Lecture 9: collective sexual and gender-based violence (2): institutions Flashcards
Collective political responsibility
The responsibility for being the solution to the problem (like the government being able to intervene during violence). Violence that is facilitated, encouraged or condoned by a collective/ society.
Key message
Research and policy on violence and violence prevention must draw upon insights from organisational studies and sociology of work.
Sexual violence in the US military LAW (Elizabeth et al., 2009)
- 29% of the incarcerated active service members have been convicted for sexual assault.
- 25% of the veterans in prisons are sex offenders.
- Women in the military are more likely to suffer sexual assault than civilian women (and develop PTSD).
- High conviction rates, but lower than for other military crimes (due to the strong social control in the military and the culture of punishing wrong behaviour).
Types of sexual and gender-based violence of the military against civilians
- Sexual violence against civilians.
- Violence in commercial sex industry around overseas bases.
- Sexualised torture.
- Military domestic violence rates 5 times higher than average.
Traditional scholarly views of GBV in the military (Madeline Morris)
- The military is often unwilling to discuss GBV among their marines.
- They often reject proposals for change that criticise violence and hierarchy as a cause of sexual violence.
- GBV and sexual violence is often minimised in the military.
- ‘Masculinist military identity’ and ‘rape-conductive culture’.
- Complicity (medeplichtigheid) in state exploitation of women.
- Rape was suppressed much less than non sexual military crimes (?)
Causes of sexual violence within the military (Elizabeth Hillman)
- Institutional culture: reluctance to prioritise solidarity with rape victims above loyalty to comrads.
- Hierarchy and gendered power differences: reporting can be interpreted as disloyal.
- Labor conditions: remoteness of some military operations and college-like atmosphere.
- Traditional gender norms: socialisation of recruits, commanding officers tendency to underestimate the significance of sex crimes, male victims underreport because of shame and fear of questions about sexual orientation.
Are potential perpetrators attracted to these types of institutions, or do these people go into one of those institutions because they are attracted by that?
15% of the incoming US navy recruits have already attempted or committed rape before entering the military (this is twice the percentage of the civilians population).
DADT (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy)
This policy prohibits people to demonstrate a propensity (neiging) or intent to engage in homosexual acts in the US army. Because their presence ‘would create an unacceptable risk to the high standard of morale, good order and discipline and unit cohesion that are at the essence of military capability’.
Race and prosecution for sexual violence
- Black militants are much more often prosecuted and punished for sexual violence within the army (despite lack of evidence in this).
- Rape of a white women is much more likely to lead to a conviction of the perpetrator.
- Race also plays a role in sexual trafficking around military bases and sexualised torture.
Intersectionality and rape during WWII
Sex was central to the liberation of WWII. But why did 25 of the 29 death sentenced for rape during the liberation period concern black men?
- Frances colonial history: the French and the Americans became deadly allies in the racism (stereotype of black soldiers as sexually threatening).
- Women’s stories were more often questioned for white soldiers (viewed as prostitutes and not as victims) and almost never for black soldiers.
- There was a popular stereotype among American soldiers that France was more tolerant of sexual acts, which led to misunderstandings.
- Strategy by army officials: presenting rape as a minority crime prevented the undermining of American authorities in France.
Institutional factors facilitating GBV in religious institutions (like the church)
- Institutional culture: use of sacrament of confession to bind victims to silence.
- Hierarchy and gendered power differentials:
- Labor conditions: reassigning priests to new perished after a scandal that are ignorant of the priests history.
- Celibacy norm
Call against focus on institutional factors
Because sex offender within the Church are no different from ‘normal’ sex offenders. By focussing on the institution, there is less focus on the responsibility of the individual. There are many similarities of grooming processes, gaining acces to children and desensitising children to sexual advances.
Factors that influence sexual violence within the cultural sector
- Competition for work: with opportunities for work often depending on social relations en subjective employment evaluations.
- Industry structure: socialisation within the industry, emphasis on individual talent causes anti-harassment policies to be seen as inhibiting creativity, aesthetic labour.
- Gendered power relations: often a few people with all the power (mostly men).
- Importance of informal networks: homosociality, informal networking, blurring of professional and personal life boundaries.
Other factors:
- Uberisation
- ‘Winner takes it all’ dynamic
- Creative genius myth
Uberisation
Workers increasingly do not work for a single organisation.
‘Winner takes it all’ dynamic
Major inequalities and many people depend on a few opportunities (winners).
