Sexual Assault And Rape
Drinking, sex, and college students, what a dangerous mix. Sexual assault and rape are serious social, emotional, and public health issues in the United States. A new survey of college students, one of the largest ever focusing on sexual assault and sexual misconduct, has reignited the debate over just how big a problem sexual assault on campus really is. (Wallace, 2015) The majority of sexual assault and sexual misconduct among college students usually involve drugs or alcohol. A study found that an estimated 100,000 sexual assaults are reported each year, and roughly 62% were drug affiliated. (Smith, 2010) Millions of young students enter college expecting freedom, meeting new friends, getting good grades, and having lots of fun. However,
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no one enters college expecting to be a victim of sexual assault, sexual misconduct, or rape. The goal is to raise awareness around the unsatisfying reality of sexual assault that still exists on college campuses today, it is vital to provide suggestions for how campus administrators might better respond to sexual assault in light of current research and the experiences of survivors. Sexual assault is defined as any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.
Sexual assault ranges from kissing to touching to rape. A recent article states that among female college students, 23% said they experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact, carried out by force or threat of force, or while they were incapacitated because of alcohol and drugs, according to the new survey by the Association of American Universities. Nearly 11% said the unwanted contact included penetration or oral sex. These documented numbers regarding sexual assault is something that should concern all of us. Although this specific survey’s findings were strikingly similar to other recent studies; the significance of this latest effort is its size. More than 150,000 students participated from 27 universities, including some of the most prominent schools across the country. (Wallace, …show more content…
2015)
Statistics prove that for college women seniors, the number reporting unwanted sexual contact of any kind carried out by force or while incapacitated was even higher than 23% for all female college students. Within this survey that was sent out to more than 780,000 students, only about 150,000 students, roughly 19% responded. Researchers conclude that the results could be slightly biased because students who did not participate may have been less likely to report that they experienced unwanted sexual contact. More than 50% of women who have experienced some of the most serious incidents, including forced penetration, did not report it because they did not think it was “serious enough”. Often times, survivors of sexual assault do not report their experience to the criminal justice system in order to move forward. Many victims feel as if the criminal justice system re-victimizes them in the process. It is believed that only 15.8 to 35% of all sexual assaults are reported to the police. (U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, nd) Many survivors and victims find comfort in the various services provided by the Rape Crisis and Recovery Center and other similar programs. The victim’s relationship with the offender has a strong impact on the essence of reporting the crime. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, T. Hart and C. Rennison, “Reporting Crime to the Police”, when an offender is an intimate partner or was previously an intimate partner to the victim, only 25% of sexual assaults are reported to the police. When the offender is a friend or an acquaintance, only 18 to 40% of sexual assaults are reported. When the offender is a stranger, only 46 to 66% of sexual assault is reported. Survivors and victims give many reasons as to why they did not and will not report the assault. Those include fear of reprisal, rejection, and fear of lack of evidence to name a few. Due to the low report rates, roughly only 9% of of all rapists get prosecuted. Only 5% lead to a felony conviction. Only 3% of rapists spend time in jail. The other 97% walk free. (Probability Statistics Calculated By the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network, “Reporting Rates,” 2013)
Sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and rape can and does happen to anyone, of any race, of any gender.
Across the 27 universities that participated in the sexual assault survey, men experienced much lower, but still significant amounts of sexual assault. 8.6% of male seniors said they experienced some kind of unwanted sexual contact. 2.9% of male seniors said they experienced penetrations, attempted penetration, or oral sex, carried out by force or incapacitation. (Pérez-Peña, 2015) According to the Association of American Universities one in four transgender students have experienced sexual assault since enrolling into college. Transgender students are at higher risks that any other segment of the campus population, with 15.5% reporting that they have been sexually assaulted. (New, 2015) The same survey that found high rates of female students reporting sexual assault finds that nearly a quarter a quarter of transgender students experience some form of sexual violence while in college says Jake New, author of The ‘Invisible’ One in Four. Based on the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women and one in sixteen men are sexually assaulted while in college. More than 90% of sexual assault victims do not report the assault. 63.3% of men at one university who self-reported acts qualifying as rape or attempted rape admitted to committing repeat
rapes.
