LE3 .A278 2013

2013

Brickner, Rachel

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

Politics

Politics

This thesis seeks to explore the implications of Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity on sexual violence policy. Given our preconceived notions of who can be a victim of sexual violence, policies have been created that target solely women and girls as victims. This is evident in United Nations Resolution 1325, policy drafted by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, as well as literature produced by leading Non-­‐Governmental Organizations. The exclusion of men and boys from sexual violence policy, speaks broadly to the projected invulnerability of men associated with hegemonic masculinity. Despite the fact that male victims of sexual violence are rarely recognized, this thesis demonstrates that male sexual violence is occurring in a variety of different contexts and at rates higher than many are led to believe. As this thesis seeks to prove, men and boys are being excluded from the discourse and subsequent policy on sexual violence because male sexual violence is not performative of their gender. The goal of this analysis is not to deny that women are still the most common victims of sexual violence. However, drawing attention to male victims, will help produce policy that benefits victims of all genders and works to break down traditional gender stereotypes that see women and girls as perpetual victims and men and boys solely as aggressors.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:976