Sexual abuse: Social norms

One aspect of DV that we know little about in SA culture is sexual abuse. The women who call Maitri seeking help rarely identify, and sometimes do not even recognize, sexual forms of violence as part of their DV experience. (Most of them call primarily when they experience physical or emotional abuse). In order to understand why this is the case, Margaret Abraham argues that it is necessary to explore the nature of femininity, masculinity, and sexuality in South Asian cultures, since these norms are transferred to and retained upon immigration to a new country.

In general, anthropologists have observed that SA culture and mythology view women as sexually alluring and powerful beings. This is illustrated in the concept of Shakti, or feminine life force, and in the existence of goddesses such as Kali, who represent female power. In reality, however, women in SA are expected to be submissive, docile, and dependent. Their virginity and chastity are monitored and protected until and during marriage to ensure family honor and the purity of the family lineage. Any sexual transgressions jeopardize the woman’s own standing in society.

Masculinity is constructed largely in terms of virility. Men are socialized to believe that men are sexually aggressive and that women are sexually fulfilling, and that their sexual needs can and will be met within a marriage. This leads them to assume that they have sexual access at all times. (This expectation is supported by many legal, religious and social norms). Another aspect of masculinity is the control of women’s sexuality, since men – fathers, husbands – are held responsible for the sexual purity of their women.

These notions of masculinity and femininity are widely portrayed in the mass media (movies and TV soap operas, for instance), and there is little access to information to counter these gender expectations. There is also limited discussion about sex, and few places to get information about it.

To explore how these norms transferred to the US, and to understand their role in DV, Abraham interviewed 25 immigrant women from South Asia (mainly from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) about their experiences of marital abuse. She focuses on three kinds of sexual abuse and control – (a) marital rape and sexual assault, (b) manipulation of reproductive rights, and (c) construction of a sexual ‘other.’

Over the next few weeks, we’ll talk more about these forms of sexual abuse.

[For more information, see: Abraham, M. (2000). Sexual Abuse in South Asian Immigrant Marriages. Violence Against Women, 5(6), 591-598.]