Rape: An Aspect of Violence against Women
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Date
2000-02
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
This project or survey presents a study on rape: an aspect of violence against women.
Women have at all levels experienced sexual and domestic violence, and been exposed to all sorts
of discriminations, abuses, and frustrations among others.
One event that challenged and motivated me to write this project sprung from my
experience as a chaplain's assistant in the Mathare Mental Hospital. During one of my visits, I
came across a Russian lady, Cheryl Rombought, whom I mistook for a volunteer that had come
to visit the mental patients. Cheryl acted in a manner likely to suggest that her mental faculties were
not well comdinatedA described her as unusual because she was the only European in the ward
and had a little hand bag with a few things in, walking up and down, a bit unsettled and wasn't
talking to anybody. I felt motivated to consult the sistees desk over her case from where I gathered
that she was a patient.
Attempts to talk to her were unsuccessful but gradually turned up to be successful. Cheryl
shared that, she came from Russia to Kenya as a tourist in 1994, where she met a Mr. Okello from
- Siaya District in the Nyanza province of Kenya. They became friends and eventually decided to
stay together but later separated after two years. Cheryl had decided to join the parking street
community but was rescued by some well wishers who took her to the Mathare mental hospital
as the only alternative and option. On enquiring the factors which may have led them to separation;
Cheryl shared several episodes of battering, abuses and sexual exploitations.
To cut a long story short, Cheryl's husband could bring girlfriends in her presence,
sometimes even into her bedroom and above all Cheryl was expected to respond constantly to sex
calls despite her poor emotional state. It is possible that Cheryl had ended up on the streets because of these psychologically and emotionally traumatizing incidents as she could be bartered each time
she justly raised her voice in protest. Her experiences depicted rape and violations of her sexual
rights as a woman. This story is among the many others which motivated me to make a critique
on the problem of sexual violations and rape.
It is an innate conviction that human society should acknowledge order and harmony in
nature. Under normal circumstances, as human persons, we work or act in some order established
by nature and whenever we contradict this order then natural harmony is exterminated; as this is
exhibited when our environment does not promote human development and progress in all its
spheres. For instance, naturally we have established seasons for planting and harvesting; if by any
chance one is done for the other then a conflict comes about in the form of poor harvest whose
long-term effects may result to related consequences like famine, theft, civil war, opportunistic
ailments among others. This happens because of man's initiative to manipulate and control nature.
Such a case may also occur when humankind is out to excessively benefit from nature without
contributing to its well being like in matters that concern pollution which is raising international
concern.
The above episodes curtail the initiative to an ideal relationship between humanity and
nature whose long-term effects may be apparent in man and woman relationships. Violence of
nature and in the midst of humankind is an area of global concern. On one hand, nature is raped
and exploited in terms of its resources while on the other hand, human resources like dignity,
personality, security, sexuality, love among others are too violated from humankind.
This project will attempt to analyze sexual violations in human communities. We shall
demonstrate human sexuality as an institution that should be handled with some concerns. All
human persons deserve emotional merits which spring from sexual differences. The emotional /
sexual gratification between male and their female counterparts should manifest love. Lamentations in need of gratifying, fulfilling and satisfying sexual acts seem to dominate
our environment. Women are now claiming that their male counterparts are never considerate; they
use force in matters that concern sexual rights curtailing room for love, negotiation and good
companionship. The contemporary society testifies that, sexual acts are no longer seen as symbols
of love but of hatred and violence. Women are crying for liberation from the cultural ties that
promote violence and deny them sexual fulfillment. These acclamations are visible in our dailies
and other forms of social communications. We affirm that a day can never pass without a case of
domestic or sexual violence reported.
The saying that goes, "a problem talked over is a problem solved" defines the prime
purpose of our project as far as creation of awareness is concerned. This project is meant for
educational purposes. This awareness will make women accept that rape is not just a theory but
a concrete matter that is visible in our environment and anyone at any time risks being abused
sexually and women are most hit. This awareness will also serve as a witness to the younger
generation who risk being taken up by the effects of sex-revolutions which may make them more
vulnerable to sexual violations and abuses.
All who will come across this project will realize that sexual violations to a greater extent
provide psychological dynamics on the part of the acsa ilants, hence legally victimizing them may
serve as a disciplinary measure but not a long term solution to the crisis. For this matter,
administration of some healing at the psychological level could also be recommended for the
victims of rape and assailants.
Another vital factor that inspired us to present this project as far as awareness is concerned
was the spirit of arreptance. The assailants cause a lot of harm in the society; their presence leads
to discomfort as the victims are demoralized to a visible extent. We notice and consider that it is
not easy to accept a harmful person in any human community, but we are challenged to accept such harmful persons in our human communities and help them to accept that they are part of the
society. In case the assailants feel the spirit of belonging and acceptance, they may gradually
transfer their harmful energy to other matters of significance.
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Keywords
Rape, Violence, Women, Sex