Notes on Gender and Violence: A Comprehensive Analysis

Lesson 7: Gender and Violence: Focusing Your Learning

Overview

By the end of Lesson 7, students should be able to:

1. Explain the theory of cultural transformation and the gendered continuum of violence.

2. Discuss occurrences of street harassment and acid attacks.

3. Analyze issues of men's personal safety in relation to gendered violence.

4. Describe and analyze different types of rape through various theoretical lenses (e.g., evolutionary theory, individual psychology, inequality).

5. Summarize cross-cultural strategies to combat rape.

6. Evaluate the effectiveness of the criminal justice system's approach to domestic violence.

7. Explain concepts of state-sponsored violence and the prison-industrial complex.

The Gendered Continuum of Violence

• Concept: The gendered continuum of violence indicates a spectrum of violence ranging from private (intimate partner violence) to public forms (sex trafficking, wartime rape).

• Dominator vs. Partnership Models:

  • Dominator Model: Characterizes hierarchical societies (e.g., U.S.) that promote male dominance, violence, and social hierarchy.

  • Partnership Model: Seen in marginalized indigenous societies which tend to be more sexually egalitarian and peaceful.

• The epidemic of violence is interlinked with hierarchies related to race, class, sexuality, nation, and gender.

• Victimization: Women are predominantly victims of violence; this highlights a human rights crisis. Men are often the perpetrators, with violent behavior being a reflection of societal masculinity norms.

• Power Dynamics: Violence operates as a systematic pattern linked to gender domination, not only men's power over women, but across various relationships including those within LGBTQ+ communities (Aulette & Wittner, 2015).

Critiques of Rape Theories

• Biological Determinism: Some theories suggest that men have a natural inclination to rape and propose women's responsibility in managing male behavior.

• Criticism: This fails to explain the variability of rape prevalence across cultures; societies vary in male dominance and workplace sharing between genders.

• Psychological Explanations: Suggests that rapists have pathological personalities.

• Criticism: Neglects the importance of social context and perpetuates misinformation regarding gender roles in violent behavior.

• Research Bias: Studies often focus on prison populations, thus overlooking influential wealthy individuals who perpetuate violence without facing consequences.

• Power and Gender: Kimmel posits that gender outcomes are shaped by power inequalities leading to male entitlement and violence against women (Aulette & Wittner, 2015).

From Universality to Intersectionality

• Criminal Justice System: While improvements in addressing violence against women through legal reform are evident, a blanket approach can lead to unintended negative outcomes for women in specific situations, particularly those lacking economic independence.

• Support Services for Women: The development of services aimed at helping women achieve independence has become crucial in addressing domestic violence and preventing reliance on potentially harmful legal systems.

• Need for a Sensitive Approach: Changes in the criminal justice system are required to better protect women from violence, especially in communities of color and marginalized groups. It's essential to consider the broader implications of state and structural violence, particularly against men and minority populations.

The Prison-Industrial Complex

• The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate globally, signaling an urgent need to address systemic issues in criminal justice.

• Corporate Interests: Economic motivations tied to prison construction and management create vested interests in maintaining high incarceration rates.

• In The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander argues that the current criminal justice system serves as a new form of racial control akin to slavery.

Conclusion

Understanding gender and violence within these frameworks is crucial for developing comprehensive strategies that address the nuances of these issues effectively. The intersectionality of various factors must be recognized to implement effective change, whether through the justice system or social services.