Discussion: Gender Stereotypes, Sexism, and Sexual Violence
Gender stereotypes influence and perpetuate what is known as patriarchy. Patriarchy is a concept that considers men the holders of power and authority resulting in domination of all sectors throughout society. Men have held the most powerful positions in the world and have guided our laws, policies, and culture. Patriarchy not only impacts society on a global scale through structural oppression but also our daily lives. It influences individual relationships and the daily interactions amongst husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, and colleagues. Feminist theory posits that men use violence in attempt to maintain this power and privilege. Domestic abuse and sexual assault are forms of violence that clearly exert power and control over a person. While abuse can be demonstrated by both men and women and survivors of abuse could be of either gender, statistics show that women are the overwhelming victims of abuse and violence. Patriarchy and the sexist and misogynistic viewpoints propagate views of women as subordinates who are meant to be kept in “their place.” Violence is a form of managing and maintaining a male’s role in society. To prepare for this Discussion, review the Johnson case. Reflect on the gender and sexism stereotypes expressed and the essential skills for social work practice you have learned throughout the program.
To prepare: View Johnson (Episode 2) and consider the gender and sexist stereotypes made around sexual assault by the professional in the episode. These stereotypes may revolve around gender, life circumstances, socioeconomic status, and education level.
By Day 3
Post an explanation of gender and sexist stereotypes and assumptions around sexual assault made by a professional you observe in the case study episode. Explain how these stereotypes perpetuate violence against women. Apply social work skills for social change advocacy to address sexism. Explain how social workers can respond to the stereotypes and assumptions you have identified in the Johnson case and how you might advocate for social change related to sexism while working with families, clients, and groups and collaborating with other professionals. Be specific about the skills you would apply and the actions you would take.
By Day 5
Respond to at least two colleagues by providing additional or alternative ways to respond to the stereotypes and assumptions identified by your colleagues in the Johnson case. Provide additional or alternative ways social workers can address these assumptions and advocate for social change related to sexism while collaborating with other professionals to address the needs of clients.
Submission and Grading Information
There are far too many gender and sexist stereotypes and assumptions around sexual assault in America today. The video’s this week were amazing and brought up many amazing points and I could not help but share them with friends and family. I loved the point made by Jackson Katz that these “women’s issues” such as sexual assault need to be brought to the attention of men and discussed with men in powerful leadership positions to make a real change (Katz, 2012). We can prepare women and they can get out and share their opinions but when men believe it is not affecting them, and they feel they have done nothing wrong, the patriarchy will continue to dominate society.
In Colin Stokes’s Ted Talk he discusses how there are too many films and children’s movies that perpetuate violence in men in order to save the day (Stokes, 2012). In these films the plots have only one lead female character or a few female characters who have limited scenes together in which these women’s discussions only involve men and relationships (Stokes, 2012). Luckily, there are more movies today with strong female role models who manage to defeat the villains using cooperation and heroic leadership skills (Stokes, 2012). If we can convince the participants of patriarchy that the definition of manhood needs to change, I believe that it would drastically decrease the number of sexual assailants in America.
There are far too many gender and sexist stereotypes and assumptions around sexual assault in America today. The video’s this week were amazing and brought up many amazing points and I could not help but share them with friends and family. I loved the point made by Jackson Katz that these “women’s issues” such as sexual assault need to be brought to the attention of men and discussed with men in powerful leadership positions to make a real change (Katz, 2012). We can prepare women and they can get out and share their opinions but when men believe it is not affecting them, and they feel they have done nothing wrong, the patriarchy will continue to dominate society. In Colin Stokes’s Ted Talk he discusses how there are too many films and children’s movies that perpetuate violence in men in order to save the day (Stokes, 2012). In these films the plots have only one lead female character or a few female characters who have limited scenes together in which these women’s discussions only involve men and relationships (Stokes, 2012). Luckily, there are more movies today with strong female role models who manage to defeat the villains using cooperation and heroic leadership skills (Stokes, 2012). If we can convince the participants of patriarchy that the definition of manhood needs to change, I believe that it would drastically decrease the number of sexual assailants in America.
