Project description
Sex-for-favour corruption and the challenge of defining abuse of power
Cases of sexual acts being exchanged for advantages or protection in situations of power imbalance are complex and difficult-to-identify forms of abuse that sit at the intersection of corruption and gender-based violence. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CURRENSEX project investigates cases where sexual acts are used as a form of bribery in contexts of power imbalance. It examines the related socio-cultural and legal conditions, which are often difficult to classify. Through comparative research between Italy and the United States, and empirical work in private employment and higher education, the project seeks to clarify how these borderline cases operate. Its final outcome will be the development of practical guidelines for legal practitioners.
Objective
In recent years, there has been an increase in corruption cases where sex, rather than money, is the currency of the bribe, in which
those with authority, power, and influence seek to sexually exploit those who are vulnerable and dependent on their power in
exchange for benefits that they have the power to grant, influence or deny. This is the context of recent actions under
the EU Strategy for Gender Equality 2020-2025– and the forthcoming Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030–, the EU Security Strategy 2020-2025, and the forthcoming new European internal security strategy. However, when the object of the exchange is a sexual benefit,
it can be challenging to determine with certainty the distinction between corrupt transactions in which sex is the currency of the
bribe and outright sexual abuse that possibly includes elements of quid pro quo. The lack of common knowledge, language, and
tools to address cases occurring at the intersection of corruption and gender-based violence increases the risk of under-reporting,
impunity, and secondary victimization.
CURRENSEX aims to explore the socio-cultural and legal conditions that allow for the development of borderline cases between
corruption and gender-based violence. It ultimately develops guidelines for legal practitioners to facilitate the assessment of cases of
abuse of power in which sex represents the currency exchange.
To reach this objective, CURRENSEX benefits from comparing Italy with the United States, conducting desk-research and fieldwork
in the sectors of private employment and higher education. In addition, to ensure the quality, interdisciplinarity, and innovation of the Project, and gain new skills and competencies, I will conduct my research at the University of Chicago and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa under the guidance and expertise of Professors Kimberly Kay Hoang (sociology of gender) and Gaetana Morgante (criminal law).
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology social issues corruption
- social sciences economics and business business and management employment
- social sciences law
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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56127 Pisa
Italy
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