DISCOURSE ON ‘FEMALE CHASTITY’ AS RATIONALIZATION TO JUSTIFY SEXUAL OFFENSE: QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY OF MALE SEXUAL TRANSGRESSORS
ABSTRACT: The present
qualitative study explores the rationalization of 24(twenty-four) men reported
to the police of conducting sexual offense, to justify their sexual offense or
transgression. Denials vary from absolute denial, minimization, such as
claiming of having mutual consent sex, denial of victim harm, and a rarer
phenomenon but apparent in two subjects, a kind of depersonalization. More
specific denials relate to gender-based rationalization is prevalent, such as
having unharmonious relationship with wife therefore they need other women for
sexual outlet, or the girls are not ‘good girl’. Very strong rationalization is
related to the discourse on ‘female chastity’ in which offenders justify their
behavior as OK since their target subjects are not ‘good girls’, be evidenced
by they are not virgin anymore, hang out at night, or have relation with other
men. Offenders who are in relationships with their victims need to prove the chastity
of their female partner, or felt suspicious and angry about the past
relationships of the girls therefore forcing sex or conducting sexual assault.
Offender might adopt a ‘professional’, a ‘hero’, a ‘revenger’ as well as a
‘victim’ role. All cannot be separated from the cultural context of Indonesia
and are explaining the beliefs of male offenders about men as superior and
having authority over women.
Penulis: Elizabeth Kristi
Poerwandari, Adriana Soekandar, Lathifah Hanum
Kode Jurnal: jpantropologidd140066
