Dangerous brown men:exploiting sex, violence and feminism in the 'war on terror'

Why is the public presentation of the war on terror suffused with sexualised racism? What does this tell us about ideas of gender, sexuality, religious and political identity and the role of the state in the Western powers? Can we diffuse inter-ethnic conflicts and change the way the West pursues its security agenda by understanding the role of sexualised racism in the war on terror? In asking such questions, Gargi Bhattacharyya considers how the concepts of imperialism, feminism, terror and security can be applied, in order to build on the influential debates about the sexualised character of colonialism. She examines the way in which western imperial violence has been associated with the rhetoric of rights and democracy - a project of bombing for freedom that has called into question the validity of western conceptions of democracy, rights and feminism. Such rhetoric has given rise to actions that go beyond simply protecting western interests or securing access to scarce resources and appear to be beyond instrumental reason. The articulations of racism that appear with the war on terror are animated by fears and sexual fantasies inexplicable by rational interest alone. There can be no resolution to this seemingly endless conflict without understanding the highly sexualised racism that animates it. Such an understanding threatens to pierce the heart of imperial relations, revealing their intense contradictions and uncovering attempts to normalise violent expropriation.

Audiences and Receptions of Sexual Violence in Contemporary Cinema

Barkre, M.; Mathijs, E.; Sexton, J.; Egan, K.; Hunter, R. and Selfe, M. (2007). Audiences and Receptions of Sexual Violence in Contemporary Cinema. London: British Board of Film Classification. RAE2008

Beyond Sex, Bond and Star Wars : Exhibition Data from the Southampton Odeon 1972-1980

This article uses the personal ledgers of a cinema manager to explore programming and film exhibition at the Southampton Odeon in the 1970s. The detailed accounts provide a rare insight into cinema exhibition and challenge the notion that 1970s cinema was all about sex, violence, horror and exploitation, suggesting instead that audiences at this cinema, favoured very different fare.

Obediencia- desobediencia del derecho : Una propuesta de diálogo entre iusfilosofía e historia

Propongo tomar una perspectiva a la vez filosófica e histórica pensando en torno al problema más abstracto de los límites a la obediencia de la norma en términos teóricos por un lado (poniendo en diálogo construcciones iuspositivistas e iusnaturalistas) y ejemplos concretos que pueden notarse en la práctica de los abogados penales durante el siglo XIX en Buenos Aires en particular el de los casos de violación en varones. Si bien no existe codificación formal hay persecución formal y pena del delito a partir de la denuncia y en contradicción con la idea de obediencia a la ley formal y a ciertos principios considerados fundamentales (no penar sin ley previa). En estos casos que tomo como base para la reflexión se puede ver no sólo el conflicto jurídico sino su relación con cuestiones que pueden considerarse "no-jurídicas" como ideas sobre la sexualidad, la honorabilidad y las consecuencias para la sociedad de este delito, que llevan a una práctica jurídica desobediente/disidente de la ley formal. Planteo que en ocasiones la desobediencia con fundamentos puede garantizar no sólo una forma del hacer -y de entender el hacer- justicia sino llevar al cambio en las normas como, para el caso en particular, ocurrió en 1903.

Obediencia- desobediencia del derecho : Una propuesta de diálogo entre iusfilosofía e historia

Propongo tomar una perspectiva a la vez filosófica e histórica pensando en torno al problema más abstracto de los límites a la obediencia de la norma en términos teóricos por un lado (poniendo en diálogo construcciones iuspositivistas e iusnaturalistas) y ejemplos concretos que pueden notarse en la práctica de los abogados penales durante el siglo XIX en Buenos Aires en particular el de los casos de violación en varones. Si bien no existe codificación formal hay persecución formal y pena del delito a partir de la denuncia y en contradicción con la idea de obediencia a la ley formal y a ciertos principios considerados fundamentales (no penar sin ley previa). En estos casos que tomo como base para la reflexión se puede ver no sólo el conflicto jurídico sino su relación con cuestiones que pueden considerarse "no-jurídicas" como ideas sobre la sexualidad, la honorabilidad y las consecuencias para la sociedad de este delito, que llevan a una práctica jurídica desobediente/disidente de la ley formal. Planteo que en ocasiones la desobediencia con fundamentos puede garantizar no sólo una forma del hacer -y de entender el hacer- justicia sino llevar al cambio en las normas como, para el caso en particular, ocurrió en 1903.