While there is more and more awareness, more men taking a stand for women and more men realizing they women are just as capable of doing the same jobs and roles, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie uses her personal experiences to note that, especially in Nigeria, there is still a long way to go. Most women are still expected to take care of the housework, cannot go out alone, are assumed to make less money and raised to focus on getting married and start a family (Ngozi Adichie, 2012). In the small farm town in which I live, the patriarchy and sexism are alive and thriving. I was raised by a father who does little to no housework, has total control of our family’s finances and despite the multiple holes punched in our walls, claims that women are the crazy ones with hormonal issues. Due to this environment, I still struggle with the idea that I should be more feminine or try to dumb myself down to find a man and fit in with my community. Men in my community struggle to see why I have a problem and although privilege is currently invisible to men, if we can get them to see that gender equality is a win-win situation, everyone in society would be happier (Kimmell, 2015).
I was also raised hearing victim blaming comments equal to the Nurse’s in the Johnson case and find that I must often stop myself from agreeing with her (Laureate Education, 2013). I have come to realize that I was raised to believe that if I got assaulted it was my fault because I was dressed too provocatively, I got too drunk or I should not have been where I was in the first place. It is so frustrating to have to convince myself that Eric deserves to be punished and that Talia did nothing wrong, even though I know it to be true. All the while I am shamed in the bar for being too rude when I ask a man to take his hands off my hips or when I politely tell a man I have no interest in speaking with him. Any boy raised in this mentality and who constantly reminded that he is “made in the image of a masculine God with whom they enjoy a special relationship” is of course going to feel like they have power over women (Adams et al., 2018. pg.364). It is this mentality that I am sure led to Eric’s justification in taking advantage of Talia at that party and the Nurse assuming it was Talia’s fault the incident happened. This type of thinking “keeps us adrift in waters where women’s safety and humanity are secondary to men’s pleasure and convenience” even to the point that women turn against each other or even themselves and believe the man’s story over the woman’s (Adams et al., 2018. Pg.414). Katz gives a great example of the shift in conversation about assault with the phrase “John beat Marry” and it evolves into “Marry is battered.”, and while the second statement is equally as true, it removed John from the conversation and moved the focus to Marry and what she needs to change (Katz, 2012).
Social workers can respond to the stereotypes and assumptions that women are either lying about assault or should not have put themselves in that situation by being a strong advocate for our client’s and verbally taking a stand against those who attempt to victim blame. I agree with the social worker’s strategies used to help Talia in this case and am so glad she was there for her. In a similar case I would also use anxiety-reducing strategies such as journaling, art and breathing exercises (Plummer et al., 2014). I would use skills such as empathy, active listening, and empowerment to reassure my client that the assault was not their fault and reassure them of their worth. I also liked how the social worker in the Johnson case did not push Talia to press charges against Eric, like many others did, but let her come to that conclusion on her own (Plummer et al., 2014). As a social worker and a mother, I plan to end my silence when I here people making sexist comments and to raise my boys to understand that violence is not the answer and a “real man” lives a life of compassion and equality. I am also currently taking victim assistance training and doing volunteer work for our local women’s shelter, Voices Against Violence to help further the cause of gender equality.
References
Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, C., Catalano, D. C. J., DeJong, K., Hackman, H. W,… Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2018). Readings for diversity and social justice (4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge Press.
Katz, J. (2012, November). Violence against women-It’s a men’s issue [Video file]. Retrieved from ttps://www.ted.com/talks/jackson_katz_violence_against_women_it_s_a_
men_s_issue
Kimmell, M. (2015, May). Why gender equality is good for everyone-Men included [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_kimmel_why_gender_equality_is_good_for_everyone_men_included
Laureate Education (Producer). (2013). Johnson Family (Episode 2) [Video file]. In Sessions. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Ngozi Adichie, C. (2012, November). We should all be feminists. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_we_should_all_be_feminists#t-28596
Plummer, S. B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader]. “The Johnson Family”
Stoke, C. (2012, November). How movies teach manhood. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/colin_stokes_how_movies_teach_manhood