A review of radical feminist theories on child sexual abuse

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1384

Keywords:

Radical feminism, feminist theory, sexual abuse, childhood, gender

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to review some of the contributions of feminist theory to the reflection on sexual abuse against children. It will focus on developments in radical feminism in the 1970s and 1980s, primarily in North America. Radical feminists raised criticisms of prevailing theories of abuse. Likewise, they made valuable theoretical contributions justified by the fact that almost all perpetrators are men. A link is established between sexual abuse against children and male sexuality, the role of socialization in femininity in the prevalence of sexual abuse is analyzed and it is considered that to a great extent the patriarchal family promotes and guarantees impunity for sexual abuse. Recovering these ideas can serve to build a theory of sexual violence against children from a gender perspective.

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Author Biography

Alejandra Ramírez González, Predoctoral researcher

Investigadora predoctoral de la Universitat de València, contratada con la ayuda “Atracció de Talent” de la misma universidad, convocatoria 2020. Adscrita al Instituto de Derechos Humanos y al Departamento de Filosofía del Derecho y Política de esa universidad, e investigadora en el proyecto Multiplying Educational Capacities to Combat Sexual Violence Against Children (2022-2024), financiado por el programa Derechos, Igualdad y Ciudadanía de la Unión Europea, y en el proyecto Tiempos y espacios de una justicia inclusiva. Derechos para una sociedad resiliente frente a los nuevos retos (2022-2025), financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación del Gobierno de España. Dirección de email: alejandra.ramirez@uv.es 

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Published

01-06-2023

How to Cite

Ramírez González, A. (2023) “A review of radical feminist theories on child sexual abuse”, Oñati Socio-Legal Series, 13(3), pp. 857–889. doi: 10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1384.