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Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

1. Watch Video, ‘Sexual Assault: Naming the Unnamed Conspirator’ and read the
   word document under the Week Seven Content. What is the ‘Unnamed
   Conspirator’? Discuss how cultural attitudes shape the outcomes of sex crimes, and
   your reaction of this video.

The unnamed conspirator is the different types of societal attitudes about sexual assault
that influence legal cases that involve sexual assault and rape. These attitudes, grounded in myths
about sexual assault, are responsible not just for many victims of sexual assault refusing to report
such incidents but also for extremely low conviction rates of perpetrators of the vice (Munch,
2012). Jurors, for instance, who are supposed to deliver justice in sexual assault cases, often
approach the cases with negative assumptions about sexual assault victims such as belief that the
victims are somehow responsible for the assault against them (Munch, 2012). Due to such
assumptions, many victims end up not getting justice.

As the video and article on Unnamed Conspirator shows, cultural beliefs have a huge
impact on outcomes of sexual assault cases. The widespread belief that to be assaulted or not to
be assaulted is up to the victim places undue responsibility on the victim which holds them as
being responsible for the wrongs done to them by others. Due to such beliefs, it becomes hard for
victims sexual violence to seek and get justice.

Watching the video and reading the article, I was surprised at how a big a role cultural
beliefs affect outcomes of cases involving sexual violence. 2% conviction rate for sexual

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offenders is exceedingly low. It proves the need for changes regarding cultural beliefs
surrounding sexual violence.

2. Watch Video, ‘Violence against women—it’s a men’s issue’ under the Week Seven
   Content. Summarize the major ideas and discuss your reaction of this video.

The main idea in the presentation by Jackson Katz is that since men are the dominant
group and main perpetrators of gender-based violence, a discussion of the subject is incomplete
without their inclusion. Reduction in cases of sexual assault and gender-based violence can only
be brought about by changes in the behavior and attitudes of men (Katz, 2013). To realize this
change, Katz zeroes in on men who are neither victims nor perpetrators of gender-based violence
but who are friends, team mates or are associated in any other way with perpetrators of gender-
based. According to Katz, when these ‘by-standers’ speak out against talks and actions that
demean or violate women emotionally and physically, the perpetrators, out of fear of social
isolation, are likely to desist from their behaviors (Katz, 2013).

In watching the video I was particularly impressed by Katz’s insightful ideas about the
central role that men play not just in perpetrating but also ending gender-based violence. I found
his arguments quite logical and likely to lead to the desired outcome if implemented.

3. What are the definitions of rape and sexual assault? Research rape and sexual
   assault laws and the mandatory arrest policies of your state (which is Maryland) (or
   the country where you are now USA) and to identify parts of the law that you find
   problematic, if any.

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In the US, rape is defined as “the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus
with any body part or object or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without
consent of the victim”. Sexual assault, on the other hand, is defined as “any nonconsensual
sexual act that is prohibited by Federal and State laws” (Department of Justice, 2012).

I do not find any problem with these definitions. For instance, the definition of rape is
quite expensive and, therefore, likely to capture all instances of rape. It identifies victims of rape
as both men and women. It does not limit rape to just use of a male sexual organ but also objects.
Lastly, it emphasizes absence of explicit consent as key to determining whether rape had
occurred or not.

4. Explain the main reasons of why domestic violence occurs. Why do many women
   choose to stay with the men who abuse them? When men are the victims of abuse,
   what issues do you think they have to deal with that are different from women
   victims?

Some of the causes of domestic violence include desire to maintain control and power
over an intimate partner, desire to keep a mate from leaving, and alcoholism and drug abuse.
Many women who experience violence in the hands of men that they are in intimate relationship
with choose to remain with them because of a number of reasons. They include fear of actions
their partners may take, financial constraints, pressure from their families to remain in the
relationship, fear of stigmatization for having a broken marriage or relationship, and, if they have
children, desire to have their children grow up with both their mother and father.

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Men too can be victims of domestic abuse. However, when abused men have to deal with
different issues than those dealt with women. Unlike, women cases, men are often not taken
seriously when they report a case of domestic abuse. It is considered a laughing matter. They are
also more stigmatized than women as people feel that they are weak and feminine.

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References

Department of Justice (2012). An Updated Definition of Rape. Retrieved on 25 th February, 2020
from https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/blog/updated-definition-rape
Katz, J. (2013). Violence Against Women -It’s a Men’s Issue. Retrieved on 25 th February, 2020
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvSfeCRxe8&feature=youtu.be
Munch, A. (2012). Sexual Assault: Naming the Unnamed Conspirator. Retrieved on 25 th
February, 2020 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXycGbjq3YM&feature=youtu.be