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In cases of rape and sexual abuse of women, what are the underlying factors contributing to the low reporting and conviction rates, and how can these be addressed?

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In cases of rape and sexual abuse of women, what are the underlying factors contributing to the low reporting and conviction rates, and how can these be addressed?

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What is my issue? What are my sub-issues?

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What is my issue? What are my sub-issues?

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What is the summary of my key topic readings?

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What is the summary of my key topic readings?

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What are the key theories and definitions?

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What are the key theories and definitions?

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How do I apply the theories to my issues?

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How do I apply the theories to my issues?

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ISSUE - LOW REPORTING AND CONVICTION RATES

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ISSUE - LOW REPORTING AND CONVICTION RATES

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This occurs because patriarchal systems create and perpetuate power imbalances that disadvantage women through:

1. Victim blaming and stigma

2. Power imbalances

3. Institutional biases

4. Control and silence

5. Normalisation of violence

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The impact of victim-blaming and societal attitudes on violence against women and reporting violence. The definition of what is considered violence. What does violence mean to young women? Why is violence against women normalised?

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SUBISSUE - INSTITUTIONAL BIASES (Marxism)

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SUBISSUE - INSTITUTIONAL BIASES (Marxism)

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Law enforcement and legal systems fail to condemn and punish violent crimes against women. Police officer's attitude towards women who are victims of domestic violence, women in general, marital issues, and the victimisation of men. Important to address that laws are created to protect women but these are not enforced by courts or police.

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The influence of patriarchy and gender inequality on justice outcomes. Fear of violence, fear of rape as a mechanism to control and silence women into submission, 'put women in their place' or as a means to deal with insubordinate women.

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My audience includes lawyers, members of parliament, judges etc. These people should legislate in areas that empower victims through legislation and create a solid framework for punishing/scrutinising leniency.

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Fear of Violent Crime especially rape holds significant control over women's lives. It limits their freedom and influences their behaviour and choices.

Pervasiveness of Violence on Women is a global human rights issue, with women experiencing gender based violence in the forms of harassment, unwanted sexual attention and sexual compulsion. (Abbott et al., 2005)

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Patriarchy influences the legal system, resulting in minimal repercussions for male violence. Women are often blamed or trivialised when they report violence, making it difficult to seek justice.

The plea of provocation is often accepted, even if there is evidence of premeditation - only further illustrating gender bias in the legal system. (Abbott et al., 2005)

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Male violence against women, in forms of domestic abuse is often normalised or dismissed as a minor (private) issue. This is rooted in the power dynamics of the patriarchal family system. (Abbott et al., 2005), (Hatty, 2013).

Domestic Violence is often overlooked by society and underestimated by society. Despite its prevalence amongst millions, the legal system/law enforcement underestimate its extent and impact. (Abbott et al., 2005), (Hatty, 2013).

Attitudes of law enforcement end up reinforcing systems of abuse on women victims, as they uphold sexist/apologetic theories of male perpetrators (Hatty, 2013).

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Violence, in the form of sexual harassment serves as a powerful mechanism of social control over women. Men's behaviour is designed to control women's actions in private and public through administration of violence (Abbott et al., 2005).

There are economic, social, ideological and legal factors that restrict a victim's ability to escape violence. Women's behaviour is conditioned to remain subordinate, to suffer (Abbott et al., 2005).

Control and Intimidation is reinforced by law enforcement's ideology of a woman's place in society. (Hatty, 2013).

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Consensus Theory suggests that societal norms and values are upheld collectively and deviance from the standard (violence against women) only occurs when individuals violate the shared model (OpenStax 2014).

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Conflict Theory suggests that violence against women arises from power imbalances, institutional bias and social inequalities, where a dominant group maintains control and perpetuates exploitative practices (OpenStax 2014).

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Feminist theory explores gender inequalities. It takes conflict theory to analyse how gender roles and inequalities are maintained in a patriarchal society. This will be one of the main theories discussed, as it focuses on how family structure upholds male dominance (control and intimidation) and showcases how men's contributions are regarded as more valuable than women's (societal attitudes). (OpenStax 2014).

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Feminist Theory on Violence against Women

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Feminist Theory on Violence against Women

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Understanding why men are violent towards women and how the criminal justice system treats women who are victims. Feminist theory argues leniency of male violence in the justice system further normalises it.

Criticises the use of the plea of provocation. The law justifies male violence if it leads to a woman's subordination.

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Feminist Theory on Criminal Justice System

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Feminist Theory on Criminal Justice System

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In rape trials, women are often subjected to irrelevant and inappropriate questioning and their credibility undermined. Thus continuing the cycle of low conviction rates for rapists.

Feminist theory argues that violence against women is used as a tool for controlling women. This advocates for systemic changes to our justice system and the denormalisation of male violence.

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Verbal abuse is identified as a key factor leading to physical violence among girls.

Gossip, verbal threats, and other forms of verbal conflict often escalate into physical altercations.

Girls who experience violence frequently see retaliation as a justified response.

(Burman et al., 2003)

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There is a notable silence regarding more private forms of violence, such as domestic abuse or violence by known males.

This silence may stem from embarrassment, ignorance, or confusion about what constitutes domestic violence.

Girls' fear of violence is often linked to the public sphere, particularly the fear of strange men or hostile groups.

This fear aligns with broader societal concerns about male violence towards women in public spaces. (Burman et al., 2003)

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Introduce comprehensive education programs in schools to address consent, sexual violence and the importance of reporting abuse.

This should also include dismantling gender stereotypes and social norms that contribute to victim-blaming and shame.

Launch nationwide campaigns that educate communities about domestic violence - what it looks like, how you can be supported, psychological violence, and how the legal process works.

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Review and reform evidentiary requirements in sexual assault cases.

Mandate specialised training for police, prosecutors and judges handling sexual violence cases to ensure sensitivity and a better understanding of the trauma caused.

Create strict frameworks to punish offenders of gendered crimes instead of applying a consensus view that this is a 'one off' type of behaviour.

Create strong frameworks to punish officers of the law that deviate from punishing those who commit crimes.