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Tackling the Problem, Entrenching the Stereotype - How German Sexual Violence Policy Shapes Perceptions about Women and Women from Minority Groups

Vadasi, Luisa Maria LU (2024) WPMM43 20241
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Sexual violence (SV) is a problem that disproportionately involves men acting
violently towards women, especially against women from social minority groups
like women with disabilities or with an immigration background. In addressing the
issue, policies to address sexual violence honor this empirical reality by developing
measures that are focused on supporting women and that are targeted at the
relationship between sexual violence and minority women’s life-situation. In doing
so, policies themselves create certain images of women in general and of women
who are part of marginalized groups throughout the policy text. These depictions,
in turn, can either reinforce or challenge stereotypical patriarchal and marginalizing
... (More)
Sexual violence (SV) is a problem that disproportionately involves men acting
violently towards women, especially against women from social minority groups
like women with disabilities or with an immigration background. In addressing the
issue, policies to address sexual violence honor this empirical reality by developing
measures that are focused on supporting women and that are targeted at the
relationship between sexual violence and minority women’s life-situation. In doing
so, policies themselves create certain images of women in general and of women
who are part of marginalized groups throughout the policy text. These depictions,
in turn, can either reinforce or challenge stereotypical patriarchal and marginalizing
beliefs. This research analyzes whether stereotypes are reinforced or challenged in
German SV policy documents implemented between 2007 and 2024. Employing
Allan’s (2008) Policy Discourse Analysis Framework (PDA) as both a theoretical
framework and a methodological approach, it investigates the discourses embedded
within German sexual violence policy and how they reinforce or counter
stereotypical beliefs around women’s position in society as inferior to men and
minority group’s position as inferior to the dominant group’s. The findings reveal
that SV policies primarily perpetuate stereotypical beliefs. They do so via
discourses of risk and dependency that frame women as vulnerable, weak, and
dependent in line with societal gender stereotypes of weakness and dependency. In
the case of marginalized groups, a discourse of specificity depicts minority women as different
from the majority, reinforcing stereotypical beliefs of minority groups as inherently
different to ‘the people’. Contrary to the main finding, however, the policies also
contain a discourse of feminism and a discourse of inclusion, in the case of
marginalized groups, that highlight women’s agency and capability and perceive
minority groups as at the center of society instead of at its margins. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Vadasi, Luisa Maria LU
supervisor
organization
course
WPMM43 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Sexual violence policy, policy discourses, gender stereotypes, minority group stereotypes, empowerment
language
English
id
9152447
date added to LUP
2024-07-18 14:03:11
date last changed
2024-07-18 14:03:11
@misc{9152447,
  abstract     = {{Sexual violence (SV) is a problem that disproportionately involves men acting 
violently towards women, especially against women from social minority groups 
like women with disabilities or with an immigration background. In addressing the 
issue, policies to address sexual violence honor this empirical reality by developing 
measures that are focused on supporting women and that are targeted at the 
relationship between sexual violence and minority women’s life-situation. In doing 
so, policies themselves create certain images of women in general and of women 
who are part of marginalized groups throughout the policy text. These depictions, 
in turn, can either reinforce or challenge stereotypical patriarchal and marginalizing 
beliefs. This research analyzes whether stereotypes are reinforced or challenged in 
German SV policy documents implemented between 2007 and 2024. Employing 
Allan’s (2008) Policy Discourse Analysis Framework (PDA) as both a theoretical 
framework and a methodological approach, it investigates the discourses embedded 
within German sexual violence policy and how they reinforce or counter 
stereotypical beliefs around women’s position in society as inferior to men and 
minority group’s position as inferior to the dominant group’s. The findings reveal 
that SV policies primarily perpetuate stereotypical beliefs. They do so via 
discourses of risk and dependency that frame women as vulnerable, weak, and 
dependent in line with societal gender stereotypes of weakness and dependency. In 
the case of marginalized groups, a discourse of specificity depicts minority women as different 
from the majority, reinforcing stereotypical beliefs of minority groups as inherently 
different to ‘the people’. Contrary to the main finding, however, the policies also 
contain a discourse of feminism and a discourse of inclusion, in the case of 
marginalized groups, that highlight women’s agency and capability and perceive 
minority groups as at the center of society instead of at its margins.}},
  author       = {{Vadasi, Luisa Maria}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Tackling the Problem, Entrenching the Stereotype - How German Sexual Violence Policy Shapes Perceptions about Women and Women from Minority Groups}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}