Violence Against Women Chapter 6 Overview What Counts as Violence Against Women Hassles on the street in parks on public transit or in cafes and bars Sexist comments from bosses or coworkers Compromises to maintain intimate relationships going along with sex even if it s not wanted tolerating joking put downs threats and inconsiderate behavior Different women may define violence differently Researchers and writers use terms such as sexual assault sexual abuse battering and domestic violence different definitions and terminology lead to discrepancies in reporting According to the United Nations Declaration on Violence Against Women December 20 1993 any act of gender based violence that results in or is likely to result in physical sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women including threats of such acts coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty whether occurring in public or private life The Incidence of Violence Against Women Intimate Partner Violence Rape and Sexual Assault Nearly 1 in 4 women in the U S reported experiencing violence from a former significant other The legal definition of rape turns on force and nonconsent Approximately 1 in 3 adolescent girls in the U S is a victim of physical emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner Abuse related injuries included bruises cuts burns and scalds concussions broken bones penetrating injuries from knives miscarriages permanent injuries such as damage to joints partial loss of hearing or vision and physical disfigurement Consent to sexual intercourse is not meaningful if given under the influence of alcohol drugs or prescription medication it is a yes that is freely given when the option of no is present Like intimate partner violence rape is not always reported Rape is forced sexual intercourse vaginal anal or oral Those most at risk for rape sexual assault 20 24 y o then 16 19 y o 90 of college women who are victims of rape or attempted rape know their assailant Emotional and psychological dimensions of Intimate partner violence are hard to measure Criticism intimidation surveillance threats and force are tactics used to establish and maintain control Effects of Race Class Nation Sexuality and Disability Research Women who have extremely low incomes experience domestic violence more than women who are wealthy Black African American women aged 20 24 experience more intimate violence than white women of the same age Estimates are limited by the fact that many cases are not reported Children and adolescents prostituted women homeless women women with mental disabilities institutionalized women very poor women and women in neighborhoods with high crime rates are rarely included in surveys Women and girls with physical and mental disabilities are particularly vulnerable to physical emotional and sexual abuse Reporting Although violence between intimate partners is illegal in the U S it is seriously underreported because of confusion shame self blame loyalty to the abuser lack of information or fear Women of color poor women and prostituted women often have very negative experiences with the police Community may pressure the women to maintain silence to protect family honor and community integrity Elderly women may not report acts of violence committed by spouses adult children caregivers etc due to fear of losing their caregiver home or access to money Immigrant women may face repercussions from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Lesbian and trans women may fear perpetuating negative stereotypes about the LGBTQ community Responses of the Police and Medical and Legal Systems Police officers judges doctors nurses and ER staff may undergo training on how to respond to reports of intimate partner violence In antebellum U S the rape of Black women was legal and commonplace In patriarchal thinking only a pure body can be really be violated The rape of bodies that are considered inherently impure simply does not count Stereotypes and systematic oppression of women of color poor women prostituted women lesbians and transgender women perpetuate the notion that these women are not worthy of respect From 1990s study The average sentence given to the rapist of a black woman was two years to the rapist of a Latina five years and to the rapist of a white woman ten years Explanations of Violence Against Women Micro Level 1 2 3 Battered Woman Syndrome characterized by a pattern of behavior termed learned helplessness whereby women who are repeatedly battered learn it is impossible to escape Rape Trauma Syndrome A term used by mental health and legal professionals to refer to women s coping strategies following rape and focuses on women s reactions and responses rather than on the actions of the perpetrators False Memory Syndrome Many abused children block out memories of what happened to them and these may not surface again until their adult years FMS argues that the incest survivor s cognitive functioning is impaired THESE EXPLANATIONS ARE INADEQUATE Macro Level Macro Level explanations cannot explain such a universal and systemic phenomenon such as sexual violence Focus on the cultural legitimation of male violence and the economic political and legal systems that marginalize discriminate against and disempower women Factors such as sexism heterosexism racism economic opportunities working conditions unemployment poverty or loss of status and cultural roots immigration affect personal relationships Applying these ideas to violence of women may make it easier to see this violence in terms of inequalities of power under patriarchy Blaming the Victim Advice and rhetoric that assumes that women bring assaults on themselves Do not go out alone at night Do not wear provocative clothing Always walk purposefully Do not make eye contact with men on the street Park your car in a lighted area Have your keys ready in your hand before you leave the building Look into the back seat before getting into your car Ending Violence Against Women Feminists reframed and politicized the issue of rape exposing the myth that rape is about sex rape is about power and control No woman deserves to be abused or brings it on herself or asks for it It is important to raise men not to commit sexual violence or be bystanders It is important that rape and abuse crisis centers continue to receive funding Programs such as the Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler and Take Back the Night Marches continue to bring awareness to the subject of violence against women