scholarly journals Epistemic Injustice in Political Discourses? The Problematic Concept of Authority in Langton’s Account of Pornography.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 83-96
Author(s):  
Paolo Parlanti

Through her silencing thesis, Langton has contributed to the study of epistemic injustice by highlighting a possible cause of such a phenomenon: She asserts that the pornographic representation of (straight) sexual relationships affects the felicity conditions of speech uttered by women, so this speech is not understood as an illocution by men. This fact arguably undermines women’s credibility, since their testimony is not even registered in men’s testimonial sensibility. However, this thesis entails problematic consequences from at least two standpoints. From a theoretical perspective, it enacts a circularity when it comes to the empirical individuation of the subordinative effects of pornography. I will point out that this problem arises from Langton’s substantive conception of power, i.e. from her notion of authority as an attribute which can be ascribed to preexisting subjects. From a political perspective, such conception of power allows Langton to performatively rank women as credible when testifying sexual violence, but it also leads her to silencing alternative political strategies, e.g. the ones proposed by Butler. Hence, I propose to consider this form of silencing as a specific kind of epistemic injustice, one that neutralises the performative value of political discourses.

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-270
Author(s):  
Claudia Martin ◽  
Susana SáCouto

Abstract Despite persistent impunity for conflict-related sexual violence, there have been a limited number of significant cases holding perpetrators accountable within national justice systems. One of these cases is the Sepur Zarco case, in which two former military members were accused of committing acts of sexual violence, sexual slavery and domestic slavery near a military outpost in Sepur Zarco during the civil war in Guatemala. In a landmark verdict issued in February 2016, a Guatemalan court convicted the two accused, marking the first time a Guatemalan court has convicted former military members for acts of sexual violence committed in the context of the country’s civil war, and the first instance of a domestic court prosecuting sexual slavery as an international crime. In acknowledging that these acts amounted to grave crimes, the Sepur Zarco verdict changed the narrative about sexual violence in Guatemala’s conflict. Up until then — as in other conflicts in the region and beyond — sexual violence had not been recognized as a separate crime, equivalent to other crimes committed during the conflict, for which perpetrators could be held accountable. This chapter will highlight some of the critical developments prior to the case, as well as the legal and political strategies employed in the case, which led to its remarkable success. It will also offer some reflections about the challenges that have emerged since the Sepur Zarco case and the potential lessons learned for pending and future litigation of similar cases in the region.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 563-582
Author(s):  
Gio Iacono

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals experience health risks, with bisexuals experiencing higher levels of health risk compared to heterosexuals, gays and lesbians. These disparities are often attributed to stressors related to minority status. While similarities among LGBTQ experiences exist, it is plausible that bisexuals experience unique forms of marginalization, which may help explain the documented health disparities. Bostwick and Hequembourg highlight unique forms of marginalization that bisexuals experience vis-a`-vis microagressions, falling within the realm of the epistemic. Fricker’s work on epistemic injustice emphasizes marginalization particularly as it is related to knowledge and experience. Drawing on this scholarship, this paper provides a review of existing literature on the bisexual experience, and a discussion to provide a critical lens on bisexual marginalization in society and the minimal attention received in social work research. Approaches to increase bisexual visibility and attention in social work research will be discussed. Some approaches include: developing a queer theoretical perspective in practice and research to allow for greater problematization of social categories; and making a concerted effort to promote research that is inclusive of minority populations within the sexual and gender minority population group. This might include groups with intersecting points of marginalization, such as racialized and gender diverse individuals.


sjesr ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-19
Author(s):  
Aasia Nusrat ◽  
Sardaraz Khan ◽  
Ms. Shaista Shehzadi

This study aims to explore and uncover power play in Dharna 2014 speeches of Imran Khan. The study has followed the theoretical perspective of power (Fairclough, 2003) in its two-dimensions i.e. power within and behind discourse. This research is significant in terms of enabling common public of Pakistan to understand their leader in terms of the concept of power by comprehending the meaning that language conveys. The research method applies thematic analysis and utilizes Fairclough’s three-dimensional model (1989) as data analyzing tool. The speeches were analyzed by considering Textual, Discursive and Societal levels of discourse. The key findings in case of power within discourse include that the speaker showed the use of pronoun ‘I’ in order to show his power and by using the pronoun ‘we’ he gained the support of the audience in order to win their hearts and reflect this as a power on the rulers. The speakers explained in detail the unjust rule of the government by using different linguistic tools like modal verbs, vocabulary, transitivity, inter-discourse etc. Moreover, in case of power behind discourse, the key findings include the power of west and Islam in the speaker’s speeches.


