ANALYSIS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH THE

PERSPECTIVE OF MUTED GROUP THEORY

By:
Muhamad Daffa Arkaan, KYS Putri
Communication Science Student, Jakarta State University
[email protected] , [email protected]

Introduction

Higher education, is a scientific Sexual violence includes acts that

institution that has the task of organizing include sexual harassment to force someone
Education and Teaching above secondary to have sex without the victim's consent and
level and providing education and teaching to fulfill the perpetrator's sexual needs
based on Indonesian national culture (Apriyani, 2021) . Sexual violence is a direct
scientifically. Sexual violence is one of the or indirect act where the act involves another
direct acts of violence, where the act involves person in unwanted sexual activity to control
other people in unwanted sexual activities, or manipulate another person by someone.
either verbally, or actions carried out by Sexual harassment on campus occurs due to
someone to control or manipulate others. the legal vacuum in the prevention, handling
and protection of victims of sexual violence
Higher education is an institution that
in the university environment (Rusyidi et al.,
has the task of organizing education and
2019) .
teaching based on Indonesian national
culture scientifically. Higher education is Cases of sexual harassment in higher
often considered a safe and protected place, education generally occur due to power
but in reality sexual violence is still an issue relations and can occur due to a lack of
that often occurs in higher education. Based education and counseling regarding sexual
on a survey by the Directorate General of activity. Sexual violence can also be caused
Higher Education, Research, and Technology by environmental factors where perpetrators
in 2020, sexual violence occurred at all levels of harassment feel they have the opportunity
of education and 27 percent of complaints to commit acts of harassment in the
occurred in higher education university environment. (Faturani, 2022)
(Kemendikbudristek, 2021b) .
 Handling cases of sexual violence on meant by crimes here are acts of sexual
campus is quite complex, not only related to violence. Although in terms of sanctions, the
the rules of the mechanism for preventing sanctions regulated are directed at
and overcoming sexual violence, but also to administrative sanctions. This is done
the bureaucratic system and the quality of because the leadership of the university is not
human resources. A conducive bureaucracy part of the investigator, investigator, public
will support the creation of a gender-friendly prosecutor, or panel of judges who can
and non-sexual violence campus represent the state to carry out the criminal
environment, conversely a rigid and process.
convoluted bureaucracy will lead to the
This does not rule out the possibility
neglect of victims of sexual violence in the
that the issue of sexual violence in the
name of the campus. (Faturani, 2022)
university environment can be continued to
As a country of law, Indonesia has the criminal mechanism. It is stated in article
recorded a complaint rate of Gender-Based 18 of the Minister of Education and Culture
Sexual Violence (GBV) of 338,496 cases of Regulation Number 30 of 2021: "The
Gender-Based Violence against women, imposition of administrative sanctions as
where this figure shows an increase in cases referred to in Article 14 does not exclude the
of 50% when viewed from the recording of imposition of other administrative sanctions
cases in 2021, which was 327,629 cases and criminal sanctions in accordance with the
(Farouqi, 2022) . provisions of laws and regulations"
(Kemendikbudristek, 2021a) . Generally,
With the issuance of the Minister of
perpetrators of sexual violence feel that they
Education and Culture Regulation Number
have a power that can dominate the victim,
30 of 2021 concerning the Prevention and
and instill that there is nothing the victim can
Handling of Sexual Violence in the Higher
do, because the perpetrator has certain
Education Environment, it gives hope to
powers.
victims of sexual harassment to receive legal
protection for the sake of justice for victims, Sexual harassment on campus occurs
and also makes an effort to prevent sexual due to the legal vacuum in preventing,
harassment in the Higher Education handling and protecting victims of sexual
environment. violence in the university environment
(Rusyidi et al., 2019) . Cases of sexual
Permendikbud number 30 of 2021, is
harassment at universities generally occur
a regulation that regulates crimes, what is
due to power relations, where lecturers
(especially lecturers with the mode of female students, and female students from
students being invited to conduct research, diverse backgrounds. By understanding and
inviting victims out of town, or the mode of paying attention to the experiences and
thesis guidance) so that physical or non- perspectives of silenced groups, efforts to
physical sexual harassment occurs in the prevent and address sexual violence in higher
midst of research guidance or thesis education can be more effective and
guidance. inclusive.

