Sex, Violence, and Transgression - Report Example

Sex, Violence and Transgression Introduction In modern society, transgression and violence is a subject that is among the most common spoken about issues in today’s culture and in the structures of society.1 Violence and transgression has influenced greatly on how people relate, live, socialize, play politics, seize power, maintain the status quo and thus, becoming an enigma that may be valid or imagined. Speaking of transgression and sex is somewhat controversial since many individuals across different social cultural boundaries would criticize what pertains to transgressive sex or transgression and in what context.2 This is because, people from different social cultural locations perceive and interpret sexual transgression and violence differently. This report therefore, will integrate approaches and theoretical tools from gender and cultural studies, and will candidly analyze the concept of sex, relative to violence and transgression using two examples. Sexual violence and sexual transgression Sexual transgression and sexual violence can be termed as sexual activities that transverse sexual boundaries and sexual activities which defy and contravene social, religious, and cultural principles and values. This means that sexual transgression can take different perspectives such as contravention in opposition to religious boundaries that can be, translated to be sexual activities that break divine principles, and transgression contrary to societal limits, where the sexual activities infringe on the rights of another community member. Moreover, sexual transgression can present as transgression against individual limits, where sexual activities are, done by compelling and aggression. Child prostitution in Thailand For the longest time, child prostitution in Thailand has played in global media channels as innocent children with obscured faces are, paraded before the whole world to see, as they describe the despicable and loathsome acts and atrocities done to them(Donnan & Magowan, 2009, p.192). The media had already set the story of transgressive sex in Thailand. These child prostitutes use their innocent charms to earn themselves a living.3 Although controversial, the children see prostitution as the only way to get enough money to buy food and find a banker to lie on during the cold nights since majority of the child prostitutes are orphans or they do come from poor and disintegrated family structures. Thereby, raising the question who is guilty, where does sexual transgression begins and ends, who is the offended person, who needs to be reprimanded, what measure of retribution should it be and who should offer the punishment (Donnan & Magowan, 2009, p.196). Child prostitution is a form of sexual transgression and is, made worse especially by adult men paying children to have sex with young children. In the mid 1990’s, there was a great concern for minors involved in prostitution with Western men who came in as tourists especially in the beaches of Asian and East African Indian Ocean (Donnan & Magowan, 2009, p.192). The issues that arise in sexually transgressing minors is the inability of the minors to negotiate for safe sex, defend themselves from violation of what they consider sex such as forcing them to have oral, anal or bondage sex where the children are tied down or beaten up as a means for arousal for the men seeking sex from them. This illustrates the concept of sexual transgression as unpredictable and holds the control to change the awareness of bodily communication, logic, contact and social-cultural standards of relating with one another. The over-exposure, over-play in the media coverage of the child prostitution and transgressive sex issue in Thailand by putting so much importance on the dismay and disgust of child prostitution by Western men has overshadowed the broader social –political and cultural issues and challenges that are present in modern world. The media and the social campaigners have taken away the platform for these children to present their grief and pain, and instead, child sex by use of descriptions of sexual violations, breach, and infiltration when describing children in sex trade, has elicited greater social –cultural fears, concerns and apprehension (Donnan & Magowan, 2009, p.193). This shows a discrepancy between the needs of the child prostitutes, with the political interests of the media, campaigners and the wider economies (Donnan & Magowan, 2009, p. 196). The Madeleine McCann Case Madeleine McCann, 3 and daughter to British parents Gerry and Kate McCann disappeared on May 3 the year 2007 from a ground floor bedroom in an apartment in Praia da Luz resort. She and her two siblings Sean and Amelie were, left unguarded by their parents who were dining with seven friends, who the media refers to as Tapas nine, in a nearby eatery (Newton, 2009, p. 236). In investigation of her disappearance, the Portuguese and British police units took in suspects among them Madeleine’s parents and Robert Murat. However, their suspect statuses were, cleared and the case was file as pending. The Portuguese and British media such as the BBC, played a great role in publicizing the disappearance in great lengths and widths with increased interests being, given to support and campaigns to find Madeleine and questioning whether the parents were to blame for the disappearance (Haper, 2009, p.158). The global attention influenced by the media, shifted from mobilizing efforts to find Madeleine to scrutinizing the demeanor and reactions of her mother Kate McCann. The media portrayed her as uncaring mother who leaves her children unattended, inconsistent in the facts she gave to the police such as she had checked on her children when she had not and showing no grief especially when in front of the media (Haper, 2009, p.157). This arose debate on whether she had committed offence under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, which looks into issues of minors being treated wrongly, being abandoned or deserted. Kate was, seen as a suspect for refusing to breakdown for the world to see, preferring to grief privately and depicting herself other than a standard mother. The media and the world condemned her citing she was too much in control and she did not cry enough. By refusing to