Overwhelmingly, the victims of such violence are women. Pornographic films and magazines, as well as many general releases, frequently weave sex and violence together. Such presentations may condition men to believe that violent sex is the best sex, thereby making violence erotic. Women are believed to desire and enjoy this violent treatment. These media messages teach us to accept violence as inevitable, and over time make us increasingly less sensitive to its destructiveness.
Violence is also deeply rooted in our social institutions.
Women have long been regarded as inferior to men and, for centuries, they were considered the property of their husbands. Because he owned his wife, a man could legally beat her in order to force her to carry out his wishes. Many religions, even today, assert that the man is the head of the household, and that his wife must always obey him. Some religions have portrayed women as evil, seductive temptresses who lead men into sexual sinfulness. Although many, including deeply religious people have rejected these presumptions, such institutional teachings have continued to influence our thinking.