Evaluate the extent to which rape can be explained by sociological perspectives Flashcards
What to put in the introduction?
The causes of rape have long been a topic of debate
- Some frame rape as an individual act and some believe it is driven by biology.
- For example sociological theories, specifically feminist views argue that XXX
- This essay critically evaluates the extent to which …
First paragraph
Sociological perspectives view rape as a product of of sexual desire but instead an assertion of power and control.
- This view argues rape functions as a political act to maintain patriarchal dominance through fear, reinforcing gender hierarchies (Brownmiller, 1975).
- The sociological theory explains that sexual violence is central to the structure of gender inequalities ensuring it is sustained (MacKinnon, 1989).
- These perspectives view rape not as a deviant act but as a predictable outcome of society due to its objectification of women and legitimise male dominance.
Second Paragraph
Evidence on rape culture:
- Supports sociological explanations of rape normalising sexual violence and discourages accountability
- The medias objectification of women (Walby, 1990) and the prevalence of gendered violence in domestic settings (Dobash and Dobash, 1979) further reinforcing sociological explanations of rape.
- Additionally, the theory of hegemonic masculinity further provides insight into how dominant ideas of masculinity encourage violence, control and sexual entitlement.
- n societies where hypermasculine traits are idealised, such as dominance, rape becomes a way to assert power not only over women but marginalised men (Bourgois, 1995).
- Rape within this context such as prison can explain this as they use dominance as a tool of dominance and humiliation rather than reproduction.
Criticisms of feminist ideologies:
Feminist theories do provide a strong lens for understanding rape as a form of patriarchal control, but It has been criticised for…
- underplay women’s agency and variability in mens attitudes and behaviours across different, social and cultural contexts
- intersectional theorists have highlighted that gender cannot be isolated from other identifies such as race, class and sexuality which shape individual experiences of violence and power in complex ways (Crenshaw, 1991).
- Not all men engage in or condone sexual violence.
Evolutionary perspectives
- Evolutionary theories propose that rape is an adaptive strategy, evolved to increase the changes of gene propagation among males who lack access to mates (Thornhill and Palmer, 2000)
- They view rape as a biological product of male sexual aggression and dominance (Symons, 1979), stating that men evolve to seek multiple reproductive opportunities whereas women evolve to be selective to carry on better genes (Daly and Wilson, 1988).
- his explanation argues that men have a need to reproduce where they use coercion as a strategy for ensuring one gene propagation. This is reinforced as younger women, who are primarily more fertile, are more likely to be a victim of rape, supporting the reproductive theory (Lalmiere et al., 2005).
Empirical evidence for evolutionary theories:
This explanation argues that men have a need to reproduce where they use coercion as a strategy for ensuring one gene propagation. This is reinforced as younger women, who are primarily more fertile, are more likely to be a victim of rape, supporting the reproductive theory (Lalmiere et al., 2005). Additionally, empirical evidence supports the evolutionary theory of rape, identifying cross-species comparisons of coercive mating in some primate species. This suggests rape is an evolutionary basis for forced copulation to reproduce. Furthermore, there are patterns
Criticisms of evolutionary theory:
- Limited as they fail to explain the wide variation in rape prevelance across different cultures and time (Gowaty, 1977)
- If rape is natural and a biological behaviour it would be more uniformly distributed across culture and time.
- Instead cross cultural studies show that rape is far more common in patriarchal societies and less prevalent in egalitarian cultures (Sanday, 1981) indicating that social factors do play a role.
- cannot account for non-reproductive sexual violence such as male on male act or rape as a punishment.
- in these situations rape cannot be explained by biological determinism
- by explaining rape as ‘natural’ occurring risks justifying it
- legal policy changes in reducing rape prevalence, further challenging biological determinism and highlights its role in. social structures (MacKinnon, 1989).
- Men’s aggression and sexuality are not merely biological imperatives but are shaped by cultural norms and social expectations (Connell, 2005), reinforcing the importance of sociocultural factors in understanding rape.
- Thereofre, accepting rape as a by-product of evolution fails to acknowledge the impact of social change (Travis, 2003).
What does Brownmiller (1975) argue about rape in relation to gender hierarchies?
Rape functions as a political act to maintain patriarchal dominance through fear, reinforcing gender hierarchies.
How does MacKinnon (1989) relate sexual violence to gender inequality?
sexual violence is central to the structure of gender inequalities ensuring its sustained
What role does the media play in reinforcing sociological explanations of rape, according to Walby (1990)?
medias objectification of women supports patriarchal views
Dobash and Dobash, 1979
medias objectification of women supports prevelance of gendered violence in domestic settings
Bourgois, 1995
Hegemonic masculinity’s further provides insight into how dominant ideas of masculinity encourage violence control and sexual entitlement. In societies where hypermasculine traits are idealised, such as dominance, rape becomes a way to assert power not only over women but marginalised men.
Crenshaw, 1991
feminist theories underplay women’s agency and the variability in mens attitudes and behaviours across different social, cultural, and economic contexts. Highlights that gender cannot be isolated from other identities such as race, class and sexual which shape expiences of violence and power. Not all men condone or engage in sexual violence
Thornhill and Palmer, 2000
rape is an adaptive strategy evolved to increase the chances of gene propagation among men who lack access to mates
Rape is biological product of male sexual aggression and dominance
Symons, 1979
Daly and Wilson, 1988
stating men evolve to seek multiple reproductive opportunities whereas women evolve to be selective
Lalmiere et al., 2005
Men need to reproduce where they use coercion as a strategy for ensuring one gene propagation - reinforced by the women normally targeted who are younger and primarily more fertile.
How do sociological perspectives explain the function of rape in patriarchal societies?
According to Bourgois (1995), what is the purpose of rape in contexts like prison?
A) Reproduction
B) Emotional bonding
C) Dominance and humiliation
D) Religious punishment
C
What major criticism is made of feminist theories of rape?
A) They ignore biological explanations
B) They overemphasize race and class
C) They treat men as a homogenous group
D) They reject all sociological perspectives
C
What do evolutionary theorists argue is the primary function of rape?
A) To punish women
B) A reproductive strategy for gene propagation
C) A form of mental illness
D) An outcome of media influence
B
Which of the following is not a limitation of evolutionary theory, as discussed in the text?
A) It justifies rape as “natural”
B) It accounts for same-sex sexual violence
C) It ignores cross-cultural variation
D) It underestimates the role of social structures
B
What theorist highlights the need to consider race, class, and sexuality in understanding sexual violence?
A) Brownmiller
B) MacKinnon
C) Crenshaw
D) Thornhill
C
T or F: Feminist theories argue that rape is primarily an expression of sexual desire.
Flase
T or F: Evidence from domestic violence supports sociological views on gender inequality.
True
Evolutionary theorists believe that rape is uniformly distributed across cultures.
False
Intersectional theorists criticize feminist ideologies for not considering overlapping identities.
True
Connell (2005) argues that male aggression is solely biologically determined
False
Citations for Sociological explanations of rape
Brownmiller (1975), MacKinnon (1989), Walby (1990), Dobash & Dobash (1979)
Rape culture and Media
Objectification, victim blaming, gendered violence
Hegemonic Masculinity
Bourgois (1995), Connell (2005)
Criticisms of feminist perspectives
overgeneralisation, lack of intersectionlaity Crenshaw, 1991
Citations for evolutionary theories
Thornhill & Palmer (2000), Symons (1979), Daly & Wilson (1988)
Citations for Critiques of Evolutionary Theories
Gowaty (1977), Sanday (1981), Travis (2003)
