**5. Recommended solutions**

Scientists with an interest in the subject in Turkey are aware that women are subjected to sexual abuse, but they face very great difficulties in conducting research intended to reveal the true position. The problems we envisaged prior to one study in which we investigated whether or not pregnancy had any effect on physical and sexual abuse, and the problems that arose during that research, are listed below. Our recommendations for Turkey and countries/societies resembling it in religious and social terms are also discussed:

1. Turkish society and Turkish women are unaware of and unable to fully comprehend the concept of sexual abuse. For that reason, awareness should be established before such studies, particularly using written and visual media, and research performed only afterward.

Researching Sexual Abuse in Societies

sensitivity/awareness.

studies.

**6. References** 

in Which Sexuality Is Regarded as Taboo: Difficulties and Proposed Solutions 207

12. Men should also perform studies. This will help educate men on an individual basis and also assist debate among men when the subject is raised, as well as establishing

13. Interview / questionnaire/data forms used must not be too long. Initial interview/scanning forms in particular must not be highly detailed for quantitative

[1] WHO – Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Lozano R, eds. World Report on Violence and Health. World Health Organization, Geneva 2002 pp: 149. [2] Rodrigez MA, Bauer HM, McLoughlin E, Grumbach K. Screening and intervention for

[3] Dunkle KL, Jewkes RK, Brown HC, Yoshihama M, Gray GE, McIntyre JA, Harlow SD.

[4] Rodriguez AM, Bauer MH, McLoughlin E, Grumbach K. Screening and Intervention for

[5] Donohoe M. Violence and human rights abuses against women in the Developing World. Medscape Ob/Gyn & Women's Health 2003; 8(2). Available from:

[6] Martin SL, Mackie L, Kupper LL, Buescher PA, Moracco KE. Physical abuse of women

[7] Velzeboer M, Ellsberg M, Arcas CC, Garcia-Moreno C. Violence against women: The

[8] Jewkes R, Sen P, Garcia-Moreno C. Sexual Violence. Chapter VI. World Report on

[9] Ornek SV. Geleneksel Kültürümüzde Çocuk (The Child in Our Traditional Culture).

[10] Göka E. Kadn-erkek ilişkileri örneğinde "Türk Grup Davranş" (In the relations

[11] Jewkes R, Abrahams N. The epidemiology of rape and sexual coercion in South Africa:

[12] Bonita R, Beaglehole R, Kjellstörm T. Basic Epidemiology 2nd Edition. WHO 2006,

[13] Freidman LS, Samet JH, Roberts MS, Hudlin M, Hans P. Inquiry about victimization

experiences: a survey of patient preferences and physician practices. Arch Intern

Health Sector Responds. Pan American Health Organization, Silver Spring,

Violence and Health. (Eds: Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Lozano R)

before, during, and after pregnancy. JAMA 2001; 285:1581-1584.

Türkiye İş Bankas Kültür Yaynlar. Ankara, 1979. (in Turkish).

between men and women: Turkish Group Behaviour). htpp://drerolgoka.20m.com/makale/015.htm (in Turkish)

an overview. Social Science and Medicine 2002;55: 153 – 166.

Prevalence and Patterns of Gender-based Violence and Revictimization among Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Soweto, South Africa. American Journal of

intimate partner abuse. JAMA 1999;281(5):468-474.

Intimate Partner Abuse. JAMA 1999; 281(5): 468-474.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/464255

Epidemiology 2004; 160:230-9.

(connecting date 23.04.2004).

Maryland, USA 2003. p. 4-7.

Med 1992; 152: 1186 – 1190.

Geneva.

WHO, Switzerland; 2002. p149-81.