publicly, show emotional stress, having a different female look than that of an ordinary mother of three and refusing the mob the chance to see her break, begs the question whether she violated the common perception of the society about her role as a mother and contradicted the basic feminine expectations (Haper, 2009, p.157). Did her physical look as a mother of three socially and culturally tolerable and her variation of what is expected of a grieving mother and her female demeanor expose her as a focus of media and societal chauvinism, are among questions and issues that linger on years since Madeleine disappeared. The negative publicity presented her from a mother whose child was taken away from her and a target of mob that demands she publicly share her emotions, to transgress on Kate in ways which were uncalled for and did not support her cause to find her daughter The involvement of Sexuality, Transgression and violence in the vilification of a woman The Media and the society perceived Kate McCann as unfit parent and a suspect in her daughter’s disappearance merely by her look and the persona she wore during the press conferences and interviews. Her persona was without much emotion, and therefore, many people did not believe her and therefore did not feel her pain as a parent whose child has been, snatched away (Haper, 2009, p.158). According to the public, she did not behave the way a grieving mother should. This is mainly, influenced by stereotypes of the female gender and her role as a mother. Her sexual appeal played a role in the constant coverage of the story since many argue that if she were a few pounds heavier and uncollected, she would not have received as much media coverage as she did and would not have been, cited as a likely suspect. Common ideals and perception by society of what a grieving mother should be, characterize the socio-cultural limits from which Kate crossed, hence committing a transgression. She transgressed from the feminine ideal by showing control and strong demeanor when faced with challenges and calamity. Verhoeven supports this when he states, “in ‘commanding’ appearance portrays an almost paradoxical woman by going against the assumptions of femininity being linked to passivity and masculinity as active” ((Verhoeven, 1993, p.90). Constant portrayal of Kate as unfeeling, cold and a detached parent solidified the society’s verdict to think of her as suspect and a contributing factor to disappearance of her daughter. This indicated that Kate did not gel into what creditable and commendable female behavior should be, thus presenting Kate as an active person instead of passive as suggested by (Marcus, 1992, p.393). This discourse formulated by the media was, intended to increase media ratings with fascination of distraught mother who showed utmost perfection and control and in so doing the world was unable to empathize, hence, crucifying Kate. How violence relates to the case Blood spots suspected to be Madeleine’s with traces of it found in McCann’s family car would generate such a mad dash by the media, that the parents may have been abusing their child (Newton, 2009, p.236). This passing of a guilty verdict to suspects while the case is still pending in court, where law stipulates one is innocent until proven guilty failed. Initial good will gestures such as the Help Find Madeleine internet sites; have violently been, violated by posts and comments showing the public disgusts towards her mother. McCann internet site facilitated by a local print as a comfort to the family would later shut down as more tirades of insults were, hurled at the family. This type of psychological and emotional violence steals from the family hopes and best wishes from those who believe in their innocence. Kate has been, mentioned in the same breath with coldness and self-preservation portrayed by Lindy Chamberlain and Joan Lees, women who in the midst of adversity were wrongfully, judged even after acquittal, remain guilty in the minds of the media and those of the public. This is because they refused the mob a chance to see them grief, and instead showed immense self-control. The discourse made in the three cases, (Hart, 1994, p. 141), describes it as “a symptom of male fears about feminism” that was invalidated by all means necessary to maintain the status quo of socio-cultural perceptions and ideals of sexual categories effectively managed. The media portrayed Kate to lack the ideal physical features, mannerism and attributes of a caring mother, which is contradiction of what an ideal mother and position of a woman, should be in the society, hence, restricting the authority of prevalent paradigm, and overlooking violence although psychological and emotional, directed at the McCann’s family. Conclusion In modern society, as so many things changes, the more they remain the same. Although the female gender have fought and acquired power to be independent, get equal opportunities in professions, employment and share in political platforms, there are ideologies and concepts regarding sex that she has not been able to, completely overturn. Sexual transgression and violence even in the 21st century remains an issue that haunts the society. The report has analyzed the concept of sex, transgression and violence using two examples, to expound on them and what role the media plays in formulating ideologies and supporting stereotypes. References Donnan, H., & Magowan, F. (2009). Transgressive sex: subversion and control in erotic encounters. New York City: Berghahn Books. Newton, M. (2009). The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. London: InfoBase Publishing. Verhoeven, D. (1993). Biting the hand that breeds the trial of Tracey Wigginton in Birch, H., (Ed), Moving target: women, murder and representation.’ London: Virago. Haper, S. (2009). Madness, Power and the Media: Class, Gender and Race in Popular Representations of Mental Distress. Portsmouth: Palgrave Macmillan. Marcus, S. (1992). Fighting bodies, fighting words: A theory and politics of rape prevention: in Butler, J. & Scott, J.W., (Eds) Feminists theorize the political. New York City: Routledge. Hart, L., (1994). Surpassing the word: Aileen Wournos” in fatal women: Lesbian sexuality and the mark of aggression. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Read More

