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| Apr 6, 2006 @ 12:32 AM |
Rape: Power or sex?
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RareQuestor
Posts: 2,650
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Let me begin by acknowledging that this is a sensitive subject and that no offense is intended to anyone.
A couple of years I participated in a discussion in a different forum about the issue of whether rape revolves around power or sex. Nobody could (or can) deny that rape is wrong, of course, but I did notice a rather interesting phenomenon. Men tended to label it an act of power whereas a significant percentage of women claimed that it was about sex. (My own stance was that rape is an act of violence disguised as sex.) I was just wondering if this phenomenon is due to cultural bias or to gender bias.
I also argued that rape should be considered an act of power rather than sex because it can occur even when there is no sexual attraction involved (e.g. homosexual rape in prisons or the rape of elderly women.) Permit me to quote from that discussion:
"The reason why I assert that power rather than sexual attraction is
more important factor in the act of rape is simply because rape can
and does occur even when the element of sexual attraction is either
minimal or else non-existent (e.g. homosexual rape in prisons or the
rape of elderly women or preteen children.) There is a reason why we
refer to it as statutory rape even though the sex involved may have
been entirely and mutually consensual. We presume that the underage
individual does not have the maturity (and therefore the power) to
make such a choice. Even when sexual attraction is the dominant
factor, it still revolves around the question of power; He wants to
have sex and she does not or vice versa.
I also note that even in cases where sexual attraction is the most
important factor, people tend to fixate on some action or type of
behavior that presumably reduced or eliminated the victim's power to
deal with the situation (e.g. she wore sexy clothing or he got drunk
or she flirted with him and then rejected his advances.) I reject
this sort of rationalization because it ultimately results in the same
problem that you originally broached: Why do some cultures blame the
victim instead of the rapist?
I believe that treating rape as a crime of power is the right approach
in terms of legal justice. It avoids the whole can of worms that
sexual attraction represents and it places the blame where it belongs:
on the rapist. Each of us is, after all, ultimately responsible for
our own actions."
I still stand by this reasoning, but I am interested in your thoughts on this issue.
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| Apr 6, 2006 @ 12:40 AM |
Rape: Power or sex? |
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richmondcowgirl83
Posts: 1,062
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every situtation is different.
There is always the case of the love struck one who only wants to be with the other that doesn't know the first one even exist. There it sexual not about power. There is also the case of the football star drugging the cheerleader that is also sexual.
Every case is different, it all depends on the people involved.
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| Apr 6, 2006 @ 10:16 AM |
Rape: Power or sex?
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definitelydi
Posts: 12,602
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Power...and your reasoning seems sound to me.
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| Apr 6, 2006 @ 1:47 PM |
Rape: Power or sex? |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,602
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Power. And I'd be willing to bet that any analysis of the rapist's attitude toward the victim would disclose a strong resentment towards them. In the case of the obsessive admirer, I suspect you'll find they resent the power the victim has over them, and they use physical force or the threat of it, to assert their own power over the victim. Sex might be an initiating factor, but it's really all about power when it gets down to the act itself.
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| Apr 6, 2006 @ 3:23 PM |
Rape: Power or sex?
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SylvanDreams
Posts: 2,133
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I would say it is power-oriented.
Even in the case of the football player drugging the cheerleader, he is showing that he has power over this woman, and she can do nothing about it. It's not about sex--he could probably get it from any number of willing partners..or from his own hand. It's about having power over someone else. He might not even be really attracted to the cheerleader, but he sees a lot of guys lusting after her, and he wants to prove he can get what they want. Again--power, the feeling that he is better than others.
In the case of a guy raping an elderly woman, it is power...and probably based in resentment of someone else in his life. If he is not getting the respect he feels he deserves at home, say, he might go out and show how "powerful" he is by attacking a defenseless person (the elderly woman)....it's not respect he gets, but he can feel 'in control' and that he is important because he is the one 'in control'...whereas, in the other situation at home, he does not have any power over how he is treated.
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| Apr 6, 2006 @ 6:06 PM |
Rape: Power or sex? |
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Loreli
Posts: 25,398
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Power-rape is unwanted sex. It is forced upon someone, making it a control issue. Although Richmond, you make some good points, but often the high school or college boy drugging the cheerleader to have sex? Still power-impressing the friends, getting his way. If she wanted him to have it-she would give it to him. IMO
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| Apr 6, 2006 @ 8:58 PM |
Rape: Power or sex?
