Sexual Coercion and Power Abuse: Reflecting on 2018
Six years ago, in 2018, actress Stormy Daniels detailed her experience in a “60 Minutes” interview. It highlighted the harsh reality of sexual coercion. At the time, even the #MeToo movement couldn’t help society fully grasp the severity of the abuse. Today, in 2024, awareness is increasing about the underbelly of sexual coercion and power imbalance.
Seeing Beyond the Coercion
People are now beginning to view Daniels’ encounters from the perspective of abuse and unequal power. Even Daniels herself, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, calls it out without reservation. This highlights how, despite everything, justice for women still remains elusive.
Struggles Still Facing Women in 2024
In today’s world, many people, especially women, fear men more than anything else – even bears. There’s a reason behind this unease. Women experience abuse, get murdered, and are often kept away from prominent roles in the workforce. They are also increasingly subjugated in intimate settings, which leads to a chilling trend of normalized physical abuse.
A Disturbing Trend: Strangulation Norms
Strangulation during sex has turned into a bizarre new normal, particularly among young women. Alarmingly, conversations about this disturbing act of violence is common chatter among teenagers. They discuss it in jest, offer advice on the subject, and even use the term “vanilla” to describe it.
The Rising Influence of Abusive Pornography
The sexual dominance and violence showcased in the growing genre of abuse porn reflect this grisly reality. It’s fast becoming mainstream where too many videos show violence against women. In this skewed world, silencing women during intimacy is seen as a form of erotic pleasure.
The Startling Statistics: Silent Reality of Abuse
In the United States today, femicide is increasing at an alarming rate. Nearly three women die at the hands of their loved ones every day. Shockingly, sexual assaults go largely unreported, with only 20% of incidents surfacing. On university campuses, this figure drops further to just 10%.
The Fight for Justice: Disparagement of Survivors
Sadly, when survivors of sexual assault come forward, they’re often treated with derision. They are unheard, mocked, ridiculed, or even branded as liars. Public opinion tends to favor the perpetrators, reinforcing the idea that women are disposable and must be silenced.
Modern-Day Oppression of Women
In an attempt to control women, society practices techniques such as arresting women for miscarriages and banning books discussing sexual assault. This patriarchal culture infiltrates our subconscious too, leading to internal biases against women, undermining their potential even in scientific fields.
Recognizing the Risks: Educating Teenagers
Educating teenagers about the dangers of asphyxiation during sex, the lingering effects, and the non-existence of safe choking can be a crucial starting point. There’s a need to form a link between bedroom violence and political disempowerment of women.
The Conservative Lean: Implications for Women
Data suggest America is turning more conservative. If this is the direction we’re headed, it’s essential to question the implications. The need of the hour is to ensure that those seeking to silence women aren’t rewarded with power.
Stormy as a Survivor: Learning from 2018
In 2018, the rights of sex workers took a backseat. Society failed to recognize Stormy Daniels as a survivor of Trump’s abuse. Let’s vow to not repeat that mistake in 2024.
Towards a Safer Society: Check and Balance
The dream of a society where women are safe, heard, and respected is still far off. But we can start by ensuring that known perpetrators of sexual violence don’t hold powerful positions in society.
For anyone affected by sexual violence, immediate support is available. Reach out to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, through their hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or chat with them online at online.rainn.org.
Additionally, the 988 Lifeline offers free and confidential support during moments of emotional distress, 24/7.
Note: Thiele Strong, a sociology professor at San José State University, contributed to this discussion in the capacity of a 2023-24 Public Voices Fellow at the TheOpEdProject.