POWER, SEX, AND VIOLENCE - THE CASE OF MARITAL RAPE

• NCJ Number: 39037
• Author(s): R J GELLES
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH 15521; MH 24002; MH 27557
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: University of Rhode Island
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE WESTERN SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION MEETING, APRIL 30, 1976

Annotation

THIS PAPER EXAMINES THE CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING THE STUDY OF MARITAL RAPE, REVIEWS THE LITERATURE ON RAPE IN ORDER TO SUMMARIZE FACTS RELATING TO MARITAL RAPE, AND PRESENTS RESULTS OF TWO STUDIES ON MARITAL RAPE.

Abstract

ALTHOUGH BY MOST STANDARDS MARITAL RAPE IS NOT LEGALLY CONSIDERED TO BE A CRIME, THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT FORCED SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITHIN A MARRIAGE IS AN ASPECT OF FAMILY VIOLENCE DESERVING SCHOLARLY AND LEGAL ATTENTION. STUDIES OF MARITAL RAPE HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY THE WIDELY HELD SOCIAL PRECEPT THAT THE WIFE IS A 'PROPERTY' OF THE HUSBAND AND THAT THE HUSBAND HAS A RIGHT TO SEXUAL ACCESS TO HIS WIFE AT ALL TIMES. THEORIES OF VICTIM OFFENDER RELATIONSHIPS IN CASES OF RAPE ARE EXAMINED TO SHOW THAT RAPE IN A MARRIAGE MAY BE USED BY HUSBANDS AS A METHOD OF ASSERTING POWER AND DOMINANCE IN THE FAMILY SETTING. TO OBTAIN PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS ON THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF MARITAL RAPE, THE AUTHOR PRESENTS RESULTS OF TWO STUDIES: ONE WHICH SURVEYED RAPE CRISIS CENTERS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON MARITAL RAPE AND ONE WHICH STUDIED PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BETWEEN HUSBANDS AND WIVES....DMC