Sexual Assault Analysis: A Comparison of Feminist Perspectives

This report provides an analysis of sexual assault, exploring its prevalence, causes, and consequences, particularly within the context of Australia and globally. It examines the role of toxic masculinity, patriarchal structures, and misogynistic cultures in perpetuating sexual violence, drawing on statistics and research to illustrate the scope of the problem. The report then delves into different feminist perspectives, specifically liberal feminism and its approaches to addressing sexual assault, including the development of crisis centers and advocating for gender-neutral education. The report also touches upon critical masculinities theories, exploring how issues of control and dominance contribute to the perpetration of sexual violence. The report concludes by emphasizing the need to address these issues to prevent sexual violence and protect all individuals from harm.

Running head: SEXUAL ASSAULT: AN ANALYSIS
SEXUAL ASSAULT: AN ANALYSIS
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author Note

1SEXUAL ASSAULT: AN ANALYSIS
Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Discussion..............................................................................................................................................2
Sexual violence: Statistics..................................................................................................................2
Sexual Violence: causes.....................................................................................................................3
Sexual violence: what liberal feminism can do..................................................................................4
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................5

2SEXUAL ASSAULT: AN ANALYSIS
Introduction
Sexual violence is not a new concept in the world. Sexual violence, as described in
many femninist literature, is an archaic concept where the dominant sex tries to inflict
humiliation and terror among the submissive sex by coercion and/ or physical force (Grant,
2013). According to WHO (World Health Organization) report, sexual violence has been
defined as “any sexual act, attempt to obtain any sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or
advances, or any kind of trafficking act which is directed towards one’s sexuality using
coercion or physical force by any person regardless of relationship with the victim in any
setting that includes, but not limits to, home and work” (Who.int., 2020). Sexual violence has
become a plague for the mankind and has an ill effect on the physical, psychological and
reporoductive health of the victim and the perpetrators as well (Suzuki, 2014). In a
democratic world, sexual assault cannot be tolerated as it limits a woman’s agency in the
society (Trend, 2013). The respective paper is a report of prevelance, origin, causes,
consequences and preventive measures of sexual violence and assault in Australia as well as
all over the world. The particular report talks about the statistics and intrinsic- extrinsic
causes of sexual violence, the obnoxious consequences and how the global environment is
approaching to rehabilitate the victims and end sexual violence completely from the world.
Discussion
Sexual violence: Statistics
Sexual violence statistics of all over Australia shows shocking revelation of the
conditions of law and order in the country. In the year 2017 to 2018, 22 per cent clients
seeking services against homelessness due to family domestic violence were children
(minors) aged between 0 to 9. In the year 2017, women aged between 15 to 34 accounted of

3SEXUAL ASSAULT: AN ANALYSIS
more than (53 per cent) of all police recorded female sexual assault victims. The year 2017 to
18 there have been approximately 10,900 calls that were given at the helplines that cater to
the need of the elderly care centers all over the country of Australia. There have been
instances of higher amount of sexual violence cases with the Australians who are from the
diferent sexual orientation or identified as a gay, heterosexual, or straight individuals
respectively. People who reside in the remote and the remotest parts of Australia are also 24
times more likely to be hospitalized for domestic violence as are people in major cities.
People living in the disadvantaged areas of Australia are 1.5 times likely to experience
partner violence as those people living in areas of least disadvantage (Aihw.gov.au., 2019).
Sexual Violence: causes
According to clinical psychologist Nicholas Groth, rapes are caused due to various
reasons. In some cases, the rapist goes on a mission to humiliate, dehumanize, debase and
hurt the victim in order to show his/her power over the victim and intimidate him/her (Groth
& Birnbaum, 2013). According to many feminists, anger is another greatest cause of rape
because in some societies, young boys are taught to hate feminine qualities and diverse
gender identities (Mackay, 2015). . Such ingrained hatred towards a particular gender identity
causes a massive anger among the rapists and the way they prey on the victims are sometimes
grusome and diabolical (Norrell & Bradford, 2013). Likewise, rape is an expression to show
anger and display machismo in the society (Clark, 2014). Overpowering the victim by
physical force is not only bound by rape, but also by molestation, mass molestation, massive
sexual assault and domestic sexual assault as well. In the recent times, cyber hatred and cyber
misogyny is also taken as a form of sexual assault in the statutory system of different
countries (Osborne & Sayers, 2013). A potential rapist is moulded into such mentality by the
surrounding where he lives or is brought up (Searles, 2018). Moreover, theories of critical
masculinity such as feeling of inadequecy, toxic masculinity and issues such as mastery,

4SEXUAL ASSAULT: AN ANALYSIS
control and sadomasochism (which is sometimes fueled by pornographic elements) make the
mentality of the potential rapists grotesque and fiendish towards the opposite sex (Sneha).
They often believe that overpowering the victim will give them special place in the society.
Whereas, certain rape myths also rotate in a fairly underdeveloped society (such as Mexico,
Peru, India and Pakistan) such as “women enjoy rape”, “rape is a punishment for people who
do not adhere to soceital rules” and so on, there have been active acceptance of rape as a
“normal behavior of men” and thereby, victims are more victimized (Brenner, 2013).
Sometimes, drugs, drunkenness and deliquency often cause sexual violence against women,
children and sometimes, men too. Social anthropologists say that drug and drunken
deliquency is socially learned rather than universal.
Sexual violence: what liberal feminism can do
Liberal feminism can be defined as an individualistic feminist theory that focuses in-
depth about the ability of women to maintain their equality and respect in the society through
their own actions and choices (Wilson, 2015). While Liberal feminism mocks at the
traditional belief that women are less intellectually and physically capable than men which is
the root cause of the stereotypes and segregation in all the spheres between men and women,
it advocates for women’s rights not based on gender but in a more individualistic sphere
(Prügl, 2015). While sexual violence seems to plague the earth, liberal feminists have evolved
from making crisis centers and rehabilitation for sexual assault victims (Independent.co.uk.,
2018). Now, the radical feminists have argued about the needs of re-evaluation of male
sexual entitlement to dive deep into the root causes of gender violence (Healicon, 2016).
Moreover, many fourth wave feminists have talked about the grassroot gender neutral
education to both boys and girls by parents to make the world safe place for both the genders
(Stringer, 2014). A lot of ink has been spilt on the debates of feminism, womanism and
gender equality (Johnson, 2018). However, the world has to take such issues seriously now

5SEXUAL ASSAULT: AN ANALYSIS
because sexual violence will make human beings endangered in the world one time (Doude &
Tapp, 2014).
Conclusion
Toxic masculinity fueled by patriarchal and misogynist culture has given rise to what
is termed as obnoxious gender stereotypes, hatred against anything which is feminine or does
not adhere to the norms of masculinity. Such hatred filled emotions give rise to gender
violence and sexual crimes. The The particular report has openly talked about the statistics
and intrinsic- extrinsic causes of sexual violence, the obnoxious consequences and how the
global environment is approaching to rehabilitate the victims and end sexual violence
completely from the world. Critical masculinities theories and liberal feminism and how such
issues affect the consequences and prevalence of sexual crime is given in the report.

6SEXUAL ASSAULT: AN ANALYSIS
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