Sexual assault can leave its victims feeling shocked, confused, and overwhelmed. The experience is lonely and frightening. According to the Sex Abuse Treatment Center; victims may find themselves unprepared to deal with the thoughts and emotions that arise. It is common that victims may not be able to eat, sleep, or carry out activities that used to come naturally. Sexual assault comes as an unexpected invader in one’s life. No two people react the same way to sexual assault. However, certain patterns are common, as well as the steps to recovery. The Sex Abuse Treatment Center states that there are generally three steps to recover from sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and rape. The first step is Immediate or Acute Phase. This phase can last from days to weeks after the initial assault. During this phase, victims may experience fears about their personal safety, anxiety, sleeping and eating disturbances, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and mood swings. Often times feelings of guilt, self-blame, shame, and anger are present. Although, it is important to know that this is a normal reaction to trauma and it will subside. The second step to recovery after a sexual assault is the Outward Adjustment Phase. This phase can last anywhere from weeks to months following the assault. Victims may find themselves changing their normal lifestyles due to fear and phobias. People who have suffered from sexual assault may limit their time outside, move residences, and avoid going out alone. During this stage of recovery, many people experience sexual dysfunction including fear and avoidance of sex, problems with arousal and desire, and flashbacks during sex. The final stage of recovery is the Integration/Resolution Phase. This phase can last from months to years following the assault. Stages two and three often times overlap each other with similar feelings and emotions. The most common long-term problems are fear about personal safety, anxiety, and intrusive recollections of the experience. The goal of this phase is to find a new way of being in the world. While many victims may never be the way they were before, they do not have to be any less than what they were before. With the right support, many victims can evolve newfound strengths and insights.
Sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and rape is a dehumanizing experience and a profound violation of human beings. Many researchers and sociologists believe that an increase in awareness and education for both men and women can reduce the crimes of sexual assault that occur at colleges and universities. Although legal definitions vary from state to state, sexual assault is any form of sexual activity carried on without consent. Sexua assault, sexual misconduct, and rape can and does happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or sexual orientation. Consent must be informed; the person being acted upon must be aware of what is going on, and mutual, both parties have input and want to participate in a given sexual act. These lines are often blurred throughout college campuses when drugs and alcohol play a factor. Many colleges and universities have taken many steps to improving the issue of sexual assault. The three goals of colleges and universities regarding sexual assault is to educate students, faculty, and staff about sexual violence, to prevent sexual assault involving members of the campus community, and to provide an appropriate response when sexual assault occurs. However, there will always be more room for improvement on such a vulnerable topic. To increase safety on campus, students should always have a plan. Following tips such as knowing your resources, staying alert, being careful about your location, having a backup plan, and being secure may reduce students risks for many different types of crimes, including sexual violence. Sexual violence can happen to anyone, and it is not the only crime that happens on college campuses. It is very important to remember that students who are sexually assaulted on campus that it is not their fault. Help and support are always readily available.
no one enters college expecting to be a victim of sexual assault, sexual misconduct, or rape. The goal is to raise awareness around the unsatisfying reality of sexual assault that still exists on college campuses today, it is vital to provide suggestions for how campus administrators might better respond to sexual assault in light of current research and the experiences of survivors. Sexual assault is defined as any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.
Sexual assault ranges from kissing to touching to rape. A recent article states that among female college students, 23% said they experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact, carried out by force or threat of force, or while they were incapacitated because of alcohol and drugs, according to the new survey by the Association of American Universities. Nearly 11% said the unwanted contact included penetration or oral sex. These documented numbers regarding sexual assault is something that should concern all of us. Although this specific survey’s findings were strikingly similar to other recent studies; the significance of this latest effort is its size. More than 150,000 students participated from 27 universities, including some of the most prominent schools across the country. (Wallace, …show more content…
2015)
Statistics prove that for college women seniors, the number reporting unwanted sexual contact of any kind carried out by force or while incapacitated was even higher than 23% for all female college students. Within this survey that was sent out to more than 780,000 students, only about 150,000 students, roughly 19% responded. Researchers conclude that the results could be slightly biased because students who did not participate may have been less likely to report that they experienced unwanted sexual contact. More than 50% of women who have experienced some of the most serious incidents, including forced penetration, did not report it because they did not think it was “serious enough”. Often times, survivors of sexual assault do not report their experience to the criminal justice system in order to move forward. Many victims feel as if the criminal justice system re-victimizes them in the process. It is believed that only 15.8 to 35% of all sexual assaults are reported to the police. (U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, nd) Many survivors and victims find comfort in the various services provided by the Rape Crisis and Recovery Center and other similar programs. The victim’s relationship with the offender has a strong impact on the essence of reporting the crime. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, T. Hart and C. Rennison, “Reporting Crime to the Police”, when an offender is an intimate partner or was previously an intimate partner to the victim, only 25% of sexual assaults are reported to the police. When the offender is a friend or an acquaintance, only 18 to 40% of sexual assaults are reported. When the offender is a stranger, only 46 to 66% of sexual assault is reported. Survivors and victims give many reasons as to why they did not and will not report the assault. Those include fear of reprisal, rejection, and fear of lack of evidence to name a few. Due to the low report rates, roughly only 9% of of all rapists get prosecuted. Only 5% lead to a felony conviction. Only 3% of rapists spend time in jail. The other 97% walk free. (Probability Statistics Calculated By the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network, “Reporting Rates,” 2013)
Sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and rape can and does happen to anyone, of any race, of any gender.
