The Epistemological Significance of Psychic Trauma

Hypatia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karyn L. Freedman

This essay explores the epistemological significance of the kinds of beliefs that grow out of traumatic experiences, such as the rape survivor's belief that she is never safe. On current theories of justification, beliefs like this one are generally dismissed due to either insufficient evidence or insufficient prepositional content. Here, Freedman distinguishes two discrete sides of the aftermath of psychic trauma, the shattered self and the shattered worldview. This move enables us to see these beliefs as beliefs; in other words, as having cognitive content. Freedman argues that what we then need is a theory of justification that allows us to handpick reliable sources of information on sexual violence, and give credibility where deemed appropriate. She advances a mix of reliabilism and coherentism that privileges feminism. On this account, the evidence for the class of beliefs in question will depend on an act of sexual violence (or testimony, or statistics) to the extent that the act is a reliable indication of the prevalence of sexual violence against women.

Author(s):  
M. R. Labe ◽  
A. M. Amande ◽  
T. P. Terngu ◽  
A. P. Atsehe

The purpose of this paper was to present a comprehensive review of sexual violence against women and the victims’ susceptibility to emotional distress and sexual dysfunction. A total of 50 cases of rape victims and rape statistics report were gathered from secondary sources of information. From the retrospective description of some victims’ traumatic experiences, the picture of their negative emotions and grief were carefully analyzed and explanation provided on their exposure to psychological distress and psychosexual dysfunction. Deducing from the review and analysis of the histories and experiences of sexual violence victims, there is a strong relationship between women with history of sexual violence and susceptible to psychological distress sexual dysfunction such as; PTSD, sexual arousal inhibition, sexual avoidance contact, anger and hatred. Others include paranoia, fear of relationship with men as well as stress and re-experience of grief from the unpleasant memories of the rape incidence. Pathologically, sexual violence can threaten the psychological well-being of the survivors in a short and long-term depending on the circumstances and probably where the victim is left without care and support from friends, family and appropriate professional intervention. Thus, women who have been exposed to rape need intensive and suitable psychological intervention to heal their traumatized emotions that induce psychological distress and sexual dysfunction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedda Lippus ◽  
Made Laanpere ◽  
Kai Part ◽  
Inge Ringmets ◽  
Helle Karro

Abstract Background Sexual violence against women is a major public health issue and a breach of human rights. Although various consequences of sexual violence on health have been described in a large number of scientific publications, very little is known about this topic in Estonia. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sexual violence and associations between exposure to sexual violence and risky health and sexual behaviours among women in Estonia. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Estonia in 2014. Self-reported data regarding selected indicators of risky health and sexual behaviours were collected from 1670 women, aged 18–44 years, via a self-administered questionnaire. To measure the prevalence of sexual violence, questions from the NorVold Abuse Questionnaire were included. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results Of the respondents, 22.7% (n = 379) reported being exposed to sexual violence during their lifetime, and over half of these women had had these experiences before the age of 18. Statistically significant associations were found between sexual violence and smoking (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.03–1.70), alcohol consumption (AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.18–1.95), illicit drug use (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.70–2.89), sexual intercourse for money or other material reward (AOR 3.51, 95% CI 1.62–7.61), concurrent sexual relationships (AOR 2.64; 95% CI 1.80–3.86), and being diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (AOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.09–2.01). Conclusions In Estonia, sexual violence against women is widespread and is associated with several risky health and sexual behaviours. Efforts should be made, both among the general public and professionals, to raise awareness regarding the prevalence and negative impact of sexual violence. Women who have been exposed to sexual violence are in need of professional medical, legal and psychological help free from prejudice to help them recover from such traumatic events.


2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 968-973
Author(s):  
Vera Lúcia de Azevedo Lima ◽  
Maria de Lourdes de Souza ◽  
Marisa Monticelli ◽  
Marília de Fátima Vieira de Oliveira ◽  
Carlos Benedito Marinho de Souza ◽  
...  

