Female Victims Research Articles

How Do Intimate Partner Violence, Outness, and Community Connection Relate to Minority Stressors for Men Who Have Sex with Men?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, IPV has long been conceptualized as abuse between a male perpetrator and a female victim, leaving gaps in the literature on the unique impacts IPV victimization has for both male victims and victims in same-sex relationships. This study examines relationships between IPV and negative minority stress experiences specific to LGBTQ individuals: overt experiences of homophobia, sexual orientation microaggressions, and internalized homophobia. Participants (N = 168) were recruited through three popular MSM networking applications (i.e., Grindr, Jack'd, and Scruff. Most were recruited from one state in the southeastern United States. Ordinary Least Squares regressions were used to examine IPV as a predictive factor in three separate models, all of which controlled for age, race, outness, and gay community connection (GCC). IPV victimization is associated with increased levels of experiences of overt homophobia, homophobic microaggressions, and internalized homophobia for MSM. Outness, or being open with the people in one's life about one's MSM identity, is associated with lower levels of both sexual orientation microaggressions and internalized homophobia. GCC is also associated with lower levels of internalized homophobia. Results from this study show that IPV victimization is related to minority stressors for MSM. These findings support the existence of unique elements of IPV for LGBTQ victims, specifically MSM. Implications for IPV researchers and service providers are discussed, including the importance of the protective role of outness and GCC against some minority stressors.

Sexual assault victims face a penalty for adjacent consent

Across 11 experimental studies ( n = 12,257), we show that female victims of sexual assault are blamed more and seen as less morally virtuous if their assault follows voluntary sexual intimacy, a factor we term “adjacent consent”. Moreover, we illuminate a psychological mechanism contributing to this penalty: When a woman who provided no consent whatsoever is assaulted, people tend to see her as more moral than if she were not victimized (the “Virtuous Victim Effect”)—yet people do not extend the same moral elevation to victims who consented to sex-adjacent activity before they were assaulted. Adjacent consent plays a unique role in undermining the moral elevation of rape victims; respondents continue to elevate victims when, in the absence of adjacent consent, we introduce other information that makes the perpetrator seem less abhorrent or that makes the victim seem promiscuous, reckless, or sexually interested in her perpetrator. Furthermore, adjacent consent disqualifies rape victims from moral elevation in the eyes of a wide swath of respondents—including political liberals and undergraduates who, when no assault occurs, have no moral objection to (or even applaud) the victim’s voluntary sexual intimacy. Our results thus illuminate how sexual assault victims may be penalized for adjacent consent by even progressive or “sex-positive” communities. Finally, we identify a potential real-world consequence of adjacent consent: using field data from over 180,000 students across 33 U.S. universities, we find evidence that victims are less likely to report their sexual assaults in cases involving adjacent consent.

Empowering justice: female police officers’ perspectives on advocating for female victims in South Korea

ABSTRACT We conducted qualitative research in South Korea by interviewing female police officers to gain insight into the processes of female representation. The findings show that female officers generally accept representative roles for female victims. Still, such determination can manifest through various behaviours, which may not always translate into tangible law enforcement outcomes. Additionally, the male-dominant culture in police organizations may not directly affect female officers’ advocacy but may reduce their work morale, indirectly impacting their advocacy behaviour. We emphasize that the concept of active representation is not fixed, and various contextual factors can influence it.

KONSEKUENSI HUKUM TINDAKAN HIRȂBAH (PELECEHAN SEKSUAL) DI INDONESIA: KAJIAN TERHADAP HUKUM PIDANA ISLAM DAN UNDANG-UNDANG INDONESIA

Hirabah is a term or concept in Islamic law that refers to acts of murder, robbery, and sexual assault. Incidents of rape and adultery often make headlines in Indonesia, but many rape victims feel disadvantaged by the judgments handed down by judges, which further victimize them. Additionally, certain articles have undergone an expansion of their meaning, particularly regarding adultery and rape, in order to minimize instances of rape. This study employs a qualitative research design, using approaches such as legal, conceptual, case-based, and comparative approaches. The findings reveal that the legal consequences for rape victims are deemed highly detrimental. This is evident in cases from Aceh, where a female rape victim received a whipping punishment that should not have been imposed on her. Furthermore, the common practice of seeking peaceful resolutions, such as marrying the victim to the perpetrator, is considered highly detrimental to the victims.

