Rise of Sexual Violence Cases, Driven by Patriarchal Culture to Psychological Disorders

The recent cases of sexual harassment and violence in Indonesia are an irony. Various factors encourage cases of sexual harassment and violence, ranging from patriarchal culture to psychological disorders.

“Recent cases of sexual harassment and violence are a complex and concerning phenomenon,” said Psychology Lecturer at Universitas ‘Aisyiyah (UNISA) Yogyakarta, Ratna Yunita Setiyani Subardjo, S.Psi., M.Psi, Psychologist, Saturday (12/4/2025).

Nita said that behind academic degrees and respected positions, some educated individuals actually abuse their power and influence to commit very inappropriate actions. “One of the factors that allows sexual violence to occur is the patriarchal culture that is still strong in society,” said Nita.

The view of women as objects that can be used and controlled is still inherent in some layers of society, including among the educated. This can influence their behavior and make them feel they have the right to control and take advantage of others. In addition, positions of power and access to vast resources can also make educated people with power feel unreachable by law and accountability. “They may feel that they can do anything without consequences, because they have great power and influence,” says Nita.

Another factor is the lack of empathy. The knowledge gained as an educated person is used as a tool to achieve and satisfy lust. Some of what happens may be because there are indications of psychological factors, such as psychological problems and psychological disorders. A bad childhood, having been sexually abused, or being used to watching pornography can be other causes. The existence of sexual disorientation, the habit of treating others arbitrarily and libido that is not in line with the super ego are reinforcing factors why this is easy to happen. The super ego in humans can actually control humans if they want to do bad things, if the super ego does not function and the ego becomes dominant, then there is no empathy without thinking about the effects of everything that will happen.

“The ego has the power to be fulfilled, that’s what makes them frenzied and want and want to continue doing these things without shame. However, keep in mind that sexual violence does not only occur due to these factors. Trauma and psychological disorders can also affect a person’s behavior. Some educated people may have a history of trauma or psychological disorders that affect their behavior,” he said.

The impact of sexual violence on victims is profound and prolonged. Victims may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and prolonged anxiety. Sexual violence can also affect the victim’s ability to form healthy relationships with others. Therefore, efforts to prevent and treat sexual violence are very important. Public education and awareness about sexual violence and its impact can help prevent cases like this.

“Support to victims, such as counseling and legal aid, is also very important to help them recover. Strict law enforcement against perpetrators of sexual violence can serve as a deterrent and prevent similar cases in the future,” Nita concluded.