RELASI KUASA DALAM KEKERASAN SEKSUAL TERHADAP PEREMPUAN

Abstract

Sexual violence against women is a complex phenomenon that is shaped not only by individual perpetrators’ behaviors, but also by social, cultural, and institutional structures that perpetuate gender inequality. This study employs a literature review method to analyze power relations as a fundamental factor that enables the occurrence of sexual violence and influences the responses of victims, families, and institutions. The findings indicate that patriarchal structures, cultural norms that demand women’s obedience, and hierarchical systems of authority within educational and religious institutions create conditions that heighten women’s vulnerability to sexual violence. In contexts such as Islamic boarding schools, formal schools, and churches, power relations are manifested through moral and academic authority, unquestioned obedience, and the lack of effective oversight mechanisms. At the broader social level, cultures of shame, family pressure, and male dominance in decision-making processes further obstruct reporting and access to justice for victims. This article argues that sexual violence cannot be understood merely as an individual act, but rather as a product of structured and institutionalized power relations. Therefore, efforts toward prevention and response must involve cultural transformation, institutional reform, and the dismantling of social practices that sustain gender inequality.