Sunday, November 25, marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The following 16 days are globally recognised as days for activism against violence against women.

The media also encourage sexual violence against women and girls through the flood of pornographic and commoditised representations of female sexuality which devalue women. This type of portrayal makes it easy to see them as objects that are easily...

Women's Media Watch (WMW) invites the nation's women to use this period as a time to seek greater understanding of how our culture has moulded women's roles and fed stereotypes of women. Some of these have helped to perpetuate sexual violence. With this knowledge, women can make informed decisions on what is appropriate for them.

Gender roles are determined by our society and culture. This influences the ways we think men and women should behave and what is appropriate and inappropriate for either. Many girls are socialised to believe that they must have a man, who they must please and that without one, they have less social status. Some men and women also believe that men are superior and that women and girls have no power sexually or otherwise.

Distorted value system

These ideas result in women accepting dangerous and unhealthy sexual practices. Sexual violence such as rape, incest and sexual harassment are often viewed as the norm.

Aside from a distorted value system, the country's socio-economic climate encourages the phenomenon of prostituting women. In Jamaica, the rate of female unemployment is double that of men. Many women are financially powerless, and this unfortunately often equates to sexual vulnerability where the freedom to decide on matters to do with their own sexuality is lost. Sexual violence thrives in this type of environment.

With more women becoming financially independent, some men begin to feel disempowered. Unfortunately, some seek to restore their sense of power and control by resorting to sexual violence.

Media responsibility

The media also encourage sexual violence against women and girls through the flood of pornographic and commoditised representations of female sexuality which devalue women. This type of portrayal makes it easy to see them as objects that are easily violated, discarded and destroyed.

Sexual violence against women and children continues at an appalling rate. The United Nations estimates that one in four women, worldwide, experiences severe sexual abuse during her lifetime. In 2006, there were 1,142 reported cases of gender-based violence in Jamaica. However, the United Nations estimates that only one in 10 incidents is actually reported due to social stigma and fear.

Men and women need to recognise that women's sexual rights are integral to their human rights. Understanding how our society is working to create the problem of sexual violence is a first step in winning the battle against it.

From the office of Women's Media Watch