Biology Forums - Study Force

Discuss why rape and violence against women is an epidemic in our society.  Date rape, acquaintance rape, stranger rape & coerced sexuality is even an epidemic on college campuses.  How does our society compare to other modern industrial nations and what role does gender inequality play? What could and should be done in our society to rectify this situation?

Violence against women is tied to the historic idea of women being viewed as property and a gender role assigned to be subservient to men and also other women. Women are also biologically weaker than men; men see this as an advantage and therefore take advantage of the situation. Some see it as a religious duty, for example, in Islam, a women is worth half her husband and some argue that wife-beating is appropriate. More on this topic, an Egyptian Cleric Galal Al-Khatib explains that a light slap on her shoulder, or maybe a not-so-light pinch, or a kind of gentle shove. He should make her feel that he wants to reform her, and let her know that he is displeased with her. It is like saying: None of the measures that work with sensitive people work with you. A word would be enough for any wife with lofty morals, but with you, words do not help.

The world's governments must treat rape as one of the most heinous of war crimes, and provide our police and military forces even greater power to intervene and create safe havens for women; nations like Canada must tie our trade and support for other nations to their enforcement of their laws for the protection of women.