This illustrates the concept of sexual transgression as unpredictable and holds the control to change the awareness of bodily communication, logic, contact and social-cultural standards of relating with one another. The over-exposure, over-play in the media coverage of the child prostitution and transgressive sex issue in Thailand by putting so much importance on the dismay and disgust of child prostitution by Western men has overshadowed the broader social –political and cultural issues and challenges that are present in modern world.

The media and the social campaigners have taken away the platform for these children to present their grief and pain, and instead, child sex by use of descriptions of sexual violations, breach, and infiltration when describing children in sex trade, has elicited greater social –cultural fears, concerns and apprehension (Donnan & Magowan, 2009, p.193). This shows a discrepancy between the needs of the child prostitutes, with the political interests of the media, campaigners and the wider economies (Donnan & Magowan, 2009, p. 196). The Madeleine McCann Case Madeleine McCann, 3 and daughter to British parents Gerry and Kate McCann disappeared on May 3 the year 2007 from a ground floor bedroom in an apartment in Praia da Luz resort.

She and her two siblings Sean and Amelie were, left unguarded by their parents who were dining with seven friends, who the media refers to as Tapas nine, in a nearby eatery (Newton, 2009, p. 236). In investigation of her disappearance, the Portuguese and British police units took in suspects among them Madeleine’s parents and Robert Murat. However, their suspect statuses were, cleared and the case was file as pending. The Portuguese and British media such as the BBC, played a great role in publicizing the disappearance in great lengths and widths with increased interests being, given to support and campaigns to find Madeleine and questioning whether the parents were to blame for the disappearance (Haper, 2009, p.158). The global attention influenced by the media, shifted from mobilizing efforts to find Madeleine to scrutinizing the demeanor and reactions of her mother Kate McCann.

The media portrayed her as uncaring mother who leaves her children unattended, inconsistent in the facts she gave to the police such as she had checked on her children when she had not and showing no grief especially when in front of the media (Haper, 2009, p.157). This arose debate on whether she had committed offence under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, which looks into issues of minors being treated wrongly, being abandoned or deserted. Kate was, seen as a suspect for refusing to breakdown for the world to see, preferring to grief privately and depicting herself other than a standard mother.

The media and the world condemned her citing she was too much in control and she did not cry enough. By refusing to publicly, show emotional stress, having a different female look than that of an ordinary mother of three and refusing the mob the chance to see her break, begs the question whether she violated the common perception of the society about her role as a mother and contradicted the basic feminine expectations (Haper, 2009, p.157). Did her physical look as a mother of three socially and culturally tolerable and her variation of what is expected of a grieving mother and her female demeanor expose her as a focus of media and societal chauvinism, are among questions and issues that linger on years since Madeleine disappeared.

The negative publicity presented her from a mother whose child was taken away from her and a target of mob that demands she publicly share her emotions, to transgress on Kate in ways which were uncalled for and did not support her cause to find her daughter The involvement of Sexuality, Transgression and violence in the vilification of a woman The Media and the society perceived Kate McCann as unfit parent and a suspect in her daughter’s disappearance merely by her look and the persona she wore during the press conferences and interviews.

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