This was an interesting exploration of a complex topic, and I think you did an admirable job. Perhaps the term power refers to masculine power (being validated as a dominant male) in a culture where that is messaged to be extremely important. Some of that same messaging involves being attractive to and having control over women, and if one feels insecure, then trying to fill that void, perhaps in inappropriate ways. In matrilineal cultures where women are more valued and honored, rape largely doesn't exist, which does tend to support the theory of trying to exert masculine power by patriarchal metrics (and some feeling insecure about that).
"Among the Apache (Farrer, 1999), “Until very recent times, no proper male person would rape a female person (local or enemy), because the rapist lost face not being ‘man enough’ to get a woman on his own.” “An Apache man suffers enormous status loss by forcing himself sexually on anyone: ‘He does not even deserve to be called a man, a human being’” (Farrer, 1997, p. 242)."
"Scully’s (1990) study of sexual violence views rape as learned behavior within a patriarchal culture. According to her findings rapists as compared to other felons are more likely to believe in a double standard regarding gender roles and they identify more strongly with the traditional male role."
That being said, a dominance hierarchy social system like patriarchy drives insecurity, particularly in men, because you're always having to joust for rank and position, and your place within the "Man Box" so I do think you are onto something with this.
