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SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Cases such as sexual violence and rape have been plaguing the society for a long time. These cases are
not limited to any particular society or culture but are an epidemic throughout all the societies and
cultures. According to statistics the prevalence of rape cases and sexual violence amongst women ranges
from 6% to 59% who have experienced such from either a husband or a boyfriend at least once in their
lifetime. As per the two population-based studies conducted in South Africa, it was concluded that about
an approximate of 28% and 37% of men have perpetrated rape

Furthermore, the study realized that such assaults and rape cases were relatively lower in high-income
societies and countries than as compared to middle-income and low-income societies and countries.
However, there is no concrete data to confirm this hypothesis. According to a cultural study, it was
discovered that a majority of women and girls were the victims of assault. Whilst men being the
perpetrators and in most cases, the perpetrator had close ties with the victim. Estimates conclude that all
of the women who were victims of homicide throughout the world in 2012, almost half of them were
murdered by either family members or their own intimate partners. In comparison to men where almost
6% had been deposed due to homicide.

Violence and rape cases have been officially labeled as a public health crisis and a direct violation of
human rights holding a worldwide significance. Such sexual assaults and rape cases have a significant
contribution towards the mental and physical well-being of women worldwide. There is a dire need for
the awareness of the magnitude and different forms of violence prevalent in society towards women.
Abuse and Sexual Assaults is, in general, any form of sexual activity you did not consent to.
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Sexual assault and harassment includes rape, attempted rape, inappropriate touching, vaginal anal and oral
penetration without consent and child molestation. Sexual assault can be physical or verbal in nature
which can include anything and everything sexual in nature that is unwanted and non-consensual.
According to statistics, rape is a more common form of assault that has been inflicted on women by
someone they are in familiarity and close connections with.

EFFECTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

The person who has been inflicted with forms of harassment is known as the victim or a survivor.
However, not only are the survivors affected but their friends and family are affected too. Having a
significant impact not only on the community but a society at large.

Women who have been through this mental and physical trauma have to get up and face a tremendous
amount of after-effects all throughout their daily lives. Sexuality touches a myriad of problems and issues
that govern the behavior of that particular individual and the behavior of the society towards that
particular individual. However, survivors of harassment and rape have to face a lot of issues which vary
from culture to culture where the behavior of the society may be as extreme as blaming the individual and
deeming it as “she brought this upon herself” or even “asking for it”. Shunning the person and treating
them like a “Pariah” and impure. Societies where a woman's character and purity are contingent to her
virginity till marriage frown upon women who have been subjected to this traumatic episode often let the
man go unscathed and unpunished. Whereas the woman has to live throughout her life with the label of
being impure.
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The after effects of a woman being subjected to the trauma of rape or sexual harassment can vary from
culture to culture where aftereffects can include:

INFLUENCE ON FAMILY RELATIONS

 STRAIN ON MARRIAGE AND REJECTION BY THE HUSBAND

Traditionally in societies, Husbands reject their wives and abandon them mainly by
separation or divorce once they find out that their wife has been raped. In circumstances
where the husband does not leave, he starts neglecting her and often mistreats her often
denying her fundamental rights as his wife or even a woman or human. In many cultures,
the woman is even denied of sharing a bed with her husband or even from preparing his
meals. In cultures where polygamy is permissible husbands often take up a second wife.
The risk of divorce or of being repudiated is higher if the woman falls pregnant after
being subjected to rape.

 REJECTION AND CONFLICT WITHIN THE FAMILY

Sexual violence can also drive a wedge amongst the family and can tear a family apart. A
woman who is yet unmarried but has been subjected to rape may be shunned by her
family and most often barred from ever returning to them and coming back home. In
cases where she is allowed to come back, she is mostly ignored by her family members
and be subjected to ridicule and taunts.

 CHILDREN OF RAPE

Children born as a result of a woman being raped are often mistreated. They are often
abandoned, ill-treated or rejected as compared to the kids who are born after marriage.
These children are even murdered as they are considered a sin. Such behavior may occur
even if the family of the victim has agreed to keep the child.

INFLUENCE AT A COMMUNAL LEVEL

 OUTCAST BY THE COMMUNITY
Victims of rape often come out and speak of the ridicule that they have to face and the
humiliation they are subjected to once society finds out what the woman went through.
When these women go out in the society they are often mocked by the villagers. Whilst
also point and stare in disdain.
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 EXPULSION FROM JOBS AND SCHOOLS

Girls or women who have been subjected to rape are often pointed out as bad examples
deemed as women having poor character and therefore are expelled from their job
positions and academics especially if they become pregnant.

 NOT “MARRIAGE MATERIAL”

In many traditional societies and cultures women who have been subjected to rape stand
little to no chance of getting married or settling down. Those women who have been
engaged their engagements are usually broken off. In many cultures and traditions, the
honor of the family depends on the chastity and virginity of the daughters. Rape or sexual
harassment is viewed upon as great shame and the victims are thought to as bringing
dishonor to their family names and are viewed as unfit for marriage.

 FORCED MARRIAGE

In many of the societies, it is a custom to marry off the girl who had been raped to the
perpetrator as a means of restoring family name and honor.

 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDE

Females who have been subjected to sexual harassment and rape are at a high risk of
being mistreated or even being murdered by their family or community also termed as
“Honour Killing” which is thought to restore the families dignity and name which is
thought to be damaged by the act. In some of the societies, the rape survivors are
punished as convicts by being sentenced to prison or being flogged or stoned to death.
Relatives of the survivor may take law into their own hands and attack the perpetrator.

 SUSCEPTIBLE TO REPEATED ASSAULT

In some societies and cultures, survivors of rape and sexual assault are at a higher risk of
being assaulted again by other members of the society who despise the victim for losing
her virginity. Society members stop protecting them and rather try to disparage them.
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INFLUENCE AT AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL

 PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ISOLATION

In many societies and cultures, victims of rape are frowned upon, despised and rejected.
Such victims often withdraw from taking part in the society in order to avoid the
condescending eyes, feel threatened and humiliated thus limit or entirely stop going to
places where they might run into old friends or even the perpetrator and often move far
away from their home-town. In some cultures, the victim is forcefully isolated from their
family and spouses where they are locked up at homes in their rooms in order to prevent
people from inquiring about them.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES
 FEAR
Women who go through this trauma have fear settled deep within them the feeling of
dread. After experiencing such an event majority of the women develop fears that they
initially did not have. most of the women commonly fear being assaulted again, raped,
beaten, kidnapped or tortured. Victims mainly fear the recurrence of the event and the
fear heightens when they feel something trigger them and remind them of the dreadful
event.

CONCLUSION
Sexual violence and sexual assault is a prevalent issue in society. where numerous women every day
undergo this traumatic experience. There is this stigma that rape and sexual violence is the victim's fault
rather than the perpetrators, this stigma needs to be eradicated. An awareness is to be raised to help the
females that have gone through this traumatic event in order to restore their confidence and help them
overcome such a difficult time in their lives. A woman's past such as this one does not have to define her
future.
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REFERENCE

Josse, E. (2010). the consequences of sexual violence for the mental health of women in armed conflicts.
Volume 92 Number 877. International review of the Red Cross.

https://www.icrc.org/en/download/file/14137/irrc-877-josse.pdf