence of male rape, and the under-reporting/recording of male rape. Moreover, because male rape is a part of sexual violence, feminist theory is used as a foundation for this project, since feminism seeks gender equality. Ultimately, this research emphasises the need for the police to adequately manage male rape victims and take male rape seriously, without any negative attitudes, ideas, views, perspectives, and beliefs.
Pakistan Law Review , 2018
The discussion in this paper revolves around the prevalence of rape cases in Pakistan, with specific focus on the area of Southern Punjab. The main issues under consideration are: the high number of rape cases in a scenario which witnesses a low report and conviction rate; the way state institutions deal with assault victims, which exposes them to undignified, if not cruel, treatment; and the societal perception that a large number of cases are falsely reported as rape. The paper will look into the laws in Pakistan penalizing rape and similar Islamic provisions on the matter. The historical and anthropological views of the offence will also be looked at. Original research has been conducted for this paper which has been coupled with other resources to present the paper’s conclusions. The final recommendations argue that Pakistani laws against rape, notwithstanding amendments made in the last decade, still need to be improved to allow adequate relief for victims of rape and effective deterrent for perpetrators. Concurrently, it is maintained that the real obstacle to effective legal prosecution of rape is the societal take on female sexuality and honour, which affects the way rape crimes are reported to and prosecuted by the police and other state institutions.
An investigation of the prevalence, response to, and representation of male rape
2009
The aim of this thesis is to examine the under-researched subject of male rape from a social constructionist perspective across a variety of contexts. First, the three studies which were conducted are contextualised by providing a critical review of the available literature on male rape; from the embryonic stages of male rape research within penal institutions through to its evolution from clinical to community-based studies. Second, the findings of the study on the specialist police response, (particularly that of the Sexual Offences Investigative Technique Officers) to male and female rape victims is explored using a thematic analysis. Few male rape cases were reported to the police but those that were suggested that more training is required about the complexities of male rape in relation to the psychological sequelae; and its impact on the survivors' masculinity. These factors may influence the male survivor's behaviour on reporting, and affect the police response received. It was also noted that male and female rape myths were pervasive in the police responses and influenced survivors' decision to report. Third, the incidence of client-perpetrated rape of male sex workers is investigated by employing an adapted form of grounded theory. It was found that in contrast with female sex work, sexual violence within the commercial male sex industry is reported to be rare. Fourth, whether the print media provided a gender-biased representation of rape victims as identified by the journalistic tone and the influence of the gender of the journalist and/or rape victim were investigated. It was found that contrary to the historical myth-laden and victim-blaming portrayal of female rape victims in the press (circa thirty years ago which would parallel the current time frame regarding the awareness of male rape), a sympathetic tone is evidenced in the male rape cases reported.
nrvijnana patrika 24 Journal of Anthropology 24 , 2019
The study attempts to understand the connection among masculinities, male rape, and gender politics in the context of Bangladesh. Based on a qualitative approach, the study explores how the social perception of masculinity facilitates male domination in the society and allows men to be violent in particular social contexts. The image of men is established in the Bangladeshi society in such a way that defines them as ‘dominant’ or ‘violent’ and does not allow them to take a passive role. Male rape proves that the victim is vulnerable, dominated and unable to hold on to his socially defined gender position and roles; simply put, the victim’s masculinity is significantly questioned. Therefore, the correlation between masculinity and male rape is found to be uneasy and contradictory. Moreover, the study also argues that, like female survivors, male rape survivors also experience a change in their social realities changed and reconsideration based on their ordeal; however, their way of coping with rape is different than female survivors.
