For a long time one of the few ways of looking at sexuality has been through the lens of violence. However, do we think we have been able to explore all the threads of violence and trace their inter-relationship with those of sexuality? Do we know the forms in which Sexuality and Violence are interspersed and the causes behind it? Is there a need to talk about these inter-connections?

Although both men and women experience violence, when we talk of sexual violence the very first thought that emerges in our minds is that of violence against women because of their marginalized gender status in society. For a long time we have believed that society was divided into two genders – man and woman. However, we know that there are many people who do not conform to the norms of sexuality and gender that have been imposed by society. They suffer various forms of violence because of the challenges they pose to the binary notions of gender.

Perhaps this could be better explained if we draw our connections from the fact that any form of violence is a demonstration of power within relationships and structures. According to Michel Foucault power is ‘present in the smallest, apparently most inconsequential human interactions’ (Brookfield 2001: 7). This power is exercised through the body, sexuality, family, kinship, knowledge, technology, etc (Brookfield 2001: 17).

Violence could take many forms. It can range from disparaging remarks about one’s appearance to very brutal physical forms of assault. According to the WHO’s World Report on Violence and Health,2002, Violence is defined as ‘the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, mal-development or deprivation’. In the same document, Sexual Violence is defined as ‘any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work’.

Although any conversation about sexuality and violence will draw upon gender-based violence, let us in this E-forum attempt to look beyond gender-based violence to see the different ways in which sexualities and violence are linked.

For the next two weeks, we will be examining these ideas and more as a part of the forum discussion. Let’s put them under two main questions:

1. What is the connection between sexuality and violence?
2. What are the various forms in which sexual violence manifests itself?

Please feel free to write in your analyses, observations, thoughts, comments, and examples addressing any, one, or all of the issues and questions raised above. Alternatively, please pose new questions and ideas you feel are relevant for this sub-topic.

We look forward to a lively and exciting discussion!

Regards,
Arpita Das (Moderator)
The South and Southeast Asia Resource Centre on Sexuality