Gender Crime and Justice: Sexual Assault and Masculinity

This essay delves into the complex relationship between sexual assault and hegemonic masculinity, a concept describing the dominance of men in society. It examines how hegemonic masculinity, as defined by R.W. Connell, contributes to aggression and violence against women. The essay analyzes the root causes of sexual assault, including power imbalances, societal norms, and psychological factors such as the offender's need for control and validation. It explores how cultural practices and ideologies that promote male supremacy and objectification of women fuel these acts, leading to sexism, aggression, and violence. The essay also highlights the interconnectedness of hegemonic masculinity and sexual assault, suggesting that the former creates an environment where the latter is more likely to occur, and concludes by emphasizing the need to address these issues to prevent violence against women.

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sexual assault of women
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Contents
Introduction..............................................................................................................................2
Sexual assault............................................................................................................................2
Hegemonic masculinity............................................................................................................3
Sexual assault and Hegemonic masculinity...........................................................................4
Reasons behind sexual assault ................................................................................................5
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................6
References.................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
Hegemonic masculinity is described as an idea which reflects the dominancy of men in a
social background. This concept has a greater influence in gender studies which includes
men, social hierarchy and gender. The origin of the hegemonic masculinity concept, brings
out the ideas in early 1980s. This maps out the ways in researching the area of masculinity
and recognizing the social struggles which subordinates the masculinities (Sociology, 2020).
They way this kind of masculinity works is different from other kinds of masculinities,
especially the subordinated masculinities. This cannot be considered as normal in statistical
sense as it consists of a certain minority group of men that would enact it. Also, the concept
of both kind of masculinities, helps in understanding the men exposure to a certain kind of
risk and men’s reaction in certain situations ( Morettini, 2016).
The relation of different genders, always seem an area of tension. A pattern of hegemonic
masculinity can move up to that extent, through which it can provide a proper solution for
these tensions. This pattern of masculinity requires to be stabilizing the patriarchal power and
reconstituting it in better conditions (NCBI, 2015).
The Essay here analyse about the ill practice of sexual assault on women. There will be an
analysis of hegemonic masculinity by R.W. Connell. It has been observed that hegemony is
the core reason of aggression and dominancy among men. This results into violent behaviour
of men as they try to discharge their frustration and achieve pleasure. Furthermore, essay
investigates other relevant reasons behind the harassment and assault on women.
Sexual assault
In recent years, aggression and violence towards women has become a serious issue around
the globe. Sexual Assault describes a varied range of intimate behaviours which are used by

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an offender as a significant way to impart their power and control on an individual. These
sexual behaviour makes a person uncomfortable and scared. Any form of assault is
considered as a serious crime. The reason behind the assaulting comprises of enjoying a
control over someone and asserting the power on them. Sometimes, the offender, himself
been abused in the past, but this is not only the case. Research shows that’s the root cause
behind this behaviour is because of unequal relations of power which in between women and
men. Violent behaviour against women strengthens power imbalance and gender hierarchies
between both the genders within communities (Reach Out, 2020).
According to recent statistics, 30% women experienced, physical and sexual violence by their
partners (Tomsen, 2019). Not all men can classify guilty in using violence against women
But, it has been observed that some men do try to express their frustration with dominant
notions. Intimate sexual violence by partner is a leading factor of homicide death among
women globally.
Hegemonic masculinity
The concept of hegemony and hegemonic masculinity was developed in 1980’s, by R.W
Connell. This demonstrates the authoritarian figure of men which generates their domination
through hierarchy. This situation of dominancy is not only with women and women but also
with men themselves. According to Connell, this kind of masculinity is related to something
which men wishes or aspire to become. It provides a social and relational constructed concept
for masculinity and men. The concept of hegemony and toxic masculinity describes the male
ideology and gender relation system in cultural context, which serves to develop the
domination of men (Campbell, 2018).
According to Connell, most men seems normal and act natural but they do enjoy their power
and authority over women and other men. She proposed four kinds of masculinities such as

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hegemonic, subordinated, complicit and marginalized. But, the concept of hegemonic male
considered as an ideal one. Most men come under second category i.e. complicit masculinity.
These men have the acceptance of hegemonic masculinity and still participate to enjoy the
symbolic, material and physical beliefs. Their beliefs to undermine women can also occur in
the form of fantasy by which they get the sign of hegemony and then take pleasure (Shumka,
et al., 2017). As a concept, hegemonic masculinity describes a system, position and an
ideology that subordinates women. Connell, through her concept also emphasize on other
topics such as homophobia and sexism.
Sexual assault and Hegemonic masculinity
Sexual assault or harassment on women can be demonstrated in a form of sexual or non-
sexual activity. This can be described by assaulting a person through visual and verbal means
or forcing an individual for unwanted sexual contact. This can happen in any situation, at
home, on a date or by a stranger from an isolated place. Connell, describes that the
development of hegemonic masculinities is through social and personal dimensions of the
inequality in institutional arrangements, which produces gender politics. She describes that
the idea of patriarchy also validates the violence behaviour towards women (Flood, 2019).
The conceptualization of masculinity generates from cultural hegemony theory by Antonio
Gramsci. This describes that hegemonic masculinity act as a system of violence and male
domination. Hegemony is considered as an influential explanation for the violence among
men in contemporary society. It describes the social power and a successful claim for a
higher authority which directs violent and aggressive behaviour towards women. This toxic
trait and attitude of hegemonic man believes in having the supremacy and subordinating
women. This kind of gendered behaviour and attitude leads to sexism, aggression and
violence (Vijayaraj, 2018).