CUMULATIVE PROVOCATION IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN MALAYSIA AND ENGLAND AND WALES

Background and Purpose: In Malaysia, there is no specific defence for female victims of domestic violence who in the unfortunate event killed their abusive partners due to provocation. In this instance, they can raise the defence of provocation as expressly stated in Exception 1 to section 300 of the Penal Code (Exception 1). Since the defence was not formulated specifically in the context of domestic violence, the application of the defence may not be able to appreciate the uniqueness of female victims of domestic violence. One notable issue is that of cumulative provocation. Exception 1 is silent as to the legal status of cumulative provocation. However, there have been cases where the accused raised cumulative provocation as a defence against the offence of murder. The research therefore, aims to analyse the legal position of cumulative provocation in Malaysia. Methodology: This research employed a doctrinal legal research approach, conducting a thorough analysis of relevant laws, including the Penal Code (Act 574), Homicide Act 1957 (HA 1957), and the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (CJA 2009). In addition to statutory analysis, an examination of case law was undertaken to gain insights into the court’s interpretation of the legal status of cumulative provocation. Furthermore, scholarly writings in this field were examined to provide a thorough understanding of the subject. Findings: The decisions of the Federal Court’s cases of Che Omar bin Che Akhir v Public Prosecutor [2007] 4 MLJ 309 and Public Prosecutor v Surbir Gole [2017] 2 CLJ 621 show that cumulative provocation does not fall under Exception 1. This might lead the court to look only at the events that took place immediately before the killing as a single act. This can lead to a perception that the accused’s response, including female victims of domestic violence to provocation is not sufficiently grave. Hence, it is proposed that the cumulative provocation is given statutory recognition under Exception 1 which allows the circumstances of the accused to be taken into account by the court in deciding the defence of provocation. Contributions: This research contributes to the corpus of legal knowledge on cumulative provocation in domestic violence against women within the legal framework of the criminal justice system. Keywords: Provocation, murder, cumulative provocation, defence & penal code. Cite as: Mohd Safri M. N., Ramalinggam, R., Rohaida, N., Abang Ikhbal, A. B., Nur Hafidah, A. K., & Ashran, I. (2024). Cumulative provocation in domestic violence against women: A comparative analysis between Malaysia and England and Wales. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 9(2), 318-339. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol9iss2pp318-339

Prevalence and Patterns of Domestic Violence among Women at M Djamil Hospital in Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Gender-based violence is a major risk for women worldwide. Violence against women often occurs in domestic settings. All domestic violence victims have the right to protection, including access to health care. However, the number of women who seek assistance from health services is low. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and analyze patterns of domestic violence against women. This was a descriptive study using data from medical records of women victims of domestic violence from 2017–2022 in Dr. M. Djamil Hospital. The results of this study showed that a total of 28 cases of female victims of domestic violence were examined. The age range was 6–11 years (28.6%). Sexual violence was the most common (45.9%), followed by physical violence (32.4%), and psychological violence (21.6%). Lacerations (50%) were the most common type of injury, followed by abrasions (23.3%), and bruises (16.7%). The most common cases involved victims and perpetrators being biological siblings (21.9%). Physical violence was most common between siblings, while sexual violence was most common, with the perpetrators being biological fathers and uncles. The total number of cases reported to the police was 60.7%, while the remaining 39.3% had not yet been reported to the police. There were 57.1% of cases that were repeated incidents, and 42.9% of cases were first-time violence. Considering a relatively small number of persons seeking support from health services, it is critical to undertake domestic violence education so that people are better aware of and understand their rights as victims. Keywords: Domestic; Violence; Sexual; Women

Examining Failings in Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Offenses: Focus on Male Victims and Impact of Operation Bluestone

This article highlights the failings of the criminal justice system in offering support to the victims of sexual violence, and keeping the focus particularly on male victims of sexual abuse. The article also investigates the overall experiences of all victims and the current procedures and policies in place. Men are treated as non-deserving victims, because the definition of rape under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 defines rape as “penetration with penis” and does not take male victims into account. Male victims are also not treated the same way as female victims, however both experience rape myths such as males not being ‘man enough’ and females with vulnerabilities, such as alcohol consumption, not being believed. Furthermore, it is increasingly difficult to bring forward rape charges by the crown prosecution service and the victims withdrawal rate in 2019-20 remains at 57%, indicating failings within CJS. Moreover, the negative attitudes of officers dealing with rape cases, and officers abusing their powers to sexually assault victims, raised serious questions around the systematic failure within the CJS. There is a lack of support for rape victims, and the impact of Operation Bluestone, which was created to improve rape case procedures, shows that the number of cases making it to court has increased with the project, but conviction rates remain very low. This was impacted by rape myth culture, which was a consistent theme throughout the research.