To address the problem of sexual In the Muted Group Theory analysis

violence in higher education, one approach of sexual violence in higher education, it is
that can be used is through Muted Group also important to consider factors such as
Theory. This theory states that certain groups gender, sexuality, and power hierarchies in
in society, including women, are often the higher education environment. By
"muted" or ignored in the process of identifying and understanding these factors,
communication and decision-making because more specific and measurable efforts can be
their language and experiences are not made to prevent and handle cases of sexual
always recognized or understood by the violence in higher education. (Rohmah,
dominant group. This theory seeks to 2018)
criticize the dominant group with their
Cases of sexual violence that occur
hegemonic ideas that tend to silence the ideas
among students can occur due to a lack of
of minorities (Yusriana, 2017) .
education and counseling regarding sexual
In the context of sexual violence in activity, and can also be caused by
higher education, this theory emphasizes the environmental factors where perpetrators of
importance of listening to the voices of harassment feel they have the opportunity to
vulnerable and underrepresented groups, commit acts of harassment in the university
such as victims of sexual violence, minority environment.

Research methods is a research method in the social sciences.

The type of research used is The core of this method is its ability to
Narrative Research with an interview method understand a person's identity and worldview
of 5 (five) victims of harassment that by referring to the stories (narratives) that
occurred at universities in Indonesia. they hear or tell in their daily activities. Thus,
According to Webster and Metrova in their narrative research can be interpreted as a
book (Mertova & Webster, 2019) , narrative study of stories that tell and explain an event
that is the center of attention of researchers
based on a certain time sequence in detail.

Narrative research is usually used

when researchers want to make narrative
reports from individual stories. Narrative
research has a close relationship between
researchers and participants. This is because
participants provide detailed information, and
researchers listen and report back the story or
information. So that participants feel that the
story or information they convey is important
and can be useful for others. Researchers in
writing stories or information from
participants use a qualitative approach where
researchers can write in literary and
persuasive forms.

This study uses a qualitative

approach method in the form of interviews
with 5 (five) victims of sexual harassment
that occurred in several universities in
Indonesia. The results will be in the form of a
text narrative about their experiences and
how they can give meaning to their
experiences through the stories they tell.
Discussion work, commerce, and competition
and the private world of home,
Muted Group Theory
family, and caregiving.
This theory was developed by 2. Since men are the dominant group in
Cheris Kramarae. Kramarae is a professor society, their perceptions are also
of speech communication and sociologist at dominant. This dominance hinders
the University of Illinois. This theory views the freedom of expression of
language as a cultural boundary, and women's alternative model worlds.
therefore men are more powerful than Muted Group Theory through this
women. Men influence language more, concept of perception brings the
resulting in a language that is biased communication process to the
towards men. This happens because the forefront. Specifically, muted group
language of a particular culture does not theory suggests that because the
present all speakers equally, not all speakers dominant group (especially white
contribute to the same formulation. European men) controls the meaning
(Meares, 2017) of public expression, such as in the

Women (and members of mass media, law, and government,

subordinate groups) are not as free and able their style of expression is

as men to say what they want, when, and privileged. This white male

where, because the words and norms for communication support will include

them use the formulations of the dominant everything from the perspective of
group, namely men. Kramarae designs three the dominance of public and

assumptions that are central to the feminist organizational rationality that speaks

presentation of muted group theory, using metaphors to make comments

namely: and jokes that are insulting to

women.
1. Women experience the world
differently from men because
women and men have very different
experiences. These different
experiences are rooted in society's
division of labor. This difference in
expression is often seen in the
distinction between the world of
 Thus, in order to participate in society, Rani (pseudonym) and Andi (pseudonym)
women must transform their models in dated for approximately 3 months, to be
terms of the dominant system of expression. precise from February to May 2022. Based
Women's ways of speaking, such as on Rani's (pseudonym) story, Rani began
emotional discourse, metaphors relevant to to feel that something was wrong with
home life, will have no place in a man's Andi when they entered a month of dating.
world and men will claim that they cannot This started when they made a voice call at
understand women or their modes of night. At that time, Andi suddenly asked
expression. Through a process that includes something that should not have been
ridicule, ritual, gatekeeping, and asked. "Ran, when you were dating your
harassment, women will be made mute or ex, what did you do?" It didn't stop there, a
unable to speak in public discourse forums. few minutes after the inappropriate
(Littlejohn & Foss, 2010) question, Andi joked by inviting "Ran, let's
have sex" when Andi asked that question,
In short, women will often feel
Rani immediately felt shocked and fell
uncomfortable speaking in the mainstream
silent, then Andi without feeling guilty just
of society, because they have to translate
said "just kidding, Ran. But maybe
their ideas into the language of public
sometime, (laughing softly)”. Rani fell
communication that is dominated by men.
silent and immediately turned off her
So women are considered not simple in
phone. After the incident, Andi apologized
speaking, or will use "underground" forms
continuously to Rani, until finally Rani
of interaction such as: diaries, journals, or
gave in and forgave Andi on the condition
women-only chat rooms.
that he would not do something similar,
and Andi agreed to Rani's condition.