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Hegemonic masculinity and crime of sexual assault are interconnected as it allows the
cultural practices and values that caters to male supremacy and privileges. These practices
develop inferiority and vulnerability among women. Violence can be seen when women tries
to get out from these conditions (United Nations, 2013). Sexual assault is an act which
emerges through the process of hegemonic masculinity. It creates a belief system of men as
superior to women and this tends to gratify the need of men in violent way. Objectification
and dominance are expected further by men who enjoy power. Findings from Connell’s
research describes that there are possibilities of narcissistic behaviour in hegemonic
masculinity, these men seek to dominate, humiliate and abuse women.
Reasons behind sexual assault
Investigating the reasons behind sexual assault or violence has its own complexities. It has
been found that the offender tries to reassure his sexual adequacy in order to recognize his
identity. The motive of offender is to regain his status and defend himself against the sexual
anxieties. This is done is order to discharge his frustration and achieve sexual gratification.
The motivating factor that leads to sexual assault are dominance, power and anger (WebMD,
2019).
Hegemonic masculinity develops a certain kind of behaviour in men which let them have a
perception of women as sexualized objects. These perceptions develop issues of power,
entitlement and control. There is a psychological trait among men, it arises when men faced
insecurity in past. This insecurity leads to development of aggressive and violent behaviour
of men to assault women.
Hegemony, leads to development of certain toxic traits which can be dangerous for women as
well as the society. Toxic masculinity brings out the unemotional, sexually aggressive and

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violent side of a men. This creates a perception of men to have access of power and authority
and harass women (Wang, et al., 2019).
Conclusion
The following essay demonstrates, the theory of hegemony and its components regarding in
the masculinity. Women faces aggressive and violent behaviour of men due to this practice.
Practices which leads to subordination and undermining of women. Sexual assault is a crime
and the activity which needs to be stopped.
It has been observed that the cultural aspects and the ideology of people towards the male
domination over women creates their perception about the superiority. Men generally acts
natural in the social surroundings but it has been noted that they liked their dominance and
the authority of themselves from other men and women.
This can be concluded, from the essay that violent and aggressive behaviour leads to
harassment and assault of women. Not all men are considered in this cultural and social
practice but those who practice this have a psychological illusion of dominance and power.
And by putting their frustration on women, they tend to gain a certain kind of pleasure.

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References
Morettini, F. M., 2016. Hegemonic Masculinity: How the Dominant Man subjugates other
Men, Women and Society. [Online]
Available at: https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/27/10/2016/hegemonic-masculinity-
how-dominant-man-subjugates-other-men-women-and-society
[Accessed 7 January 2020].
Campbell, E., 2018. How Does Hegemonic Masculinity Influence Wartime Sexual Violence?.
[Online]
Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/2018/09/02/how-does-hegemonic-masculinity-influence-
wartime-sexual-violence/
[Accessed 7 January 2020].
Flood, M., 2019. Forceful and dominant men with sexist ideas of masculinity are more likely
to abuse women. [Online]
Available at: http://theconversation.com/forceful-and-dominant-men-with-sexist-ideas-of-
masculinity-are-more-likely-to-abuse-women-125873
[Accessed 7 january 2020].
NCBI, 2015. Hegemonic masculinity: combining theory and practice in gender interventions.
[Online]
Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4706037/
[Accessed 7 January 2020].
Reach Out, 2020. What is Sexual Assault?. [Online]
Available at: https://au.reachout.com/articles/what-is-sexual-assault
[Accessed 7 January 2020].
Shumka, L., Strega, S. & Hallgrimsdottir, H. K., 2017. “I Wanted to Feel Like a Man
Again”: Hegemonic Masculinity in Relation to the Purchase of Street-Level Sex. [Online]
Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2017.00015/full
[Accessed 7 January 2020].
Sociology, 2020. Hegemonic Masculinity. [Online]
Available at: http://sociology.iresearchnet.com/sociology-of-gender/hegemonic-masculinity/
[Accessed 7 January 2020].
Tomsen, S., 2019. Beyond Honour and Achieved Hegemony: Violence and the. [Online]
Available at: https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/download/1117/752
[Accessed 7 January 2020].
United Nations, 2013. Why do some men use violence against women and show we can
prevent it ?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.undp.org/content/dam/rbap/docs/Research%20&
%20Publications/womens_empowerment/RBAP-Gender-2013-P4P-VAW-Report.pdf
[Accessed 7 January 2020].

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Vijayaraj, K., 2018. Hegemonic masculinity and violence against women. [Online]
Available at: https://endingchildpoverty.org/en/blog/472-hegemonic-masculinity-and-
violence-against-women
[Accessed 7 January 2020].
Wang, X., Fang, G. & Li, H., 2019. Gender-based violence and hegemonic masculinity in
China: an analysis based on the quantitative research. [Online]
Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42379-019-00030-9
[Accessed 7 January 2020].
WebMD, 2019. Sexual Abuse and Assault against women. [Online]
Available at: https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/sexual-abuse-and-assault#1
[Accessed 7 January 2020].