Paying Homage to the Holocaust Female Victims in "The Zone of Interest"

Martin Amis returns to the subject of the Holocaust after Time’s Arrow (1991) with The Zone of Interest, a realistic novel set in Auschwitz in the months from August 1942 to April 1943. Amis decides to deal again with the atrocities committed by the Nazis, because he believes that the impact of the Holocaust will change with the physical disappearance of the survivors. In this article we are going to focus on two of the female victims created by Amis: a Jewish prisoner who confronts her oppressors and a Jewish doctor morally destroyed by her collaboration with the Nazis, both of whom are presented through the perpetrator’s gaze. In order to demonstrate how Amis succeeds in giving the reader a truthful picture of the humiliations the Nazis inflicted on their victims, we will use the witnesses’ testimonies and the studies on the Holocaust relevant to our analysis, with special attention to those who offer a gender perspective.

Evidence That Pervasive Body Gaze Behavior in Heterosexual Men Is a Social Marker for Implicit, Physiological, and Explicit Sexual Assault Propensities.

Deliberate and effortful attempts to gaze at the bodies of women is emerging as a valuable marker of sexual objectification in men. Some preliminary evidence suggests that pervasive body gaze behavior may also accompany insidious attitudes which can facilitate sexual assault. The present study aimed to further explore this potential by examining pervasive body gaze associations with explicit, implicit, and physiological sexual assault propensity measures. We presented 110 heterosexual male participants with images of fully and partially dressed women with and without injuries while measuring their skin conductance responses. We also captured implicit and explicit sexual assault measures in addition to self-reported pervasive body gaze behavior. Pervasive body gaze behavior was significantly correlated with rape myth acceptance attitudes, prior perpetration of sexual assault, a stronger implicit association between erotica and aggression, and lower physiological reactivity during exposure to partially dressed injured women. These findings suggest that body gaze towards women could be a behavioral marker for inclinations to victim blame, preferences for rough sexual conduct, and a physiological desensitization towards female victims. This study further validates a five item self-reported body gaze measure as a valuable tool for detecting deviant sexual objectification attitudes and affective states. As such, measurement and observation of body gaze behavior could be useful for developing risk assessments, estimating intervention efficacy, and enhancing public awareness.

“We have to fight for our existence in the system”: exploring service providers’ experiences with male victims and female perpetrators of intimate partner violence

Purpose This study aims to investigate the experiences of service providers supporting male victims and female perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). The study explored the drivers, methods and treatments of female-perpetrated IPV, the nature and impact of abuse towards male victims, the barriers and facilitators to service provision and the impact on the practitioners themselves. Design/methodology/approach The study used a qualitative approach, using reflexive thematic analysis to analyse semi-structured interviews with 13 experienced service providers. Findings Two overarching themes were identified: systemic issues in service provision, including challenges with multi-agency approaches, funding and availability of services and the impact on practitioners; and gender stereotypes, which created barriers to male victims' help-seeking and influenced the treatment of female perpetrators. Practical implications The findings suggest the need for a multi-level approach, addressing gendered inequalities in IPV policy and funding, implementing gender-inclusive, evidence-based and trauma-informed practices, and raising public and professional awareness to challenge the dominant “domestic violence stereotype”. Originality/value This study provides a detailed, in-depth exploration of the experiences of service providers supporting “non-typical” populations in IPV, revealing the complex, multi-faceted challenges they face within a system that is inherently designed to support female victims of male perpetrators.

Whom Would You Help? The Impact of Perpetrator and Victim Gender on Bystander Behavior During a Sexual Assault.

We examined the impact of perpetrator and victim gender on bystander helping choices and assault perceptions. Participants (32 females, 37 males) read about two simultaneously occurring sexual assaults, indicated which victim they would help, and gave their perceptions of the assaults. We used a within-participants design that fully manipulated the perpetrator and victim gender for both assaults. Results showed female victims of male perpetrators and male victims of female perpetrators were most and least likely to be chosen for help, respectively. Cognitive networks derived from open-ended responses provided insight into the rationale used by participants to make helping decisions in ways that differed by perpetrator and victim gender.

