Macro-level Causes of Sexual Violence and Child Sexual Abuse: The Effects of Inequality

• In Event: Structural and Macro Perspectives on Gender

Abstract

Why do societies have different rates of child sexual abuse (CSA) and sexual violence? Some scholars have theorized on macro-level causes of these types of violence and the topic remains relatively understudied for the past 30 years. Non-mainstream criminology (critical, feminist, Marxist, etc.) gives theoretical primacy to power and resource inequality as a cause of crime. Specifically, second-wave feminists proposed that sexual violence, including child sexual abuse, is a product of patriarchy and masculinity. To test this theory, I use the International Dating Violence Study and the International Crime Victimization Survey which contain variables measuring CSA and sexual assault victimization, respectively. I test the feminist theories by regressing CSA rates and sexual assault victimization using macro-level indicators of inequality, such as the Human Development Index, GINI, and the Gender Inequality Index. I also split the individual-level data to create male-only and female-only national-level data to isolate the effects of inequality on gender-specific victimization. Preliminary findings suggest sexual assault victimization is significantly predicted by inequality. For most forms of CSA, gender inequality most strongly predicts child sexual abuse rates. This finding is especially true for intra-family abuse. Further detailed analyses, implications of findings, and future research plans will be discussed.

Author

• Will LeSuer, University of Akron