The next incident was still in the

same month, March. At that time, Andi felt
very unwell (sick) and asked Rani as his
girlfriend to visit him. Andi asked Rani to
Sexual Violence Cases visit his boarding house. At first, Rani was
The first case comes from one of afraid because this was the first time they
the state universities in Jakarta. This case met, and the meeting took place in the
began with a close relationship between boarding house room. Because of her
Rani (pseudonym) and Andi (pseudonym). excessive fear, Rani invited her friend,
Anisa (pseudonym). Andi did not mind it, immediately forced Anisa to go home and
and after a few hours Rani and Anisa Anisa agreed to Rani's invitation.
arrived at Andi's boarding house. When
After the incident, Rani was really
Rani and Anisa arrived, the three of them
angry with Andi's treatment, but again
just chatted as usual, but not long after,
Rani could forgive what Andi did. Similar
Andi suddenly hugged Rani. Rani and
incidents did not only happen at that time,
Anisa were shocked , but they were normal
Andi returned to his depraved actions
and didn't really pay attention to what
again, precisely in April. At that time Rani
Andi did.
wanted to invite Andi to do deeptalk but
Not long after, the Maghrib call to Andi asked to do it at his boarding house.
prayer sounded and required Anisa to Rani again agreed on the condition that
leave Andi and Rani alone, because Anisa they only discuss things that she wanted to
had to pray at the mosque. Rani did not talk about.
come because she was menstruating at that
After finishing talking about it,
time. The next incident began when Anisa
Andi did his depraved thing again by
left them both at Andi's boarding house. At
forcing Rani to ask for the same thing,
that time, Rani deliberately opened Andi's
which was forcing Rani to ejaculate on
boarding house door because she was
him again. This time Rani was shocked
afraid that something would happen to her,
again and could not expect anyone to help
but not long after, Andi came in and
her. Rani was angry and did not want to do
immediately closed the boarding house
it, but Andi continued to force her until he
door and locked the door too. At that time,
pushed Rani onto Andi's bed. Andi would
Andi immediately asked Rani to ejaculate
not let Rani go out until she got what she
on him. Rani could only be shocked and
wanted, until finally Rani was forced to do
silent and hoped that Anisa would come
it in order to get out of Andi's boarding
back soon. Andi continued to force her
house.
until he showed his genitals, but what
Andi wanted did not happen because not After Andi got what he wanted,

long after that, Anisa returned and then Andi allowed Rani to go home, and

knocked on Andi's boarding house door, Rani went home crying because she

Andi immediately opened it and pretended couldn't believe what had happened to her.

