Monday, May 2, 2011
Significance of Rape
Rape can be broadly defined as sex without consent but it is understood as a crime of aggression because the focus is on hurting and dominating. There are many types and factors that influence this horrendous act. Rape has been a consistent problem for women over the years. Statistics show that with one in three to one in four women are sexually assaulted in their lifetime. It is sad to say that seven out of ten women reported to have known their offender whether it was a relative, friend or someone that they just were acquainted with. Less than 5% of sexually assaulted women reported what happened to them. Women tend to not report the sexual assault because they are afraid, they feel ashamed or that no one will believe them. Women fail to realize that if they do not tell nothing will be done about the situation and the person that did this to them is still out there possibly repeating the offense or attacking other women. Even a form of acquaintance rape is women being raped by their own husbands. In 1993 marital rape became a crime in all 50 states, but why would rape in any case married or unmarried not be a crime? Other common factors found especially on college campuses are alcohol, and drugs, including the date rape drug. Women need to know the significance of rape and the scars that they leave on them, we as a society need to make women feel comfortable enough to come forward if they are violated in any such way. Hopefully legislation implemented will prevent the increased rates such as in 1993, and allow for us to have healthy sexual relationships.
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It is so scary to think how many people are effected by rape, especially women. It's so sad to think that rape victims are too afraid to come forward and turn in their rapist. Because of this, so many cases go unsolved, and the victims are allowing their attacker to walk free and possibly rape again. I do understand how scary it could be, and I'm sure many victims just want to forget it happened and move on. We need to as a society help make victims feel comfortable and safe coming forward so that we can stop the vicious cycle from going on.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the most important steps in changing attitudes about rape and sexual assault is ending silence and complacency about it. I was sexually assaulted at the age of 15 by my boyfriend. It's taken years to feel okay saying this out loud and longer to feel okay saying it (or having it known) publicly.
ReplyDeleteBut I do see some problems in the route we're taking in changing rape-attitudes. Even the term "survivor" is loaded with the expectation that you're 'over' the incident and have 'moved on.' But the truth is, you'll have good days and bad days, and hopefully over time, you'll have much more good than bad days. Also, while we may be moving away from victim blaming for her/his own assault (or so I hope anyway), we're now turning it into victim blaming for whether or not the perpetrator does it again.
I absolutely agree that we need to make victims/survivors/human-beings-who've-been-through-some-crazy-trauma feel safe in speaking out, but for changing the cycle of violence, I think we need to focus too on who's committing these crimes and how do we confront and help them so these crimes are not repeated.
I know how serious this problem is. Sometimes women in developing countries feel they have to commite suiside after being raped because of the shame. However, we need to think about the idea we can help women who are having hard time like that.
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