Outline some of the forms male violence against women takes. What purpose does male violence against women serve? Critically evaluate feminist activism around violence.

Most women experience some form of sexual violence as part of their daily reality. Even if this does not take the extreme form of rape, beatings and murder, there is the ever-present threat of assault implicit in the sexual comments and gestures in the streets and at work. The media, advertising and the wide-spread circulation of sexist literature and pornography create a climate that encourages sexual violence and harassment by objectifying women. Violence against women …

…in the links our society has fostered between property, sex and violence... The problem cannot be tackled effectively unless changes are made in the social conditions that encourage violence and keep women in an inferior position.' (Gill and Coote 1975, p3, in Segal 1987, p87) Sexual violence against women is about power not sex. Until the power imbalance between men and women has been eradicated all women will experience violence or the constant reminder of it.