This quantitative and exploratory study analyzed violence against Amazon women presented in print media according to type and severity, and whether aggressors fell under the Maria da Penha law. A total of 181 issues of a regional newspaper were consulted. Based on content analysis, 164 items addressing violence against women were selected and 46 were included in the corpus of analysis. Results were gathered in three thematic groups: women killed with cruelty, sexual violence against women regardless of age, and violence against women and the limitations of the Maria da Penha law. Violence against these women varied in terms of form and severity, including up to homicide. Women are submitted to sexual violence from childhood through adulthood. The enforcement of this law shows the community it has a means to cope with this social phenomenon.


1969 ◽  
pp. 655
Author(s):  
Jennifer Koshan

This article examines the issue of disclosure and the legacy of Stinchcombe through a review of the history of disclosure and production in criminal sexual assault proceedings and an analysis of judicial decisions and legislative enactments in this context. The author presents a feminist analysis of the tension between those representing the rights of accused persons who seek to access a complainant's personal records and the voices of equality-seeking and anti-violence groups that challenge stereotypes about sexual violence against women. The author presents a comprehensive review of the louver court decisions in production applications since the Supreme Court of Canada decision in R. v. Mills. The author concludes that while Bill C-46 and Mills are positive developments, a great deal of discretion is left to trial judges to decide on the merits of production on a case-by-case basis, and such decisions are granted much deference by appellate courts. The exercise of discretion may encourage the application of stereotypes about women and sexual violence and is the reason an absolute ban on production is preferred by women's and anti- violence groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atikah Rahmi ◽  
Hotma Siregar

Sexual abuse victims experienced physical, psychological, economic and social violence, which lead to trauma. However, there has been no systematic policy to support their recovery. This paper argues for the need for a recovery mechanism system for sexual violence victims, as implemented by Hapsari. This study employs a qualitative approach, with interviews as the means to obtain data. Subjects in this research included women and children in the North Sumatera. This research finds out that community-based recovery has a significant impact on the victims, and is able to empower them to be independent in making a decision and blend with society. As a grassroots organization, Hapsari supports community-based services to reduce violence against women and children, protect victims and gather supports for the sustainability of recovery services. Apart from this, the state should also participate in protecting those people, especially in terms of policy and regulations.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Cesar Coimbra ◽  
Lidia Levy