Policing Men, Policing Women: Responsibility and Accountability for Violence Against Women and Girls, Including Domestic Abuse and Femicide

Existing legal responses to violence against women and girls (VAWG) often focus on the behaviour of the victim as much as, or sometimes more than, that of the alleged perpetrator. The laws that are supposed to protect women and girls from abuse are used to ‘police’ the behaviour of women; access to remedies and redress can seem to be contingent on whether the victim has adhered to stereotypes of an ‘ideal/real’ or ‘deserving’ victim. Female victims of male violence, including femicide, are often judged for their own behaviour; what they ‘ought’ to have done to keep themselves safe. This ‘responsibilisation’ is evident in both the substantive law and in the implementation of the law in practice. This article will highlight some of the examples of victim blaming in existing legal responses to VAWG in England and Wales. It will consider the question: how can we focus less on victim behaviour and more on perpetrator responsibility and accountability? Jayne Cowie’s book After Dark offers a useful lens for examining this question. The article will explore the parallels between some of the existing preventative measures for domestic abuse in England and Wales and some of the fictional measures enacted in Cowie’s world, in particular cohabitation contracts and domestic violence disclosure schemes.

Profile of unnatural deaths in adult females – A retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Haryana

Unnatural deaths, including unintentional and intentional events, require post-mortem examinations to rule out foul play. Women aged 18 to 30 are particularly vulnerable to mental, physical, psychological, and social challenges, including dowry-related deaths and occupational hazards. Unfortunately, female victimization is often underreported and research on the topic is limited. This study took into account 1564 post-mortem records of cases conducted in 5 years and analysed cases of unnatural deaths in adult females aged over 18 years to understand the gravity of female victimization in the region. Of the 204 identified cases, poisoning was the leading cause of death, and suicide was the most common manner of death. Accidental deaths were the second most common manner.: The study highlights the need for policies to address socio-economic and human rights deprivation, domestic violence, and mental health issues that contribute to these deaths. Measures to promote female economic independence and effective prevention and support strategies are necessary to reduce the prevalence of unnatural deaths among women in India.

Medicolegal assessment of reported female sexual assaults in the Kingdom of Bahrain: record-based descriptive study

BackgroundSexual assault is an important social issue that influences women’s lives. Despite a significant increase in 2018, there is no reliable information available in the Kingdom of Bahrain about female sexual assaults. The aim of this study is to investigate the pattern of reported sexual assaults among living female victims in the Kingdom of Bahrain. All medicolegal reports of sexual assaults in living female victims from 2016 to 2020 were included. Reported cases were studied for sociodemographic data of victims, assailant data, assault circumstances, and medicolegal findings and procedures.ResultsThe prevalence of female sexual assault allegations was 7%. During the studied period, there were 272 cases of sexual assault overall. Most cases were in the age group 18–30 years (41.2%). In 58.1% of assaults, the assailant was the boyfriend or partner of the victim. The medicolegal examination took place within 2 days after assault in only 32%. Forensic examination of sexual assault victims revealed extragenital injuries in only 30.9% of cases. Sexual assaults involving mixed penetration occurred in 66.9% of victims, followed by vaginal penetration (30.1%), then anal penetration (2.9%). The final medicolegal opinion confirmed positive assault in 38.6% of allegations and negative assault in 32.4% of allegations, while allegations that have no firm medicolegal conclusion were 29%.ConclusionsDespite the efforts made in Bahrain, there is an underestimated problem of sexual violence against females which needs a robust multilevel strategy including the roles of education, law, and non-governmental institutions.

Gender and Transitional Justice: Explaining Global Trends

ABSTRACT∞ In this article, we explore historical trends in gender-attentive transitional justice policies using a new global dataset of truth commissions, prosecutions and reparations policies. We find that gender was largely absent from these policies from 1970 through 1990 but that more attention to gender began in the 1990s and has been sustained since that time. Initial attention to gender focused primarily on violence against women; more recently, some limited attention to broader understandings of gender that include men, boys and LGBTQI+ individuals has started to appear. We argue that the early efforts of feminist activists in countries both in the Global North and the Global South to frame and set the global agenda on violence against women shaped when transitional justice policies became gender attentive and how these policies have diffused across countries. We argue that attention to female victims and physical gender violence is associated with a positive spillover, leading to broader attention to gender issues rather than crowding out attention to other gender harms.