Obediencia- desobediencia del derecho : Una propuesta de diálogo entre iusfilosofía e historia

Propongo tomar una perspectiva a la vez filosófica e histórica pensando en torno al problema más abstracto de los límites a la obediencia de la norma en términos teóricos por un lado (poniendo en diálogo construcciones iuspositivistas e iusnaturalistas) y ejemplos concretos que pueden notarse en la práctica de los abogados penales durante el siglo XIX en Buenos Aires en particular el de los casos de violación en varones. Si bien no existe codificación formal hay persecución formal y pena del delito a partir de la denuncia y en contradicción con la idea de obediencia a la ley formal y a ciertos principios considerados fundamentales (no penar sin ley previa). En estos casos que tomo como base para la reflexión se puede ver no sólo el conflicto jurídico sino su relación con cuestiones que pueden considerarse "no-jurídicas" como ideas sobre la sexualidad, la honorabilidad y las consecuencias para la sociedad de este delito, que llevan a una práctica jurídica desobediente/disidente de la ley formal. Planteo que en ocasiones la desobediencia con fundamentos puede garantizar no sólo una forma del hacer -y de entender el hacer- justicia sino llevar al cambio en las normas como, para el caso en particular, ocurrió en 1903.

Same-sex intimate partner violence : exploring the parameters

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is not only a problem for heterosexual couples. Although research in the area is beset by methodological and definitional problems, studies generally demonstrate that IPV also affects those who identify as non-heterosexual; that is, those sexualities that are typically categorized as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI). IPV appears to be at least as prevalent in LGBTI relationships as it is in heterosexual couples, and follows similar patterns (e.g. Australian Research Centre on Sex, Health and Society 2006; Donovan et al. 2006; Chan 2005; Craft and Serovich 2005; Burke et al. 2002; Jeffries and Ball 2008; Kelly and Warshafsky 1987; Letellier 1994; Turrell 2000; Ristock 2003; Vickers 1996). There is, however, little in the way of specific community or social services support available to either victims or perpetrators of violence in same-sex relationships (see Vickers 1996). In addition, there are important differences in the experience of IPV between LGBTI and non-LGBTI victims, and even among LGBTI individuals; for example, among transgender populations (Chan 2005), and those who are HIV sero-positive (Craft and Serovich 2005). These different experiences of IPV include the use of HIV and the threat of “outing” a partner as tools of control, as just two examples (Jeffries and Ball 2008; Salyer 1999; WA Government 2008b). Such differences impact on how LGBTI victims respond to the violence, including whether or not and how they seek help, what services they are able to avail themselves of, and how likely they are to remain with, or return to, their violent partners (Burke et al. 2002). This chapter explores the prevalent heteronormative discourses that surround IPV, both within the academic literature, and in general social and government discourses. It seeks to understand how same-sex IPV remains largely invisible, and suggests that these dominant discourses play a major role in maintaining this invisibility. In many respects, it builds on work by a number of scholars who have begun to interrogate the criminal justice and social discourses surrounding violent crime, primarily sexual violence, and who problematize these discourses (see for example Carmody 2003; Carmody and Carrington 2000; Marcus 1992). It will begin by outlining these dominant discourses, and then problematize these by identifying some of the important differences between LGBTI IPV and IPV in heterosexual relationships. In doing so, this chapter will suggest some possible reasons for the silence regarding IPV in LGBTI relationships, and the effects that this can have on victims. Although an equally important area of research, and another point at which the limitations of dominant social discourses surrounding IPV can be brought to light, this chapter will not examine violence experienced by heterosexual men at the hands of their intimate female partners. Instead, it will restrict itself to IPV perpetrated within same-sex relationships.

Homophobia, heteronormativism and hegemonic masculinity : male same-sex intimate violence from the perspective of Brisbane service providers

Few studies have explored the problem of male same-sex intimate partner violence, especially in the context of Australia. Utilizing in-depth interviews with gay-friendly service providers in Brisbane, the research presented in this article sought to ascertain whether (a) intimate partner violence occurs in male same-sex intimate relationships, (b)if so, what form this violence takes,(c) what contextual triggers underpin this violence,(d) what barriers victims face in exiting abusive relationships and seeking support, and (e) what services are available and appropriate to the needs of men in violent intimate relationships with other men. Results suggest that the prevalence, types and contextual triggers of violence in male same-sex relationships parallel abuse in opposite-sex relationships. Heteronormativism, homophobia, and its close association with hegemonic masculinity, however, emerge as features unique to the male same-sex intimate partner violence experience.