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EyesofBlue72660
Posts: 13,047
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I, too, believe it is more power-based than sexually-based.
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| Apr 6, 2006 @ 9:02 PM |
Rape: Power or sex? |
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LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 10,951
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this will get a bit personal because i do not know how else to phrase it.
because of what i know and have experienced i often associate sex with violence and power with sex. hence the obsession with politicians, i guess? rape is often more about power than about sex...but because of the way i have come to know the three of these things, of course, power and sex are intertwined for me, and I don't know how to make the distinction of what rape truly is about. I don't know if you understand that...but that's the best I can explain it.
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| Apr 7, 2006 @ 3:25 AM |
Rape: Power or sex?
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pitbullgurl
Posts: 740
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"The reason why I assert that power rather than sexual attraction is
more important factor in the act of rape is simply because rape can
and does occur even when the element of sexual attraction is either
minimal or else non-existent
Also, although rape is presently regarded as a 'sex crime'. I, myself, believe that it should be regarded as a ' hate crime'. In the majority of rape incidents it's not usually about sex, but rather a combination of power and hate.
By calling rape a 'sex crime', one would be saying that the rape had something to do with sex, love and passion...none of which are present for the majority of cases.
Broadly speaking, it's a crime against the individual, because of something that is a part of them....something that reminded the rapist of an unpleasant memory, for which they have a deep-seated hatred. It's someone that the rapist perceives to be a contributing factor to their unhappiness....real or imagined.
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| Apr 7, 2006 @ 8:33 PM |
Rape: Power or sex? |
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WickedWench
Posts: 1,613
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Rape is about control and power.
Period.
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| Apr 7, 2006 @ 8:46 PM |
Rape: Power or sex?
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RareQuestor
Posts: 2,650
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Rape is about control and power.
Period
I agree. I was just trying to figure out why so many people of both genders prefer to view it as a sexual act rather than one of power and violence. I suspect that the fact that sex is the mechanism may be the root of this problem.
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| Apr 7, 2006 @ 9:00 PM |
Rape: Power or sex? |
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AngelLight
Posts: 5,620
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Power
Control
Rage
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| Apr 7, 2006 @ 9:04 PM |
Rape: Power or sex?
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WickedWench
Posts: 1,613
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I suspect that the fact that sex is the mechanism may be the root of this problem.
As well as stereotyping and lack of knowledge/understanding.
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| Apr 13, 2006 @ 9:28 PM |
Rape: Power or sex? |
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mikeoutthere
Posts: 347
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I once asked a question about BD/SM and someone thought it was loaded…and he was right you know….it was ! 
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| Apr 14, 2006 @ 5:22 PM |
Rape: Power or sex?
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mangolover60
Posts: 635
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It's definately about power. I'll only rape her if she forces me to!
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| Apr 16, 2006 @ 7:18 PM |
Rape: Power or sex? |
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ravensday
Posts: 388
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POWER/CONTROL
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| Apr 17, 2006 @ 2:54 AM |
Rape: Power or sex?
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imotherearth
Posts: 75
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every situation is different
i think its both
my brain tells me more about power than sex though
experience tells me its more about sex
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| May 31, 2006 @ 1:33 AM |
Rape: Power or sex? |
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sweet5red
Posts: 9,692
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mangolover60
Posts: 583
It's definately about power. I'll only rape her if she forces me to!
Rape is a crime a violent crime... thats Horrible you would say that.. makes me ill to think of anyone saying that.. Sweet N Louisiana
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| Jun 2, 2006 @ 11:52 AM |
Rape: Power or sex?
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Bulewo264
Posts: 5
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I think rape is about power, although sex might be an excuse. In Australia, the incidence of rape appears to be most common amongst the most powerless of people- those of low socio-economic status who feel they have little control over their circumstances. In many cases, alcohol or other intoxicants are involved, but the victims of rape include infants and the elderly of both sexes. If a guy needs to get off for sexual gratification, he has hands. There is never an excuse for rape or non-consensual sex.
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| Jun 2, 2006 @ 12:59 PM |
Rape: Power or sex? |
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painter007
Posts: 17,853
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Doesnt matter what it is ITS just WRONG...and the man is a coward
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