THE HEGEMONY OF MASCULINITY AND VICTIM BIAS IN SEXUAL VIOLENCE NORMS AT YOGYAKARTA COLLEGES

doi:10.36782/jcs.v15i1.2635

THE HEGEMONY OF MASCULINITY AND VICTIM BIAS IN SEXUAL VIOLENCE NORMS AT YOGYAKARTA COLLEGES

Tri Guntur Narwaya

Abstract

Sexual violence in Indonesia continues to be predominantly framed around female victims, while cases involving male victims remain culturally and socially marginalized, often deemed implausible due to the persistence of hegemonic masculinity. Such norms shape public discourse and influence how institutions construct narratives about sexual violence. This study examines how hegemonic masculinity and victim-construction bias are reflected in the narratives of prevention and handling policies on sexual violence at universities in Yogyakarta. Using a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) approach, the research analyzes regulatory documents and institutional narratives to identify discursive patterns and underlying power relations. The findings reveal that despite growing institutional attention to sexual-violence prevention, the dominant narratives still implicitly prioritize female victimization and insufficiently acknowledge the possibility of male victims. The discourse reinforces gendered assumptions about vulnerability, limiting the scope of protection and shaping biased interpretations of who can be considered a “legitimate” victim. These results indicate that current policy narratives remain incomplete and continue to reproduce cultural barriers that prevent male victims from being recognized or supported. This study highlights the need for universities to adopt more inclusive discursive frameworks that dismantle hegemonic masculinity, broaden victim representation, and strengthen institutional responses to all forms of sexual violence.

To cite this article (7^th APA style):

Narwaya, S. T. G. (2025). The Hegemony of Masculinity and Victim Bias in Sexual Violence Norms at Yogyakarta Colleges. Journal Communication Spectrum: Capturing New Perspectives in Communication, 15(1), 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.36782/jcs.v15i1.2635

Keywords

sexual violence, male gender, gender perspective, hegemonic masculinity

References

Addis, M. E. (2003). Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. American Psychologist, 58(1), 5. https://doi/10.1037/0003-066X.58.1.5

Ahdiat. A. (2023, Desember 20), “Kampus, Lingkungan Pendidikan dengan Kekerasan Seksual Terbanyak” https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/12/20/kampus-lingkungan-pendidikan-dengan-kekerasan-seksual-terbanyak accessed on the date November 27, 2025.

Ashila. B. I.. (2021, September 26). Kekerasan Seksual pada laki-laki Diabaikan dan Belum Ditangani Serius”, https://www.hukumonline.com/berita/a/kekerasan-seksual-pada-laki-laki--diabaikan-dan-belum-ditangani-serius-lt6151421019441/?page=3. accessed on the date November 27. 2025.

Bullock, M. C. M. (2011). Male victims of sexual assault: Phenomenology, psychology, physiology. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 39(2), 197–205.

Campbell, R. (2006). Rape survivors’ experiences with the legal and medical systems: Do rape victim advocates make a difference? Violence Against Women, 12(1), 30–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/ 1077801205277539

Cohen, C. (2014). Male rape is a feminist issue: Feminism, governmentality and male rape. Springer.

Cohen, C. (2014). Male rape is a feminist issue: Feminism, governmentality, and male rape.Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.

Connell, R. W. (2005). Hegemonic Masculinity: Rethinking the Concept. Gender & Society, 19(6), 829–859. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243205278639

Connell, R. W. (2005). Masculinities (2nd ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press.

Darma, Voce Aliah. (2014). Analisis Wacana Kritis dalam Multi Perspektif, Bandung: Refika Aditama.

DeJong, C. (2020). Male rape in context: Measures of intolerance and support for male rape myths (MRMs). Criminal Justice Studies, 33(3), 195–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 1478601X.2020.1786278

Detik.com, “Ibu RT Perkosa 6 Anak Lelaki, Ada Korban yang Dicabuli 30 Kali”. https://news.detik.com/berita/d-2537651/ibu-rt-perkosa-6-anak-lelaki-ada-korban-yang-dicabuli-hingga-30-kali. accessed on the date November 27, 2025

Dierenfeldt, R. (2021). Male sexual victimization: Examining variation in the prob- ability of weapon use and victim injury. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(11–12), 5892–5920. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518811437

Donnelly, D. A. (1996). Honey we don’t do men: Gender stereotypes and the provision of services to sexually assaulted males. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 11, 441 – 448.

Eriyanto. (2005). Analisis Wacana: Pengantar Analisis Teks Media, Yogyakarta, Penerbit LKIS.

Fairclough, N. (1998). “Critical Discourse Analysis and The Marketization of Public Discourse The Universities”, dalam Critical Discourse Analysis, London and New York: : Longman.

