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.