The power of patriarchy : its manifestation in rape

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This study investigates womens' perceptions of social power, asillustrated by their experiences of rape. In the first chapterthe principles of subjective feminist research are analyzedagainst the background of feminist critique on so-calledobjective science. This introduction also discusses the feministresearch methodology used in the study.This is followed by an examination of mainstream politicalscience's conception of power. How mainstream politicalscientists conceptualisepower, how they define the exerciseof power. Analyses of the feminist critique against themainstream conception of power are discussed.The account of Foucault's ideas on power is, to some degree,a link between mainstream political science's views and feministsviews.An examination of patriarchy, the three main dichotomies present in our society that determine female/male relations and gendered sexuality follows.It is against the aforementioned background that the literature study moves into a practical research stage. The next chapteranalyses womens' conceptions and experiences of powerrelations by looking at the feminist theory of rape. This isfollowed by an analysis of the research data and a discussion ofthe popular rape myths in our society.A historical overview and analysis of the current rape law isthen given, while the last chapter examines a feministalternative conception of powerrelations by re-visitingpower and by providing a feminist vision of women-power.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University