Sex, love and abuse : discourses on domestic violence and sexual assault

Sex, Love and Abuse intervenes in a timely way on some important issues that have become 'elephants in the room' for academic and policy considerations around sexual violence and abuse. In so doing, this book draws upon a range of literatures and novel empirical sources to encourage critical thinking about the relationship between sex, love and abuse, examining crimes including sexual assault, pornography, child sexual abuse and domestic violence. This provocative book seeks to destabilize essentialist understandings of these phenomena with a view to identifying the subtle and complex nature of relationships, which often defy easy explanation and categorisation. Focusing on theories, public discourses and moral ideals, Hayes connects romantic love, intimacy and harm in a unique philosophical analysis, exploring abuse in relationships and how such abuse is fostered.

Gendered Violence and International Human Rights: Thinking Non-Discrimination Beyond the Sex Binary

The concept of non-discrimination has been central in the feminist challenge to gendered violence within international human rights law. This article critically explores non-discrimination and the challenge it seeks to pose to gendered violence through the work of Judith Butler. Drawing upon Butler’s critique of heteronormative sex/gender, the article utilises an understanding of gendered violence as effected by the restrictive scripts of sex/gender within heteronormativity to illustrate how the development of non-discrimination within international human rights law renders it ineffective to challenge gendered violence due to its own commitments to binarised and asymmetrical sex/gender. However, the article also seeks to encourage a reworking of non-discrimination beyond the heteronormative sex binary through employing Butler’s concept of cultural translation. Analysis via the lens of cultural translation reveals the fluidity of non-discrimination as a universal concept and offers new possibilities for feminist engagement with universal human rights.

Governmentality gone wild: How the separation of sex workers from 'communities' contributes to violence against sex workers

Sex workers are members of our communities, whether they are local or national communities. In law, mainstream media representations, and research sex workers are positioned as outside of or in opposition to communities. Even within marginalized communities sex workers are excluded when appeals to respectability politics are made. In this thesis I analyze three analytic sites from three areas of social life. The first chapter performs a textual analysis of The Bedford Decision (2013) and the resulting Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (2014) as an examination of law. The second chapter is an analysis of filmic discourse on community, sex workers, and violence in the mainstream film London Road (2015) as an examination of mainstream media. The third chapter draws upon empirical research, i.e. in-depth interviews with three current and former sex workers in Ottawa, Canada and analyzes the transcripts using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to center how sex workers’ understanding of their work, community, and the laws and policies that are supposed govern and protect them. In my preface and conclusion I discuss some of the ethical dilemmas I encountered while conducting this research. My findings suggest that sex workers are being positioned and understood as outside of communities in ways that contribute to violence against sex workers. The implications of this research suggest that people who speak in the name of communities—communities in the sense of local neighborhood communities, activist communities, and national communities—need to recognize that sex workers are part of their communities and be accountable to ensuring they are treated as members. Researchers who conduct research on sex work and sex workers need to be accountable to their participants and the impacts their research may have on laws and policies. Sex workers are an over-researched population yet their voices are largely misappropriated or silenced in popular research and policy debates.

Hate crime legislation and violence against sex workers in Ireland: Lessons in Policy and Practice

Drawing on data from UglyMugs.ie (a reporting mechanism for sex workers) this paper considers whether crimes against sex workers should be considered as hate crimes. In many ways, the debates around hate crime in the UK are more developed than in Ireland. As yet the Irish State has yet to criminalise the ‘hate’ element of crime and has been severely criticised for its relatively lacklustre approach to recording incidents of bias or hate crimes against certain social groups. The paper adopts the structural understanding of hate crime espoused by Barbara Perry (2001) who frames the dynamics of hate crime within a complex interplay of political, social and cultural factors. In our analysis we consider what is termed ‘whorephobia’ through the ambit of criminalisation and stigmatisation, gender and heteronormativity in Irish society, and the gendered nature of policing in both parts of Ireland.