Fairclough, N. (2002). Language and Power: Relasi Bahasa, kekuasaan dan Ideologi (Penerjemah: Indah Rohmani), Gresik: Boyan Publishing.

Fairlough, N. (1992). Discourse and Social Change, Cambridge: Polity Press

Fields, E. L. (2015). “I Always Felt I Had to Prove My Manhood”: Homosexuality, masculinity, gender role strain, and HIV risk among young black men who have sex with men. American Journal of Public Health, 105(1), 122–131. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301866

Graham, R. (2006). Male rape and the careful construction of the male victim. Social Legal Studies, 15, 187 – 208.

Hakim, L. (2022, Desember 14). “UPN Veteran Yogyakarta Bentuk Satgas PPKS Cegah Kekerasan Seksual”. https://www.antaranews.com/berita/3304087/upn-veteran-yogyakarta-bentuk-satgas-ppks-cegah-kekerasan-seksual. accessed on the date July 19, 2024

Hammond, L. (2017). Perceptions of male rape and sexual assault in a male sample from the United Kingdom: Barriers to reporting and the impacts of victimization. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 14(2), 133–149. https://doi.org/10.1002/jip.1462

Haryatmoko. (2016). Membongkar Rezim Kepastian: Pemikiran Kritis Post-Strukturalis, Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius.

Hine, B. A. (2021). Development and validation of the Male Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (MRMAS). Heliyon, 7(6), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07421

Kompas.tv Jember (2021, April 24). “Seorang Remaja Pria Diduga Diperkosa Biduan Dangdut”. https://www.kompas.tv/regional/167783/seorang-remaja-pria-diduga-diperkosa-biduan-dangdut. accessed on the date July 19, 2024

Lees, S. (1997). Ruling passions. Sexual violence, reputation and the law. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Light, D. (2009). Circumstances surrounding male sexual assault and rape: Findings from the national violence against women survey. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24(11), 1849–1858. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260508325488

Mahalik, J. R. (2003). Masculinity scripts, presenting concerns, and help seeking: Implications for practice and training. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 32(2), 123. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.34.2.123

Pradinantia, I. (2024, Oktober 24). “Kemendikbud: Kekerasan Seksual Paling Banyak di Perguruan Tinggi”, https://tirto.id/kemendikbud-kekerasan-seksual-paling-banyak-di-perguruan-tinggi-gRqT . accessed on the date July 18, 2024

Praptiningsih, W. (2023). Dokter, kami Ingin Lekas Sembuh: Nalar Klinis. Kuasa Pengetahuan dan Kritik Wacana Kesehatan, Yogyakarta: Penerbit Basabasi.

Romanti (2023, Februari 3). “Seluruh PTN bentuk Satgas PPKS, Bukti Komitmen Kampus Merdeka dari Kekerasan Seksual”, https://itjen.kemdikbud.go.id/web/seluruh-ptn-bentuk-satgas-ppks-bukti-komitmen-kampus-merdeka-dari-kekerasan-seksual/ accessed on the date July 19, 2024

Smith, J. A. (2007). “I’ve been independent for so damn long!”: Independence, masculinity and aging in a help seeking context. Journal of Aging Studies, 21(4), 325–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2007.05.004

Smith, S. G. (2021). Sexual violence victimization of US males: Negative health conditions associated with rape and being made to penetrate. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 08862605211055151. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F08862605211055151

Surat Keputusan & Kebijakan UGM (2023. Januari 30) https://satgasppks.ugm.ac.id/file/surat-keputusan-kebijakan-ugm, accessed on the date November 27, 2025.

Walfield, S. M. (2021). “Men Cannot Be Raped”: Correlates of male rape myth acceptance. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(13–14), 6391–6417. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518817777

Weiss, K. G. (2010). Male sexual victimization: Examining men’s experiences of rape and sexual assault. Men and Masculinities, 12, 275 – 298.

Wicaksana, Dio Ashar. (2023). “Laporan Studi Kuantitatif Barometer Kesetaraan Gender”. https://ijrs.or.id/publikasi-ijrs/laporan-studi-kuantitatif-barometer-kesetaraan-gender/. accessed on the date July 18, 2024

Widanaralalage, B. K (2022) “I Didn’t Feel I Was A Victim”: A Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Male-on-male Survivors of Rape and Sexual Abuse, Victims & Offenders, 17:8, 1147-1172, DOI: 10.1080/15564886.2022.20698

Wong, Y. J. (2017). Meta-analyses of the relationship between conformity to masculine norms and mental health-related outcomes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 64(1), 80. https://doi/10.1037/cou0000176

Full Text: PDF (en)