In South Africa it is estimated that 50% of all women will be raped sometime dur

Question

In South Africa it is estimated that 50% of all women will be raped sometime during their lifetime. A recent controversial book entitled A Natural History of Rape: The Biological Basis of Sexual Coercion sets out a strictly Darwinian view that men in South Africa are born to rape. Writing recently in the Sciences, the authors, biologist Randy Thornhill and anthropologist Craig Palmer, state their position bluntly: "We fervently believe that, just as the leopard's spots and the giraffe's elongated neck is the result of eons of past Darwinian selection, so is rape." Elsewhere they proclaim: "There is no doubt that rape has evolutionary -- and hence genetic -- origins." If so, South Africa must be a hothouse for such genes. Note: Thornhill and Palmer have responded to criticism about their theory by providing an explanation of what they actually meant in their book, A Natural History of Rape: The Biological Basis of Sexual Coercion. See attachment.

What do you believe is the primary explanation for why men rape? Is it due to a biological predisposition, psychological factors, learned behavior, e.g. social conditioning, or a combination of all these factors? Why is it so important to understand the causes before deciding the deposition of such offenders? Also, do you believe rape and sexual assaults are a problem in the workplace? If so, what should the security manager do to prevent such assaults?

Explanation / Answer

In my opinion, a combination of all the factors would provide a more holistic approach towards understanding the roots of sexual violence. As discussed by the authors above, rape has evolved in some societies as somewhat genetically advantageous and has also been similarly noted in the animal kingdom. This view, is highly controversial but cannot be dismissed completely. However, I would say that psychological factors (aggression, dominance, need for power etc.) and social conditioning (social norms, laws etc.) play a larger role in the phenomenon. The factors are vast but cannot be pin pointed to one.

I would agree that rape and sexual assaults are a problem in the workplace and can get very complicated as victims might fear losing their jobs and positions if the perpetrator's violence is brought to light. The security manager should implement strict policies in the organisation to ensure that acts of harassment or violence are heavily penalised. These should also be a creation of a special committee that addresses only issues pertaining to rape and harassment. Also, conducting regular workshops and awareness campaigns may help early identification of such behaviour.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse I
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.