What Support? Foucault, Power, and the Construction of Rape

Aliraza Javaid

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.15.1.02

Authors

Aliraza Javaid University of East London, UK

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.15.1.02

Keywords:

Voluntary Agencies, Surveillance, Subjectivity, Victim Blame, Stigma

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the social and cultural constructions of male rape in voluntary agencies, England. Using sociological, cultural, and post-structural theoretical frameworks, mainly the works of Foucault, I demonstrate the ways in which male rape is constructed and reconstructed in such agencies. Social and power relations, social structures, and time and place shape their discourses, cultures, and constructions pertaining to male rape. This means that constructions of male rape are neither fixed, determined, nor unchanging at any time and place, but rather negotiated and fluid. I theorize the data—which was collected through semi-structured interviews and qualitative questionnaires—including male rape counselors, therapists, and voluntary agency caseworkers. The theoretical and conceptual underpinnings that frame and elucidate the data contribute to sociological understandings of male rape.

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Author Biography

Aliraza Javaid, University of East London, UK

Aliraza Javaid has a BSc (Hons) Criminology, an MSc Clinical Criminology, an MRes Social Sciences, and has completed his PhD in Sociology and Social Policy. His research interests are gender, sexualities, masculinities, police and policing, sexual violence, the sociology of “evil,” and the sociology of love. His first sole-authored book, which is entitled Male Rape, Masculinities, and Sexualities: Understanding, Policing, and Overcoming Male Sexual Victimisation, has been published by Palgrave (2018). His second sole-authored book, entitled Masculinities, Sexualities, and Love, is published by Routledge (2018). His other publications around his research interests can be found here: https://alirazajavaid.wordpress.com/publications-2/ .

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