not to do anything to Rani. Rani Rani was really angry, and asked to break
up with Andi, Andi begged Rani not to do
that, and Rani said yes again and they passed in front of the group of police,
continued their relationship. some of the police cat-called her, and Rina
felt extremely afraid and this re-
There was one last thing that Andi
traumatized her. Rina told the authorities
did before they finally broke up, Andi
on her campus about this and the campus
suddenly sent a photo of his genitals while
helped to investigate this case.
chatting with Rani. Rani felt disgusted and
upset because Andi didn't really change The third case occurred at one of
like he promised. When Rani asked her to the state universities in Semarang. The
break up with Andi, this time Andi said chronology of the case began when a
yes and didn't hold Rani back at all. Andi student who had a position in one of the
didn't apologize at all for what he had done organizations at the university level played
to Rani, and Rani only got trauma during a power relationship over his position. The
her relationship with Andi. perpetrator had a lover who was in the
same Chemistry Education study program.
Several months after the incident,
Initially, their relationship went smoothly
Rani told this to the class leader in her
for 7 (seven) months. At one time, the
study program and asked the class leader
perpetrator invited the victim to have sex
to investigate the case that happened to
at the perpetrator's boarding house.
her. The case was successfully investigated
However, at that time the victim refused to
and Andi was removed from all
do so because it violated the values and
organizations and committees that he was
social norms at the university as a student.
involved in. But after that, Andi returned
The perpetrator continued to force the
to living his life as normal while Rani was
victim to do it until it ended in violence.
imprisoned by her trauma.
The victim was helpless at that time so that
The second case occurred at one of the perpetrator could carry out his actions
the state universities in Jakarta. But the without thinking before acting.
difference is, this was not done by fellow
Three months later, the victim kept
students at the university, but by the police
what happened between them a secret
who were on campus. At that time, Rina
because she did not dare to speak up about
(pseudonym ) was walking alone past a
the incident, until finally the victim told
group of police. Rina was afraid at that
one of her close friends that she had
time because she had previously
experienced sexual violence from her
experienced sexual violence. When Rina
boyfriend. Her close friend had offered the
victim to report to the Satgas PPKS (task that the victim also wanted to do such a
force for handling sexual harassment and thing.
violence) at her university. However, the
After providing a lot of information
victim was afraid to report because the
to the PPKS Task Force, the perpetrator
perpetrator had a high position in her
played with the power relations with the
organization.
PPKS Task Force by bribing them so that
The victim asked for time to the case would not be continued.
prepare mentally and the consequences Furthermore, the PPKS Task Force
that would occur if she reported it. Two mediated between the victim and the
months later the victim was ready to make perpetrator to resolve the problem
a report of the sexual violence she peacefully. This was clearly detrimental to
experienced. The victim made a report in the victim because she felt she did not
the form of a story that was packaged in a receive good justice from the legal
file containing the chronology of the institution of the related university. In the
incident. In the end, the report was end, the victim became more courageous
received by the PPKS Task Force and to speak up about the corruption of the
began to be processed at that time. Not PPKS Task Force in handling cases of
long after that, the PPKS Task Force sexual violence which was considered to
summoned the perpetrator for the report be playing with relations with the
they received. leadership of the organization.

The PPKS Task Force met with the After the incident went viral, many
perpetrator to ask for information on the students at the university questioned the
chronology made by the victim. However, credibility of the legal institution. Not a
the perpetrator denied all the chronologies few organizations also made propaganda
made by the victim with the addition that that the Task Force could not be trusted.
he was a leader of an organization so it
was impossible to do such a thing
considering his high position. The The fourth case occurred in one of

perpetrator also gave his point of view on the colleges in Malang. The case began

