Sexual Assault Effect

Did you know one in five people in college are sexually assaulted? How would you feel if you or someone you loved were sexually assaulted? Unfortunately, this is a reality that many people face everyday and it is for this reason that it is a prevalent issue that demands more awareness. More than often, the victims are women of the age of 18-34, however, this issue affects men as well. Evidently, sexual assault is a detrimental problem that has marked the lives of many people due to the trauma and other psychological issues that is causes. To Begin, sexual assault affects a broad spectrum of people that goes beyond cisgender males and females. While sexual assault victims are typically women it also affects men, intersexuals, and transsexuals.
Surely, discrimination is a key factor relative to gender that can take a myriad of forms such as physical or verbal abuse. Despite the fact that the victims are obviously not at fault for such an awful experience, numerous victims continue to get blamed and stigmatized. This is unfortunate because if this were to happen to a man, he would most likely not get blamed or be treated in an unfair manner. Also, sexual assault is a way to control or have power over someone who may be vulnerable or someone of a particular race, class, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexuality. According to Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs in “What is Sexual Violence, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Assault?”: “Typically, sexual assault is not about sex, but about manipulation, exploitation, and exerting power and control over another person. Sexual assault is a tool of sexism, or sexist oppression, and perpetrators use sexual assault as a weapon to humiliate and dominate others.” This shows, that the perpetrators use sexual assault to repress the victims. In all, sexual assault has roots in sexism and discrimination, which are both oppressive
Often, victims react differently to sexual assault, but the most common reaction results in mental health distresses and disorders. Depression is one of the more common effects on victims of sexual assault because the victims start feeling used or worthless. Also, flashbacks and PTSD could be a result of sexual assault because they can start getting paranoid or start having flashbacks anytime they are in a similar setting or situation. The aftermath may also include getting an STI, self harm, substance abuse, eating disorders, pregnancy, sleep disorders, suicide, and many more. According to Joyful Heart Foundation in “Effects of Sexual Assault and Rape”: “Many people who go through traumatic events may find that it can take some time to re-adjust and cope for a period after the event. The residual mental, physical and spiritual effects of sexual assault and rape can permeate the daily lives of survivors, which make it difficult to heal.” This shows that it is very hard for victims to get a grip on reality after being sexually assaulted. Overall, sexual assault can lead to long term damaging, psychological health