Related questions:
v Discuss the various types of rape and its prevention.
INTRODUCTION
According to “Mary. E. Hawkesworth”, in an article on “feminist theory and claims of truth”; she makes some claims about rape which can be summarized as “rape is real, fixed and factual in women’s lives”. This starting point of the reality of rape as regarding women is the major root of its problem. Thus, what are the types of rape and how can we prevent them?
DEFINING RAPE
For the purpose of definition, rape is clearly neither sex nor simple assault. Rape could best be defined as, “a sexualized and gendered attack that imposes sexual difference along the lines of violence”. A rapist man objectively thinks a woman is weak, and expects her not to be at all, violent.
TYPES OF RAPE
As a matter of convention, there are basically five types of rape, which are:
i. Date rape
ii. Gang rape
iii. Psychological rape
iv. Acquaintance rape
v. Familiar rape
i. Date rape: This is rape perpetuated by the person who is on an outing (mostly private) with a female person.
ii. Gang rape: This is rape perpetuated by a group of people on a female person(s).
iii. Psychological rape: This is when a person changes his or her sex, and thus has to relate intimately on a social level with members of his /her former opposite sex group.
iv. Acquaintance rape: This is rape perpetuated by someone whom one just met or knows slightly.
v. Familiar rape: This is rape perpetuated by someone very close to oneself (even maybe by blood); as in family relations.
THE CAUSES OF RAPE
The major causes of rape (based on an objective analysis) are;
i. The patriarchal social construction which claims a distinction between the female body and the world.
ii. The need to define the potency of rape, as well as the assertion of its existence, is a big hindrance to nipping it in the bud.
Now that the major causes are known, an expose on how to prevent it is necessary.
HOW TO PREVENT RAPE
Some preventive measures of rape are;
i. Levelling of the patriarchal system
The patriarchal system has created the ideology that women are by nature inferior and men superior. Hence, the role of feminism should be to level the social construction by promoting gender equality, which would invariably affect and influence the elimination of rape.
ii. The “empathy” principle of Frederick Storaska
Author “Frederick Storaska” advocates empathy (ability to identify oneself mentally with another, in order to understand him or her) as a mode of self defence. Storaska reasons that, men rape to compensate for a lack of self-esteem and love. Thus, when a woman responds lovingly to a potential rapist (rather than defend), she could successfully and convincingly dissuade him from raping her.
iii. The instrumental theory of Brownmiller
Susan Brownmiller, in her book “against our will” postulates the “instrumental theory of rape”. She argues that men rape because, their penises possess the objective capacity to be weapons, tools and instruments of torture. Hence, women should apply passive (not forceful) avoidance techniques. This entails not using weapons except one is absolutely sure she can manipulate it well.
iv. The “Violence” theory (self defence)
Most surveys of women who prevented rape, consistently shows that active resistance (even though little) does a lot of work in dissuading a rapist or potential rapist. Thus, a push, an assertive remark, a loud scream, a bossy attitude and flight, rank high in discouraging a rape attempt, even though the rapist has a gun.
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CONCLUSION
On a conclusive note, according to “Sharon Marcus”, self defence against rape offers no final solution. Also, it is fallacious to accept that passive methods (like that of Storaska and Brownmiller) are better ways to avert rape. Hence, the ethical burden to prevent rape does not lay with us, but with rapists themselves and the patriarchal social construction.