the chronology made by the victim that when a lecturer harassed 2 (two) female

initially he did invite the victim but students. The chronology of the incident

without coercion. However, based on the began when the lecturer asked one of his

perpetrator's statement, the perpetrator felt female students to contact him via
WhatsApp for an assignment. Initially, the immediately contacted the relevant lecturer
lecturer only explained the assignment he for information. The lecturer admitted
wanted to give to the class he was what he did, so he received a sanction in
teaching. After that, the topic of the form of a suspension from teaching for
conversation changed when the lecturer 1 (one) semester of lectures.
made a joke like praising his female
The fifth case occurred at one of
student for having a beautiful face. Not
the universities in Jakarta. The chronology
only that, the lecturer also invited his
began when a student named Doni
female student to meet at a hotel. The
(pseudonym) had a fairly close friend
female student felt uncomfortable because
named Dita (pseudonym). At that time
this was inappropriate for a lecturer to do.
Doni and Dita were in one place at the
The same thing was also felt by university with other friends. Doni joked
another student with the same lecturer, but to Dita by inviting Dita to check in at a
in a different context. The incident began hotel together with the excuse of wanting
when the lecturer and the student were to sleep with Dita while chatting. Dita did
passing each other on campus and the not take it seriously because Dita thought
lecturer had the chance to chat for a it was just a joke.
moment. Initially, the student only thought
A few days after the incident, Dita
that the lecturer only wanted to talk about
and Doni met again somewhere and Doni
the courses she was taking, because it
joked with Dita again. At first, they were
happened that the student was quite close
just joking around with Doni who touched
to the lecturer.
Dita's body several times. At that time,
While they were talking, the Dita felt uncomfortable and told Doni not
lecturer occasionally touched the student's to do that, but Doni only replied with "ah,
body, such as embracing and holding her just relax". While joking, Doni suddenly
hand. The student felt uncomfortable, opened Dita's skirt (at that time Dita was
especially since she was alone at that time. wearing a skirt) so that Dita's thighs were
visible. At that time, Dita was really angry
After the 2 (two) incidents, the two
with Doni and Doni scolded Dita back on
female students reported to the relevant
the grounds that it was just a joke and did
faculty to impose sanctions on the lecturer
not need to be taken seriously.
who did this. After receiving reports from
the 2 (two) female students, the faculty
 After the incident, Dita reported the explanation, several cases of harassment
case she experienced to the relevant above are included in the Muted Group
institution. Not long after, the case was Theory or the theory of silencing.
investigated and the relevant campus
The first case that occurred, when
institution gave the perpetrator a sanction
the perpetrator forced the victim to fulfill
in the form of no longer being allowed to
his desires and finally the victim was
join any organization or committee. The
forced to do so, this is not included in the
relevant campus institution also offered the
Muted Group Theory. It is said not to be
victim whether the perpetrator wanted to
included because afterwards, when the
be expelled, if he wanted to be expelled
victim dared to speak up and raise this
the victim's parents and the perpetrator had
case, the perpetrator just kept quiet and
to meet. However, the victim refused
accepted all the consequences of what he
because he did not want to involve his
did. With the acceptance of the
parents.
consequences from the perpetrator and the
It doesn't stop there, when the perpetrator did not do anything to silence
problem has been investigated, the the victim and the case that involved him,
perpetrator still takes action in the form of then this cannot be categorized into the
badmouthing the victim to other friends. Muted Group Theory or the theory of
The victim here feels very sad and afraid silencing.
of what will happen to him. The
The second case involved a law
perpetrator's actions are still ongoing until
enforcement officer and a female student
now, when this article is being compiled
at a university in Jakarta. The chronology
by the writing team.
of the case began when the law
Analysis The Relation of the Case to enforcement officer catcalled a female
Muted Group Theory student at the university. The victim did
not remain silent, she immediately
Based on explanation from book
reported the incident to the relevant
(Meares, 2017) that Muted Group Theory
university authorities, and the university
is theory regarding language is a cultural
helped investigate the case to completion.
limitation, and therefore men are more
The end of this case was that the law
powerful than women. Men influence
enforcement officer apologized directly to
language more, resulting in a language that
the victim. Based on this narrative, the
is biased towards men. Based on this
second case also cannot be linked to the
Muted Group Theory , because the law The fourth case involved a lecturer
enforcement officer apologized and and several female students at a university.
admitted his mistake, and there was no The chronology began when the lecturer
attempt to silence the victim from the asked his female students to contact him
perpetrator. via WhatsApp . The lecturer then
committed Cyber Harassment against the
The third case involved fellow
victim, namely an invitation to accompany
students at a university in Semarang. The
him to a hotel. The lecturer also committed
chronology of the case began when the
direct sexual violence against his female
perpetrator invited the victim to have sex.
student when the lecturer and the female
The invitation turned into coercion until it
student accidentally met. The female
finally happened. The victim felt that this
student immediately reported this case to
was wrong, and she immediately reported
the authorities to investigate the case that
it to the PPKS Task Force of the relevant
happened to her. The lecturer admitted his
university. Initially, the perpetrator was
mistake, and received a punishment in the
cooperative, but in the middle of the case
form of a suspension from teaching for 1
being investigated, the perpetrator took
(one) semester. Based on the narrative
advantage of the power relationship by
from the source regarding the fourth case,
bribing the superior of the PPKS Task
this case cannot be linked to the Muted
Force so that the case would not be
Group Theory, because there was no effort
stopped, the PPKS Task Force agreed and
from the lecturer to silence the victim and
stopped the case, until finally the case was
her case.
simply closed. The victim felt betrayed by
the PPKS Task Force's actions, the victim The fifth case involved male and
even tried to get her case closed but still to female students at a university in Jakarta.
no avail. Based on this, the third case can The chronology of the case began with the
be categorized into the Muted Group perpetrator's joke to the victim, which
Theory because there was an attempt by eventually crossed the line and was
the perpetrator to silence the victim in the considered sexual violence. The victim
form of bribery to stop the case, and this is immediately reported the incident to the
in accordance with the explanation from authorities and the authorities helped
(Meares, 2017) regarding the Muted investigate the case to completion. The
Group Theory that men have power over perpetrator accepted all the consequences
women from the language they use. for his actions, but after the case was over,
the perpetrator badmouthed the victim to
his friends. This case cannot be
categorized as Muted Group Theory,
because the perpetrator accepted all the
consequences and did not make any
attempt to silence him. Even though the
perpetrator badmouthed the victim, it is
still not included in Muted Group Theory.

Closing

Conclusion
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