Sexual violence against women: Understanding cross-cultural intersections

Interpersonal violence whether it is sexual or nonsexual, remains a major problem in large parts of the world. Sexual violence against children and women brings with it long-term sequelae, both psychiatrically and socially. Apart from sexual gratification itself, sexual violence against women is oft...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Indian journal of psychiatry 2013-07, Vol.55 (3), p.244-249
Main Authors: Kalra, Gurvinder, Bhugra, Dinesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Assaults
Cross cultural studies
Family violence
Health aspects
Psychiatry
Review
Sex crimes
Sexual abuse
Women
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Summary:Interpersonal violence whether it is sexual or nonsexual, remains a major problem in large parts of the world. Sexual violence against children and women brings with it long-term sequelae, both psychiatrically and socially. Apart from sexual gratification itself, sexual violence against women is often a result of unequal power equations both real and perceived between men and women and is also strongly influenced by cultural factors and values. Within sociocentric and ego-centric cultures, the roles and representations of genders, and attitudes toward sexual violence differ. Cultures which are described as feminist, provide equal power to both men and women. Sexual violence is likely to occur more commonly in cultures that foster beliefs of perceived male superiority and social and cultural inferiority of women. Although culture is an important factor to understand sexual violence in its entirety, we need to look at, as well as beyond cultural structures, their strengths and weaknesses.
ISSN:0019-5545
1998-3794
DOI:10.4103/0019-5545.117139