types

THE RAPIST
THE BREEDING GROUND OF RAPE: VIOLENCE IN THE HOME:
UNDERSTANDING RAPE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

In Scandinavia the term "sexualised violence" has been used as a collective term to include: "woman battering, rape, incest/sexual abuse of children, prostitution and pornography, seens as related as expressions of the oppression of women.

US research indicates that 22% to 35% of all women who seek emergency care have been abused. Research in Sweden shows that around 60% of all adult female homicide victims are killed by their present of former male partner - but in that same country, by comparison less than 10% of male victims are killed by their female partners. On average one woman is killed by her partner every fortnight in Finland. Domestic violence is the most common violent crime in the UK and according to the British Crime Survey (1998) there were an estimated 835 000 incidents of domestic violence in 1997. A quarter of all violent assaults reported were related to domestic violence. In the UK one woman dies every 3 days as a result of domestic abuse, and 48% of all women murdered are killed by a male partner or expartner. In Gauteng in SA a woman is murdered every 6 days by her male partner. In SA more than 88% of male homicide is perpetrated by other males. In Italy the Instituto Nazionale di Statistica (1998) found that only 4% of sexual violence cases had been report and that 25% of rapes had occurred in the home. In South Africa 60% of rapes occur in the home (Unisa, March, 1999). Researchers worlwide concur that the actual number of violent crimes committed is at least three times higher than reported to police. International research also incidates that 40% of adult women have been victims of male sexual violence since their 15th birthday, and that violence continued after separation in one-third of relationships were violence occurs. Many reported cases of wife abuse are dismissed or withdrawn before coming to trial - however, in November, 1999, Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete said women would no longer be able to withdraw domestic violence charges against their partners.

WHY DO MEN ABUSE WOMEN?

There are two basic approaches that rape or abuse is about power - or more specifically about impotence, in all senses of the word. The historical and social domination of women by men - and resorting to violence is an alternative certain men choose when they see their privileged access to scarce resources (such as money or sex) threatened by women's independence (Stark & Flitcraft, 1999). The other primary area of consideration is why certain men, but not others, subject women to violence . Typical triggers include feelings of possesiveness, jealousy, expectations regarding womens duties at home, the sense that they have the right to "punish" women for perceived misdeeds. Alcohol is a significant factor in triggering violence.

Swedish and Norwegian researchers maintain that abusive men do not resort to violence in a frenzied rage. The violence is often controlled. Their victim is never anyone other than their wife or children (or a chosen female target in the case of a rapist ). They select the time and place, and the mode of violence. Many of the men interviewed by Lundgren,a Swedish researcher described how violence became eroticized for them. This may explain why many physically abusive situations end in sexual coercion and why men repeat their beatings.

WHAT VIOLENCE MEANS FOR WOMEN

During the first phase abused women begin to lose touch with their own sense of reality. Violence can no longer be explained by external factors (an accident, difficulties in the men's lives, etc...) - "it's just there". The line between what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour becomes hazy, and violence begins to be seen as normal (although unwanted). Initially the women try and stop the violence - then they just try to survive. She begins internalising the abuse and becomes increasingly emotionally dependent on the man. The man will very often have begun reducing her contact with friends and families and so she is isolated and frightened - this process is called social battering. Another control mechanism is the alternation between violence and affection, between brutality and warmth, a tactic used by torturers. The woman hates the man, and yet depends on him. She fears him, but believes she will not survive without him.

(data from Unisa, news reports, Operation Kvinnofrid International, and other sources)