2020 ◽  
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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koshka Duff

AbstractIts critics call it ‘feminism-as-crime-control’, or ‘Governance Feminism’, diagnosing it as a pernicious form of identity politics. Its advocates call it taking sexual violence seriously – by which they mean wielding the power of the state to ‘punish perpetrators’ and ‘protect vulnerable women’. Both sides agree that this approach follows from the radical feminist analysis of sexual violence most strikingly formulated by Catharine MacKinnon. The aim of this paper is to rethink the Governance Feminism debate by questioning this common presupposition. I ask whether taking MacKinnon’s analysis of sexual violence seriously might, in fact, itself give us reason to be critical of political strategies that embrace the punitive state. By raising this question, I hope to persuade radical feminists to listen to critics of carceral politics rather than dismissing them as rape apologists, and critics of carceral politics to listen to radical feminists rather than dismissing them as state apologists.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 334-338
Author(s):  
Amanda Queiroz Lemos ◽  
Stephanie de Carvalho Costa ◽  
Nicolle Gomes Nascimento ◽  
Glauber Silva Cristo ◽  
Francinni Correia Constante ◽  
...  

AbstractViolence is characterized as a sociocultural phenomenon that can affect the individual physically, psychosocially and cognitively. Child sexual abuse is one of the biggest public health problems, however, its prevalence is still undefined. It is also the cause of several psychopathological disorders and future difficulties in the context of the victim's interpersonal and sexual relationships. To describe the prevalence of child sexual abuse in Brazil in the of period 2010 – 2018. Descriptive ecological study, whose data were obtained by consulting the SINAN database, made available by DATASUS. Where cases of child sexual violence between 0 and 14 years old were selected from 2010 to 2018. A steady progression was evidenced in all regions and in almost every year, in cases of sexual violence. The North and South regions have the highest prevalence. Cases were more frequent in females (82.7%), between 10 and 14 years old (49%), with the main aggressors being parents (13.8%) and stepfathers (12.9%). The prevalence of child sexual violence is higher among children aged 10 to 14 years, female and the cases are more concentrated in the north region. Keywords: Childhood Abuse, Sexual. Epidemiology. Child. Resumo A violência é caracterizada como um fenômeno sociocultural que pode afetar o indivíduo em âmbito físico, psicossocial e cognitivo. O abuso sexual infantil é um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública, porém, sua prevalência ainda é indefinida. Sendo também causador de diversos transtornos psicopatológicos e dificuldades futuras em âmbito de relações interpessoais e sexuais da vítima. Portanto o objetivo do presente estudo é descrever a prevalência do abuso sexual infantil no Brasil no período de 2010 - 2018. Trata-se de um estudo ecológico descritivo, cujos dados foram obtidos por meio de consulta à base de dados SINAN, disponibilizados pelo DATASUS. Onde foram selecionados os casos de violência sexual infantil, de 0 a 14 anos registrada no período de 2010 a 2018. Foi evidenciado uma progressão contínua em todas as regiões e em quase todos os anos, nos casos de violência sexual. As Regiões Norte e Sul apresentam maior prevalência. Os casos eram mais frequentes no sexo feminino (82,7%), entre 10 e 14 anos (49%), sendo os principais agressores pais (13,8%) e padrastos (12,9%). Pode-se concluir que a prevalência de violência sexual infantil é maior entre crianças de 10 a 14 anos, do sexo feminino e os casos estão mais concentrados na região Norte. Palavras-chave: Abuso Sexual na Infância. Epidemiologia. Criança.


Author(s):  
Katherine Wasdin

This book analyzes the relationship between wedding poetry and love poetry in the ancient world. By treating both Greek and Latin texts, it offers an innovative and wide-ranging discussion of the poetic representation of social occasions. The discourses associated with weddings and love affairs both foreground ideas of persuasion and praise even though they differ dramatically in their participants and their outcomes. Furthermore, these texts make it clear that the brief, idealized, and eroticized moment of the wedding stands in contrast to the long-lasting and harmonious agreement of the marriage. At times, these genres share traditional forms of erotic persuasion, but at other points, one genre purposefully alludes to the other to make a bride seem like a girlfriend or a girlfriend like a bride. Explicit divergences remind the audience of the different trajectories of the wedding, which will hopefully transition into a stable marriage, and the love affair, which is unlikely to endure with mutual affection. Important themes include the threshold; the evening star; plant and animal metaphors; heroic comparisons; reciprocity and the blessings of the gods; and sexual violence and persuasion. The consistency and durability of this intergeneric relationship demonstrates deep-seated conceptions of legitimate and illegitimate sexual relationships.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
Mariana Amiruddin

<p>The paper explains how criminal code of zina (fornication) criminalized women victims of sexual violence. The data of Komnas Perempuan's Annual Records and the direct complaint from the victims can illustrate that women's personal relationships are particularly vulnerable to violence. The theories of feminism are used as an analytical tool of women's lives and their problems in the private sphere, including in terms of sexual relationships and love, whether married or not. This paper concludes with the challenge of the stigma of the feminist movement, as a movement considered to be opposed to morality and religion, and it is not just happen in Indonesia.</p>


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