Feminist Framework Plus

Abstract

The radical-liberal feminist perspective on rape posits that the assault is motivated by power and control rather than sexual gratification and is a violent rather than a sexual act. However, rape is a complex act. Relying on only one early strand of feminist thought to explain the etiology of rape limits feminists' understanding of rape and the practice based upon the theory. The history of the adoption of the "power, not sex" theory is presented and the model critiqued. A more integrated model is developed and presented, the Feminist Framework Plus, which knits together five feminist theories into a comprehensive model that better explains the depth and breadth of the etiology of rape. Empirical evidence that supports each theory is detailed as well as the implications of the model on service provision, education, and advocacy.

The Role of Cultural Beliefs, Norms, and Practices in Nigerian Women’s Experiences of Sexual Abuse and Violence

“…This implies that although women in every society can be affected by rape myths, they are likely to be heightened in more patriarchal societies. Based on this view, the present study argues that rape myths are sustained by unequal gender relations that support patriarchal structures, interpersonal violence, and the subordination of women (McPhail, 2015). Therefore, with regard to transforming social attitudes toward rape myths among Nigerians and, indeed, in other societies, the relationship between gender and powerin other words, patriarchy-should become the focus of campaigns and research.…”

Sexual Violence in the Indian Diaspora: How Culture Impacts Coping and Support-Seeking

“…The Nirbhaya story inspired multiple other stories of sexual assaults (Gill, 2004;Murugan, 2018;Pallatino, 2017) and inspired women's rights movements and efforts to increase awareness about sexual violence within the Indian diaspora (Bhattacharyya, 2014). These stories provide insight into the cultural discourse in the Indian diaspora, which impacts both the prevalence of sexual violence and survivors' experiences (McPhail, 2015). At the time of this publication, there remains a paucity in the research around sexual violence survivors' experiences (Tummala-Narra et al, 2019) and what influences their support seeking behavior (Bhugra et al, 2007;George & Pothan, 2015).…”

“…Since cultural discourse in the diaspora impacts the survivor's experience, a feminist construct helps to interpret how this discourse impacts support seeking practices. Feminist theory asserts that differentials in power dynamics are the root of many social problems and thereby implies a systems view of crimes such as sexual violence (McPhail, 2015). Therefore, the problem of sexual violence is a result of systems-level discourses that support the problem.…”

“…Further, feminist theory asserts that different cultural discourses influence the oppression experienced by people and these discourses impact the agency that the person a survivor has as they seek help (Allen & Goldberg, 2020). Survivors who experience cultural discourses of power and agency are more likely to identify more power in the situation and, therefore, they are able to label their experience as sexual violence (Kumar & Nevid, 2010;McPhail, 2015). Thus, to understand the experience of a survivor, one must understand the intersecting systemic messages, or cultural discourses, that the survivor receives (Kumar & Nevid, 2010).…”

“…Children raised in the United States are exposed to different cultural discourses around values and behaviors through their peers in school, and thus, may diverge from the values that their caregivers have attempted to instill in them (Miller & Harwood, 2001). Within the Indian diaspora, this difference in discourse experienced by caregiver and child is part of the acculturation gap (Aumann, & Titzmann, 2018;McPhail, 2015;Sullivan & Mukherjee, 2014). Thus, for sexual violence survivors in the Indian diaspora, it is critical to understand the cultural discourse on sex and corresponding issues from both India (ethnic society) and the US (dominant society; Berry, 2005).…”