According to Harding, what is the only power men hold over women?

According to Harding, what is the only power men hold over women?

• A. Sexual violence
• B. Economic power
• C. Social status
• D. Political influence

Answer: (A)

The central idea here is that male dominance over women is most directly maintained through control of women's bodies, especially through sexual violence. Harding argues that the threat or reality of coercion and harm around sex is a constant, intimate mechanism that disciplines women, shapes their choices, and constrains their autonomy. This bodily-based power operates across many contexts and often underpins other forms of power—economic, social, or political—because if a woman’s safety and bodily integrity are at risk, her opportunities and behavior are limited. So, among the options, sexual violence is shown as the most fundamental and pervasive means by which men exert power over women in Harding’s framework.

The central idea here is that male dominance over women is most directly maintained through control of women's bodies, especially through sexual violence. Harding argues that the threat or reality of coercion and harm around sex is a constant, intimate mechanism that disciplines women, shapes their choices, and constrains their autonomy. This bodily-based power operates across many contexts and often underpins other forms of power—economic, social, or political—because if a woman’s safety and bodily integrity are at risk, her opportunities and behavior are limited. So, among the options, sexual violence is shown as the most fundamental and pervasive means by which men exert power over women in Harding’s framework.