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For a long time one of the few ways of looking at sexuality has
been through the lens of violence. However, do we think we have been
able to explore all the threads of violence and trace their
inter-relationship with those of sexuality? Do we know the forms in
which Sexuality and Violence are interspersed and the causes behind
it? Is there a need to talk about these inter-connections?
Although both men and women experience violence, when we talk of
sexual violence the very first thought that emerges in our minds is
that of violence against women because of their marginalized gender
status in society. For a long time we have believed that society was
divided into two genders – man and woman. However, we know that
there are many people who do not conform to the norms of sexuality
and gender that have been imposed by society. They suffer various
forms of violence because of the challenges they pose to the binary
notions of gender.
Perhaps this could be better explained if we draw our connections
from the fact that any form of violence is a demonstration of power
within relationships and structures. According to Michel Foucault
power is ‘present in the smallest, apparently most inconsequential
human interactions’ (Brookfield 2001: 7). This power is exercised
through the body, sexuality, family, kinship, knowledge, technology,
etc (Brookfield 2001: 17).
Violence could take many forms. It can range from disparaging
remarks about one’s appearance to very brutal physical forms of
assault. According to the WHO’s World Report on Violence and
Health,2002, Violence is defined as ‘the intentional
use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against
oneself, another person or against a group or community, that either
results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death,
psychological harm, mal-development or deprivation’. In the same
document, Sexual Violence is defined as ‘any sexual act, attempt
to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or
acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s
sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their
relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not
limited to home and work’.
Although any conversation about sexuality and violence will draw
upon gender-based violence, let us in this E-forum attempt to look
beyond gender-based violence to see the different ways in which
sexualities and violence are linked.
For the next two weeks, we will be examining these ideas and more
as a part of the forum discussion. Let’s put them under two main
questions:
- What is the connection between sexuality and violence?
- What are the various forms in which sexual violence manifests
itself?
Please feel free to write in your analyses, observations,
thoughts, comments, and examples addressing any, one, or all of the
issues and questions raised above. Alternatively, please pose new
questions and ideas you feel are relevant for this sub-topic.
We look forward to a lively and exciting discussion!
Regards,
Arpita Das (Moderator)
The South and Southeast Asia Resource Centre on Sexuality
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