O Código Penal pode ser considerado a ferramenta que fornece as melhores respostas ao combate à violência contra a mulher ou é necessário encontrar outros canais mais eficazes de garantias no plano jurídico? Ainda que em termos globais seja notória a desigualdade relativa ao gênero, questiona-se, neste artigo, o quanto a opção criminalizadora não acabaria provocando o acirramento da mencionada desigualdade. Considerando-se que a hegemonia da ideologia patriarcal não seria o único argumento a fundamentar a análise das situações de violência doméstica, recorreu-se ao saber psicanalítico para entender as motivações que mantêm uma relação enredada em uma trama de agressividade mútua. A partir dessa perspectiva, procurou-se considerar os múltiplos aspectos envolvidos na construção de um vínculo capazes de potencializar a violência. Verificou-se o quanto experiências traumáticas na primeira infância podem provocar um efeito dessubjetivante e perpetuar uma história de violência doméstica através de gerações. Observou-se que arranjos inconscientes participam da formação de vínculos marcados por um tipo de dependência adesiva a partir do qual a autonomia é inconcebível. Neste modelo relacional a capacidade de pensar é anulada. Conclui-se pela necessidade de promover formas de intervenção nas quais a circulação formalizada da palavra auxilie no desenvolvimento da capacidade reflexiva dos sujeitos.Palavras-Chave: Violência contra a mulher. Lei Maria da Penha. Vínculo. Propostas de intervenção.***Abstract:Can the Criminal Code be considered the tool which provides the best answers to the fight on the violence against women or is it necessary to find other more efficient channels of assurance in the legal sphere? Although it is, overall, notorious the gender inequality, it is questioned in this paper how much the criminalizing option would not end up worsening the aforementioned inequality. Considering that the patriarchal ideology hegemony would not be the only argumentation to base the analysis of the domestic violence situations, it was used the psychoanalytical knowledge in order to understand the motivations which keep an entangled relation in a mutual aggressiveness plot. From this perspective, it was considered the multiple aspects involved in the building of ties able to empower the violence. It was observed how much the traumatic experiences of the early childhood can trigger a dis-subjectification effect and perpetuate a domestic violence history throughout generations. It was also verified that the unconscious arrangements take place in the building of bonds characterized by a type of adhesion-dependent from where the autonomy is unconceivable. In such relational model the thinking capacity is abolished. It is concluded the need to promote methods of intervention in which the movement formalized of the word aids in the development of the reflexive capacity of the subjects.Key-Words: Violence against women. Law Maria da Penha. Bonds. Proposals for Intervention.***Resumen:El Código Penal puede ser considerado la herramienta que proporciona las mejores respuestas al combate a la violencia contra la mujer o es necesario encontrar otros canales más eficaces de garantía en el plano jurídico? Aunque en términos globales sea notoria la  desigualdad relativa al género, se cuestiona, en este artículo, sí la opción por la criminalización no acabaría provocando el afianzamiento de la mencionada desigualdad. Se considera que la hegemonía de la ideología patriarcal no sería el único argumento a  fundamentar el análisis de las situaciones de violencia doméstica, se recurre al saber psicoanalítico para entender las motivaciones que mantienen una relación compleja en una trama de agresividad mutua. A partir de esa perspectiva, se procuró considerar los múltiples aspectos involucrados en la construcción de un vínculo capaces de potencializar la violencia. Se verificó en qué forma las experiencias traumáticas en la primera infancia pueden provocar un efecto des-subjetivizante y perpetuar una historia de violencia doméstica a través de generaciones. Se observó qué acomodos inconscientes participan de la formación de vínculos marcados por un tipo de dependencia adhesiva a partir de la cual la autonomía es inconcebible. En este modelo relacional la capacidad de pensar es anulada. Se concluye que es necesario promover formas de intervención en las cuales la circulación formalizada de la palabra auxilie en el desarrollo de la capacidad reflexiva de los sujetos.Palabras clave: Violencia contra la mujer. Ley María da Penha. Vínculo. Propuesta de intervención


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e045574
Author(s):  
Heidi Stöckl ◽  
Lynnmarie Sardinha ◽  
Mathieu Maheu-Giroux ◽  
Sarah R Meyer ◽  
Claudia García-Moreno

IntroductionIn 2013, the WHO published the first global and regional estimates on physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner sexual violence (NPSV) based on a systematic review of population-based prevalence studies. In this protocol, we describe a new systematic review for the production of updated estimates for IPV and NPSV for global monitoring of violence against women, including providing the baseline for measuring Sustainable Development Goal to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.Methods and analysisThe systematic review will update and extend the previous search for population-based surveys (either nationally or subnationally representative) conducted among women aged 15+ years that measured the prevalence of physical, sexual, psychological and physical and/or sexual IPV, NPSV or sexual violence by any perpetrator up to December 2019. Data will be extracted separately for all age groups, setting (urban/rural), partnership status (currently partnered/ever partnered/all women) and recall period (lifetime prevalence/past 12 months). Studies will be identified from electronic searches of online databases of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Global Health and PsycInfo. A search of national statistics office homepages will be conducted for each country to identify reports on population-based, national or subnational studies that include data on IPV or NPSV published outside academic journals. Two reviewers will be involved in quality assessment and data extraction of the review. The review is planned to be updated on a continuous basis. All findings will undergo a country consultation process.Ethics and disseminationFormal ethical approval is not required, as primary data will not be collected. This systematic review will provide a basis and a follow-up tool for global monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goal Target 5.2 on the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017054100.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nimet Emel Luleci ◽  
Eda Kaya ◽  
Ece Aslan ◽  
Ece Soylem Senkal ◽  
Zehra Nadide Cicek

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