Violence and the threat of violence exert social control over women because these things can affect the way women live their lives, limiting or changing the actions they take and choices they make. Often, women have to be extra-vigilant in order to avoid harassment or victimization, and sometimes it is all but impossible to avoid harassment, e.g., getting catcalled while walking down the street or being leered at in a bar, the gym, or really any public place. The fact that women must modify their behavior in order to attempt to avoid harassment or violence relates back to the concepts of oppression and privilege discussed in Module 11. As Marilyn Frye noted, "the oppressiveness of the situations in which women live our various and different lives is a macroscopic phenomenon, [...] a network of forces and barriers which are systematically related and conspire to the immobilization, reduction and molding of women and the lives we live..." (emphasis added).
I think the basis of feminist claims that acts of violence against women are actually hate crimes lies in the so-called "crisis of masculinity." The "demasculinizing" effects of the recent global economy and "rising long-term male unemployment," coupled with women's "increasing participation in the public arena and paid work and recognition of women's rights" are changing gender roles and "challenging the traditional division of labor and models of femininity." These challenges threaten some men's sense of their 'masculinity,' and as a result, they seek other ways to re-assert their power and dominance.
Violence against women can also be construed as a hate crime because it is sexist in nature. It relates to men's feelings of entitlement and dominance, and manifests itself in the "rape spectrum" discussed in the lecture.
I think the best steps to take in order to address the problem of violence against women are to continue to focus on including and educating men on the issue, making it visible and relevant; and to introduce, practice, and emphasize gender equality to children, particularly those under the age of three, and to raise them to "honor both the 'masculine' and 'feminine' values that are within themselves and in society."
I thought this was pretty interesting. Where would education begin, though? Obviously most things should start in the households with parents, but is this something the schools, or even the media, should become involved with?
ReplyDeletePeople will have to learn from somewhere, and those who are oblivious to the matter are unlikely to have a revelation about it.