Across the 27 universities that participated in the sexual assault survey, men experienced much lower, but still significant amounts of sexual assault. 8.6% of male seniors said they experienced some kind of unwanted sexual contact. 2.9% of male seniors said they experienced penetrations, attempted penetration, or oral sex, carried out by force or incapacitation. (Pérez-Peña, 2015) According to the Association of American Universities one in four transgender students have experienced sexual assault since enrolling into college. Transgender students are at higher risks that any other segment of the campus population, with 15.5% reporting that they have been sexually assaulted. (New, 2015) The same survey that found high rates of female students reporting sexual assault finds that nearly a quarter a quarter of transgender students experience some form of sexual violence while in college says Jake New, author of The ‘Invisible’ One in Four. Based on the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women and one in sixteen men are sexually assaulted while in college. More than 90% of sexual assault victims do not report the assault. 63.3% of men at one university who self-reported acts qualifying as rape or attempted rape admitted to committing repeat
rapes.
Sexual assault can leave its victims feeling shocked, confused, and overwhelmed. The experience is lonely and frightening. According to the Sex Abuse Treatment Center; victims may find themselves unprepared to deal with the thoughts and emotions that arise. It is common that victims may not be able to eat, sleep, or carry out activities that used to come naturally. Sexual assault comes as an unexpected invader in one’s life. No two people react the same way to sexual assault. However, certain patterns are common, as well as the steps to recovery. The Sex Abuse Treatment Center states that there are generally three steps to recover from sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and rape. The first step is Immediate or Acute Phase. This phase can last from days to weeks after the initial assault. During this phase, victims may experience fears about their personal safety, anxiety, sleeping and eating disturbances, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and mood swings. Often times feelings of guilt, self-blame, shame, and anger are present. Although, it is important to know that this is a normal reaction to trauma and it will subside. The second step to recovery after a sexual assault is the Outward Adjustment Phase. This phase can last anywhere from weeks to months following the assault. Victims may find themselves changing their normal lifestyles due to fear and phobias. People who have suffered from sexual assault may limit their time outside, move residences, and avoid going out alone. During this stage of recovery, many people experience sexual dysfunction including fear and avoidance of sex, problems with arousal and desire, and flashbacks during sex. The final stage of recovery is the Integration/Resolution Phase. This phase can last from months to years following the assault. Stages two and three often times overlap each other with similar feelings and emotions. The most common long-term problems are fear about personal safety, anxiety, and intrusive recollections of the experience. The goal of this phase is to find a new way of being in the world. While many victims may never be the way they were before, they do not have to be any less than what they were before. With the right support, many victims can evolve newfound strengths and insights.
Sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and rape is a dehumanizing experience and a profound violation of human beings. Many researchers and sociologists believe that an increase in awareness and education for both men and women can reduce the crimes of sexual assault that occur at colleges and universities. Although legal definitions vary from state to state, sexual assault is any form of sexual activity carried on without consent. Sexua assault, sexual misconduct, and rape can and does happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or sexual orientation. Consent must be informed; the person being acted upon must be aware of what is going on, and mutual, both parties have input and want to participate in a given sexual act. These lines are often blurred throughout college campuses when drugs and alcohol play a factor. Many colleges and universities have taken many steps to improving the issue of sexual assault. The three goals of colleges and universities regarding sexual assault is to educate students, faculty, and staff about sexual violence, to prevent sexual assault involving members of the campus community, and to provide an appropriate response when sexual assault occurs. However, there will always be more room for improvement on such a vulnerable topic. To increase safety on campus, students should always have a plan. Following tips such as knowing your resources, staying alert, being careful about your location, having a backup plan, and being secure may reduce students risks for many different types of crimes, including sexual violence. Sexual violence can happen to anyone, and it is not the only crime that happens on college campuses. It is very important to remember that students who are sexually assaulted on campus that it is not their fault. Help and support are always readily available.