Sex Differences in the Etiology of Victimization in Adulthood.

Until relatively recently, the study of victimization has been largely outside the purview of behavioral geneticists and evolutionary psychologists. Recent victimology research, however, has shown that genetic and evolutionary forces are connected to the risk of victimization. The current study expands on these findings by examining whether genetic influences differentially explain victimization in males and females. To do so, we use a sample of sibling pairs drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health; N = 4,244). The analyses revealed no significant quantitative sex differences in the etiology of adult victimization. However, the results of this study do highlight the importance of accounting for genetic factors when studying the etiology of specific types of adult victimization. We conclude by discussing the implications of the current study for future research.

Challenges in Supporting Women's Recovery from Sexual Violence in a Village Setting: Addressing Social Structures in Gampong Meurandeh Dayah, Aceh

<p>This article examines the structural challenges in the formation of advocacy policies for female victims of sexual violence in Gampong Meurandeh, Langsa City, Aceh. The data collection process utilized the participatory action research method over four months. Drawing upon social structure theory, the article argues that the causes of sexual violence in rural communities are not only rooted in knowledge and culture but also in the social structures that operate within these communities. The research findings indicate that the reluctance of village authorities to engage in the formulation of sexual violence policies is impeding the successful execution of sexual violence prevention programs. The article highlights two factors that hinder the prevention of sexual violence in Gampong Meurandeh Dayah. Firstly, the lack of female representation in the village government Secondly, support for victims of sexual violence is not a primary concern in the village government's policies. The article concludes that sexual violence prevention programs implemented in patriarchal communities require not only a change in public knowledge but also interventions at the structural level.</p>

Sexual and violent police perpetrators: the institutional response to reporting victims

ABSTRACT Despite recent high-profile cases of police perpetrated violence against women, academic research in the UK on the nature and prevalence of police officers who are physically and sexually abusive towards female intimate partners is limited. Still less is known about the experience of these victims who seek to report police perpetrators to the police. This study presents the findings from interviews that we conducted in early 2023 with ten female intimate partner victims of male police perpetrators in England and Wales. The experiences shared by participants included the period 2018–2023 in all but one case. Four of the interview participants were themselves police officers. Using thematic analysis, we classify experiences of reporting as ‘hostile-obstructive’ and/or ‘collusive-minimising’. We discuss these findings in relation to the concept of ‘institutional betrayal’ and consider how the police can demonstrate urgent ‘institutional courage’ for reform.

Adult attachment style, perceived social support, and post-traumatic stress among female victims of sexual assault

The present study aimed to investigate the interplay between adult attachment style, perceived social support, and post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms among adult female victims of sexual assault)SA(. While prior research has established the link between insecure attachment style and PTS, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. The potential role of perceived social support as a mediator in this relationship has been largely neglected and there is a dearth of studies investigating this mediation among victims of SA. The present study sought to address this gap in literature. Two hundred twenty-six women who have endured SA completed self-report measures of attachment style, perceived social support, and PTS, using an online survey. The results confirmed the anticipated pattern, showing a positive correlation between insecure attachment styles and PTS, as well as a negative correlation with perceived social support. A mediation analysis indicated that perceived social support may be a mechanism linking attachment styles to PTS. Following SA, insecurely attached women, especially those with avoidant attachment, have difficulties relying on and utilizing support from their environment, which may render them more susceptible to PTS. Nevertheless, the mediation was partial, indicating that attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance independently contribute to the development and maintenance of PTS.

“The Age of Malice”: Estupro, Consent, and the Foundations of Victim Blaming in the Criminal Courts of Buenos Aires, 1853–1878

Abstract This article examines the judicial treatment of pubescent, female victims of sexual assault in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 1853 and 1878, dates that span the decades between the national constitution and the adoption by Buenos Aires Province of new penal legislation. Centering the case of 13-year-old Irene Mestosini, it analyzes the prosecution of estupro cases through the paradigm of rape culture and victim blaming. It exposes how, by casting pubescent girls as malicious because of their physical and mental development, authorities blamed them for their assault while dismissing men's aggressive sexuality. By illustrating the ways in which physiological development worked alongside legal cultures, class expectations, and heteronormative gender norms to create a culture of impunity around sexual assault, this article suggests that modern notions of acceptable and unacceptable sexuality emerged in Buenos Aires earlier than in other parts of Latin America, where honor remained a central concern well into the twentieth century.