Is it likely that sexual assault is epidemic because males are free to indulge in whatever behavior they choose, and their victims have little recourse? In almost every society on the planet, the role and status of women and children are defined by men. In stratified societies men dominate their strata. They define the rules for all aspects of behavior: religion, education, dress, and social and professional interactions.
Physical characteristics are a primary factor in male dominance. Males tend to be physically stronger than females and can dominate them by sheer strength. They are able to impose their will through intimidation and assume an air of superiority. To foster and propagate male dominance, boys are raised to be aggressive, competitive, and unemotional, whereas girls are encouraged to be submissive, supportive, alluring, and emotional, all conducive to an inferior role. Emotionally strong, aggressive, competitive, independent women are ostracized.
Men are encouraged to demonstrate their masculinity through sexual exploits; those reluctant to do so may be cast as effeminate and subjected to abuse. Such mores denigrate women and encourage sexual abuse. The abuse occurs in all cultures, not only those in which women are considered property with no rights or recourse. If a woman is sexually abused in a modern society where women are freer, she often is considered at fault for putting herself in a situation where she was vulnerable. In reality, sexual abusers choose their victims from among those they can dominate and instill fear.
Hierarchies in governments and religions, where women are subservient and not allowed equal rights, foster and condone this behavior. Even in countries where women participate in business, government, and social activities, they rarely achieve the influence and prominence of their male counterparts. In the United States, where some women have achieved prominent positions, they still do not have the same rights as men. The Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, proposed to guarantee equal rights to women, was approved by Congress in 1972 but was never ratified by the states.
Most societies are dominated by male hierarchies with little constraint on male behavior, and men can commit sexual assault with impunity. It occurs in homes, schools, churches, workplaces, fostered by social and gender inequality. Military forces are notorious for sexual abuse wherever they are deployed, and sexual harassment and assaults are common. In wars throughout history, the victor loots, pillages, and rapes the vanquished. The US military is no exception. In such a culture, women in the military become a convenience for their male comrades. Sexual assaults on women in the US military have become newsworthy because these women expect their service to the nation to be valued, and instead they often find themselves forced to serve the sexual whims of male service members.
In our culture, “sex sells.” Fashion designers and marketers encourage women to dress provocatively. Pornography is readily accessible. Human trafficking for sexual exploitation is prevalent. Prostitutes may be treated as criminals, while their pimps profit. Authorities, typically male, often claim that the abuse of women and children trafficked and held as sex slaves is a problem too complex and difficult to eradicate.
How can this be changed? Sexual abuse cannot be eliminated just by punishing abusers. It requires a metamorphosis into a society where all people command equal respect and are distinguished by their abilities and contributions, not just categorized by gender. We recognize homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgenders as people who do not fall neatly into the male/female stereotypes. Human characteristics cover a spectrum, where certain attributes may be prevalent in one gender, but may exist in both. Some are present at birth, others are established by the environment in which the person matures. Each environment—family, social, professional, or recreational—defines acceptable social behavior and demands conformity to its rules. Those rules often discriminate by gender. Rules can be changed, but with difficulty, as those who make the rules are likely to relate to the perpetrators better than to the victims.
Sexual abuse has become a major news topic, as prominent women are speaking out about the prevalence of sexual predation in male-dominated work environments. Acknowledging the problem is a major step, but changing culture is a formidable task. The victims typically are powerless to defend themselves, and the predators are entrenched in all levels of society.