A biomedical view of mass rape
A biomedical view of mass rape
Among the findings of the joint fact-finding team on the mid-
May riots was that rape and other forms of sexual assault
occurred during the rioting. This is the first of two articles by
Wimpie Pangkahila, a professor at the School of Medicine of
Udayana University in Bali and an andrologist and sexologist,
discussing characteristics of rape.
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Rape is nothing new in Indonesia; many
cases have been reported, including those followed by homicide.
Reports on the rape of several members of the Acan family in
Bekasi, West Java, a few years ago aroused compassion for the
victims.
The issue of rape is making news headlines again over the
sexual assaults committed during the mid-May riot in Jakarta. The
mass media has also reported that 102 women in Aceh admitted to
having been raped during the province's nine-year military
operation.
Much earlier, the public was touched by the testimony and
grievances aired by former jugun ianfu (comfort women) from
Indonesia and several other Asian countries.
Rape is sexual intercourse conducted in the absence of consent
by one of the parties. "In the absence of consent" may mean that
the victim is threatened, physically forced, unconscious,
powerless, mentally handicapped or under age.
Rape is a pseudo-sexual act, a form of sexual behavior, which
is connected more to status, aggression, control and dominance
than to sexual pleasure or satisfaction. It is an expression of
sexual desire mixed with violence, anger or power.
In most rape cases, the expression of power or anger -- the
component of aggression -- takes a prominent position, while the
manifestation of the sexual urge is secondary. It is
understandable, therefore, that the rape of someone is not
limited by age, health condition or physical appearance.
According to data, rape victims range in age from five months
to 90 years.
Mass rape occurs against many victims simultaneously or almost
simultaneously. It may take place spontaneously because of a
conducive situation or because it is orchestrated by certain
groups for their objectives. Mass rape happen only during war or
in a warlike situation.
Rape takes two forms -- forcible and nonforcible.
Forcible rape, conducted by force or under the threat of
force, is most frequently found.
There are two kinds of forcible rape according to the number
of perpetrators. Solo rape is committed by only one person, and
gang rape by two people or a group.
Rape is also distinguished according to the situation and
perpetrators relationship to the victim. Date rape, which is
committed during a party or a date, and mate rape, which is
conducted by a husband or boyfriend.
Differentiations are also made according to the force used.
* Power rape. The rapist uses a weapon, violence or physical
threats to intimidate the victim. The rapist has usually suffered
a disruption in interpersonal relationships and feels imperfect
as a human being. Rape is a means to restore his confidence in
terms of power, identity and sexual ability.
* Anger rape. The rapist expresses his hatred and anger through
physical and verbal abuse of the victim. His motive is revenge
on, and punishment of, women in general, and not of the victim
alone. Usually the perpetrator does not feel any sexual
satisfaction or only slight gratification. He may even have
problems in gaining or maintaining erection and ejaculating.
* Sadistic rape. Components of sexuality and aggression blend
into one and the suffering of the victim becomes the satisfaction
for the rapist. The victim may be tortured.
It is assumed that 55 percent of all rape cases belong to the
category of power rape, 40 percent to anger rape and 5 percent to
sadistic rape.
Nonforcible rapes are those committed without violence. This
type of rape may be distinguished into three kinds: Statutory
rape in which the victims are underage girls; rape committed
against mentally disturbed women or women under the influence of
drugs or alcohol, and rape committed in the hope of gaining a
reward.
Mass rape is definitely forcible rape in the category of gang
rape, especially if it is orchestrated to achieve certain goals.
Many rape victims refuse to report their assaults to the
authorities for reasons which include:
* Fear of reprisals by the rapist.
* Belief that the authorities will not arrest the rapist or, even
if they do, they will set him free again.
* Shame and the fear of the widespread reporting of the shame.
* Fear of improper treatment by the authorities or a lawyer.
* Family prohibition over reporting it to the authorities.
* Fear that the rapist's imprisonment would cause trouble to
friends and family members.
There is also the fear the authorities will compound her
trauma by asking leading questions such as: "Did you also enjoy
it?" or "Do you often have sex?"
Of the 21 rapes revealed to the writer from 1989 to 1997, none
of the victims was willing to report her assault to the
authorities. Victims said they were afraid and ashamed despite
assurances they would be provided with a lawyer.
It is therefore easily understood why victims of mass rapes
are not prepared to report their cases to the authorities. It is
also often impossible for them to distinguish their rapists from
among the crowd.
Women raped during the conflict in Yugoslavia kept silent for
years before finally speaking up. Likewise, former comfort women
waited for decades before they finally lodged complaints and
demanded compensation. And the very same fears of shame and
exposure inhibited Acehnese women from revealing the trauma of
their assaults.