For understanding sexual violence it’s necessary to understand what real sex is. It’s the physical contact between two individuals involved in sexual stimulation; sexual activity, or behavior to engage in sexual intercourse. In simple words, it’s a basic and natural need of humans and other species. In Islam, the purpose of sex is to have offspring. Thus, these explanations from two schools of thought, tell us that sex is a natural phenomenon, which is completely wishful, wanted, physical and emotional intimacy between two individuals. These physical and emotional intimacies form intimate relationships. Intimate relationships are commonly sexual relations but sometimes they can be non-sexual too, e.g., family and friends, etc. Let’s have a glance at sexual violence.
The term generally refers to the violence, physical or mental damage any sex faces from partner, societal persons, or from anybody. This violence can be in the form of sexual abuse, rape, talks about sex-related diseases, or physical or verbal discrimination on the basis of sexual activity or sexual attractiveness. Sexual violence has a great influence on any society. Most domestic and other relationships are being exploited by sexual violence of any sex. Societies are disturbed, and mental health and social lives are ruined. Victims of sexual violence often experience self-blame, sentimental disturbance, hypervigilance, post-traumatic stress disorder, and so on. Victims of sexual assault number commit suicide or involve themselves in any criminal activity for the sake of vengeance which further starts destroying societal peace and civics.
It’s very common that intimate relationships are facing destructive behaviors from sexual partners. The reason could be a non-satisfactory sexual partner or immature sex. This later results in Gender-based discrimination which further results in verbal arguments later in physical abuse. Physical abuse could be in form of sexual or general physical violence. According to the survey of 2017-2018 by the Pakistan Demographic and health survey, 28 percent of women aged between 15 to 49 experienced intimate partner violence.
Prostitutes mainly face sexual violence through gangrapes. As Prostitution is paid sex, some toxic men take it for granted. It’s usually seen prostitutes are being dealt with like sex objects. Major of these prostitutes do prostitution just for their expenses. Toxic men often use social sites to discriminate against prostitutes just to satisfy their sick-mind lust. The constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan does not allow sex work but still, some poor class women and men indulged themselves because of poverty, this is one of the biggest reasons for violence against prostitutes as they could not file any kind of case against culprits legally and would not be able to raise voice against this violence anywhere.
They suffer, they get healed, and they move on without justice. Rape is a type of sexual assault. It’s usually carried out without the person’s consent. Rape could be in the form of sexual intercourse or sexual penetration. The lack of sexual satisfaction and lust-minded people are mostly found in rape cases, or any pissed attraction could trigger a person. One of the reasons for rapes is traditionally and socially dominance of men in societies. The rural areas of Pakistan are often ruled by feudal lords or Maliks, most of these two classes are inhuman to women’s rights and respect. The toxic masculinity factor has been promoted through parents or society itself, which triggers them to do so, as they are already known about the justice system and crime control departments. Some of the rape cases in Pakistan are still pending because of our judiciary system. According to the official statics report,11 rape cases are being reported every day across the country, At least 22000 rapes have been reported in six years
Only 18% of the cases reached the prosecution stage, 4060 cases are still pending in courts and other 77 offenders have been convicted. Geo News later reported that 42% of the cases were reported due to social pressure. This index was obtained from Police Law, Justice commission of Pakistan, and women’s rights of Pakistan. Mukhtar Mai’s case left a black shade on the judiciary her case is still pending. One of the culprits confessed his crime but the others are still walking freely. She was a victim of Gangrape in June 2002. She was convinced to commit suicide because of rape but she raised her voice and pursued her case. She was raped because of a men dominant council in Meerwala District, Punjab, the victimization of Mukhtar Mai led the Pakistani justice and Political system to hell. Even though a staff worker in the New York Times reported; “Doubt Cast on Charges That Led to Pakistan Rape”, this case took years to be solved.
Our society is reinforcing and normalizing toxic masculinity and its effects. We are enrolled in promoting it as. “Men being men” and women are being constructed as; To consider this toxic behavior is a compliment. Men feel entitled to have this behavior because men are constructed too. This vicious cycle of toxic masculinity has been affecting society for so long. We need to break the chains of toxic behavior of Masculinity collectively. We must educate this and future generations that being masculine does not require proving it, the actual meaning of masculinity is to respect women in any form. Real men behave and act kind, toxic men disrespect women. The cultural barriers that made men feel entitled should be broken through social campaigns, Awareness on social platforms. Governments should add the ethics of women and men, instead of cultural promotion in the national curriculum.
An extreme level of punishment must be given to culprits and offenders of law against women. New amendments need to be constitutionalized to protect women. The extraordinary step is, that we need to teach daughters that toxic behavior is not a compliment, it’s harassment so they could be able to defend themselves sufficiently, otherwise this cycle of harassment, and rape will continue.