Consequences of Rape and a Framework to End Violence against Women
The study attempted to examine police registered rape cases through the contents of First Investigation Reports (FIRs) as rape is a phenomenon that has sever social and psychological consequences on the lives of survivors and in general on women. This was explored through ten in-depth interviews with the survivors. All the registered cases of one city of one year were included and 51 copies of FIRs were obtained from the police department. The contents of the FIRs were revealed that 94.16 % cases were reported from the urban slums of Lahore city. The highest risk age group during this year was 7-21years. In all the reported cases, six cases interviewed were children between the age group of 7-15. The survivors included in the FIRs were 39.2% housewives/girls, 25.5% students, 23.5% domestic servants and the rest were office workers and laborers. In all the cases 76.47% survivors were single, 17.64% were married and only 5.9 % were divorced. The results showed that 39.21% victims were raped at home during day time, 25.5 % at the workplace and 23.52% at rapist's place. The last 9.8 % raped incidents were happened at clinic/hospital. It showed that women are not safe at any place. They live in constant threat of rape that anywhere, anytime and anyone can rape them. The findings further revealed that 93.4% of the cases, the survivors knew the rapist on one or the other type of relation from acquaintance to ex-husband. The stranger committed only 5.9% rapes. During the interviews with the rape survivors it was found that rape was always planned in advance. All the survivors interviewed suffered from a wide range of consequences as a result of rape and survivors were more likely to avoid certain places. Rape was not only disgracing and traumatic experience for the victim but also for the whole family as purification of women has implications for cultural and religious identity. Lifestyles were affected as a result of the incident. Seeking justice is difficult in all the cases of rape, as 51 cases were reported to the police and none could get justice. These figures of violence against women depicted a situation which is alarming and the challenges are numerous. There is no one solution for addressing the challenges and reaching the objective to eradicate the violence against women. The preventive, protective and supportive framework is highly recommended to end violence against women in Pakistan.
Prevalence Of Rape Myths In Contemporary India
2017
Rape has been perceived as the most brutal crime against women that affects not only the physical being but also the psychological being of the victim. We know that several rape cases take place in our society but very few are reported. The most important reason for this is the prevalence of rape myths in our society which are false beliefs about rape and about those who are affected by it. India is a developing country and is changing quickly. It is witnessing remarkable developments in several fields such as science, technology etc. But unfortunately the crime rate is also increasing in this country, especially the crime of rape. The present research study is an attempt to understand that to which degree the rape myths are prevalent in India. The paper will also bring into light the amount, respondents in the study are aware of rape facts. For the present study 100 individuals were selected between the age of 18-35 years, out of which 50 were males and 50 were females. The paper r...
Rape Culture: Blaming Rape Victims in Bangladesh Perspective
Rape is being alarming condition in Bangladesh day by day. It is the most common and vicious form of violence against woman in Bangladesh. Rape culture and the practice of victim blaming are inherently linked phenomena, the existence of a rape culture which normalizes sexual violence and blames rape victims for the attacks against them create cultural violence in Bangladesh. Along with the trauma experienced by rape victims due to their assault, many victims also suffer secondary victimization due to the negative reactions of those around them. Among these negative reactions, perhaps the most damaging is the tendency to blame victims for their assault, particularly in cases of acquaintance rape. The current research explores the role of rape culture coverage in promoting a victim blaming culture in the Bangladesh. In Study, I review the literature related to rape and rape culture in order to identify factors and influences contributing to rape-supportive beliefs and behaviors in society at large, including the ways in which women’s lives are impacted by the constant threat of rape and how male socialization contributes to and normalizes this threat. Then I try to explore about factors of rape culture in Bangladesh society based on discourse and content analyses of online comments on report related to rape and rape cultures. The study also emphasis on victim of the rape, blaming the victims, denial of gender aspects violence, denial of rape culture, anti- feminism etc. In Study, I demonstrated that people’s victim blaming tendencies by analysis of comments on social media. Specifically, following exposure to rape related news, participants were more likely to blame the victim of an unrelated case of sexual assault, and to endorse rape myths. The findings of this research demonstrate public perception of rape victims, particularly victims of acquaintance rape. In this study, I also demonstrated about the relation between rape culture and cultural violence. I try to prove here existing rape culture contribute in cultural violence by the increase of sexual assaults, victim blaming, dehumanization of women.