### **6. References**

206 Sexual Abuse – Breaking the Silence

2. We observed in our research that even when women were forced to engage in sexual relations, or did so against their will, they put up with the situation, making no protest against it. Underlying this is the role of "satisfying the husband" that society imposes on women. However, this attitude changes as levels of education rise. This perspective declines if the woman is educated, is in paid employment and enjoys high status. Stratification should therefore be performed according to women's status when

3. It is very difficult to perform screening / cross sectional studies / society-based research on the subject of sexual abuse. It is just about impossible to ask individuals or families identified for sampling in cross-sectional, cohort or descriptive studies questions about sexual abuse. In order to obtain more significant results from crosssectional studies, given the difficulty in asking questions by way of questionnaires, research could be conducted on the basis of meetings with physicians at hospitals and clinics to which individuals apply and receive health services for any reason, with the

4. Because of the difficulties involved in conducting descriptive, cross-sectional and cohort studies, it might be of greater benefit to perform quantitative research, such as focus

5. People who participate as project directors or interviewers in future research into such a sensitive subject must instill a sense of security in those taking part. The study team, and particularly those who will be involved in speaking to women, must be very well trained. That training must stress verbal communication, body language and general

6. It is just about impossible to investigate extramarital sexual relations. For that reason, in planning research the study population should consist of women of reproductive age,

7. It is effectively impossible in societies such as Turkey to ask about even a married woman's relations with different partners. The scale and nature of abuse in these

8. In Turkey, a woman's most important role in marriage is child-bearing. There is a strong preference for the child to be born to be male. Exposure to sexual abuse is therefore generally hidden because of that pressure. For that reason, questions should be asked investigating men and women's birth preferences and the results analyzed. 9. Sexual abuse is generally correlated with exposure to physical violence and emotional stress. Questions regarding physical and emotional abuse should therefore be asked before turning to sexual abuse. A second interview within the scope of the research should even be conducted if necessary because of the likelihood of sexual abuse in those

10. It may be difficult to perform descriptive and/or cross-sectional studies in order to establish the nature, frequency and nature of and figures for sexual abuse. Studies should therefore be planned on the basis of more than one interview. This may help the woman taking part establish confidence in the study team and make it easier for her to

11. The person to conduct the interview coming from the local area may be either a positive or a negative factor. It may be positive in assisting women to establish a sense of trust,

but negative in that women may be reluctant to share their secrets with a local.

security provided by the patient-doctor relationship.

group encounters, to reveal women's exposure to sexual abuse.

15-49, and married women only should be used, if possible.

responding positively to questions about those other forms of abuse.

relationships cannot therefore be established.

provide more information about herself.

research is performed.

communication.


**14** 

*Brazil* 

*Henry Kissinger* 

*(The Nobel Peace Prize)* 

**Considering the Sexual** 

Claudio Cohen and Adriana Esturaro

*University of São Paulo, São Paulo* 

*"Power is the great aphrodisiac"* 

**Harassment as an Equivalent Incestuous** 

Relationships formed in a professional setting may involve conflicts of interest arising from social functions determined by institutions, such as family, church, codes of ethics and labor laws. In these relationships, we can see emotions, characteristic of human beings, but which are limited by factors imposed by cultural identity. As every society develops its own culture, individuals acquire their values in relation to the social context in which they live. This cultural identity influences the creation of norms of conducts and the values linked to

An encounter with another person will always cause some sort of emotional disturbance, due to the adaptation to the presence of the other. This disturbance predominantly originates from our understanding of social structures and respect for the freedom of others,

One of the forms of adaptation to the presence of the other emotional disturbance is sexual harassment, which is either an intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or an unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange of sexual favors (Paludi, 1991). It includes a wide range of behaviors, from seemingly mild transgressions and annoyances,

It may also occur in a variety of different settings. For example, in education, many scholars point out that sexual harassment remains a "forgotten secret," with educators and administrators refusing to admit that the problem exists in their schools, or accepting their

Sexual abuse commonly occurs in workplaces, and can have several different forms, such as unwanted jokes, gestures, offensive words about clothing, unwelcome comments and wordplay, repeated requests for dates that are turned down, or unwanted flirting. It can be

**1. Introduction** 

and can be perceived in different forms.

to actual sexual abuse or assault (Dziech, 1990).

legal and ethical responsibilities to deal with it (Ibid).

it.

[14] Parsons LH, Zaccaro D, Wells B, Stovall TG. Methods of and attitudes toward screening obstetrics and gynecology patients for domestic violence. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1995; 173: 381-387.
