GENDERED VIOLENCE I N THE SOCIO-LEGALCONTEXT: WHEN YOUR SEX DEFINES WHETHER YOU CAN BE A PERPETRATOR OR A VICTIM : THE PROBLEM OF HETERONORMATIVITY & MASCUL INTY IN THE CONTEXT OF “MALE RAPE” IN INDIA

India has a heteronormative rape legislation that is also based on notions of masculinity in the contextof rape. This means only women can be survivors or victims of rape, while men can solely be theperpetrators per definition. The Indian Penal Code 375 relates to rape and states “A man is said tocommit rape...”. This only allows for a man to be defined as the one who commits rape. The doctrinallaw is deeply connected with hegemonial interests of certain parts of society that aim to reinforceheteronormative gender relations as well as to reinforce notions of masculinity. This study analysedthe online media discourse relating to the socio-legal problem of “male rape” in India through the lensof a critical discourse analysis. The study found the strong stance for a gender-neutral rape legislationacross articles. The feminist opposition is named as the major hindering force who counters theadoption of a gender-neutral rape legislation. Generally, the legislation is deeply connected toheteronormative assumptions of relations between men and women. The societal notions ofmasculinity do not “allow” men to be victims or survivors of rape and men raping men/boys can onlyby punished under the sodomy related Indian Penal Code 377 that criminalises “unnatural offences”,like homosexuality