THE NEXUS OF SEXUALITY AND VIOLENCE: UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AMONG RURAL IGALA WOMEN IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The Beijing Platform for Action, outlined during the fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, delineates various forms of violence against women, encompassing physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring within familial and community settings. Within the family, violence may manifest as battering, sexual abuse of female children, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation, and other harmful traditional practices. Similarly, violence within the broader community encompasses rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, intimidation in the workplace, trafficking in women, and forced prostitution. These acts, identified as detrimental due to their association with violence, predominantly victimize women, perpetuated by men. This paper aims to critically examine the multifaceted forms of violence against women as delineated by the Beijing Platform for Action, shedding light on their prevalence, impact, and societal implications.