An Examination of the Gender Inclusiveness of Current Theories of Sexual Violence in Adulthood

Abstract

Although the majority of adulthood sexual violence involves a male perpetrator and a female victim, there is also substantial evidence that members of both genders can be victims and perpetrators of sexual violence. As an alternative to viewing sexual violence within gender-specific terms, we advocate for the use of a gender inclusive conceptualization of sexual aggression that takes into account the factors that contribute to sexual victimization of, and victimization by, both men and women. The goal of the current review is to examine the need and importance of a gender inclusive conceptualization of sexual violence and to discuss how compatible our current theories are with this conceptualization. First, we examine evidence of how a gender-specific conceptualization of sexual violence aids in obscuring assault experiences that are not male to female and how this impacts victims of such violence. We specifically discuss this impact regarding research, law, public awareness, advocacy, and available victim treatment and resources. Next, we provide an overview of a number of major sexual violence theories that are relevant for adult perpetrators and adult victims, including neurobiological and integrated biological theories, evolutionary psychology theory, routine activity theory, feminist theory, social learning and related theories, typology approaches, and integrated theories. We critically examine these theories' applicability to thinking about sexual violence through a gender inclusive lens. Finally, we discuss further directions for research, clinical interventions, and advocacy in this area. Specifically, we encourage sexual violence researchers and clinicians to identify and utilize appropriate theoretical frameworks and to apply these frameworks in ways that incorporate a full range of sexual violence.

Scripting Sexual Consent: Internalized Traditional Sexual Scripts and Sexual Consent Expectancies Among College Students

“…As with previous research (Coker et al, ; Cui et al, ; Hamberger & Larsen, ; Turchik et al, ), more men than women in our sample reported past sexual violence perpetration, and men who reported past experiences of perpetration were less likely to ask for sexual consent or adhere to their partner's consent decision. Compared to the women in our sample, men in this sample held a higher degree of stereotypical beliefs about sexuality and endorsement of music that degrades women to a higher degree, yet also had higher efficacy to avoid nonsexual physical IPV.…”

“…On college campuses today, discourse related to intimate partner violence (IPV) is commonly focused on male‐to‐female perpetration, as college responses to Title IX compliance fall within the purview of policies related to the equal opportunity for women (American Association of University Professors, ). Reed, Raj, Miller, and Silverman () supported this perspective by arguing that IPV is a gender‐based issue because, though perpetrated by both men and women, women are disproportionately harmed by this form of violence (Hamberger & Larsen, ; Turchik, Hebenstreit, & Judson, ). An interactional feminist or “gender inclusive” theoretical perspective may be most useful in understanding violence committed by both men and women within relationships (Anderson, ; Cannon et al, ).…”

Sexual Aggression Victimization and Perpetration among Male and Female College Students in Chile

“…Additionally, we explored the role of alcohol in incidents of victimization and perpetration. By collecting reports of both victimization and perpetration from male and female participants, our study adopted a gender-inclusive approach to the study of sexual aggression (Turchik et al, 2016). The age range of our sample was 18–29 years.…”

“…These results challenge traditional stereotypes about sexual aggression with women as victims and men as perpetrators. Therefore, a gender-inclusive approach to sexual aggression is necessary to capture all facets of sexual aggression and provide support to both female and male victims (Turchik et al, 2016). …”

The New Year’s 2015/2016 Public Sexual Violence Debate in Germany: Media Discourse, Gendered Anti-Muslim Racism and Criminal Law

“…11 Sexual violence has to be understood as part of a wider notion of violence against women: according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) some 35% of women experience violence, 12 and thus, it is a global health problem impacting communities and countries beyond the individual cases. Historically, the societal discourse shifted several times since the 1970s: domestic male violence against women was classified among others as caused by 'mental illness,' as 'learned behaviour,' as 'caused by alcohol' or as 'both men and women contribute to violencevictim provocation' (Cavanaugh 2012;Ali and Naylor 2013;Bates et al 2014;Turchik et al 2016).…”