...Rape as a Social Murder Sexual assault is the fastest growing crime in America. Women are the targets of rape, the most underreported violent crime. 60% of rapes go unreported to the police; cases that are reported and end up going to trial have a low rate of punishment for perpetrators (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 2008). Rape is a powerful tool of sexual violence because women are forced to assume the position of powerless victim, one who has no control over what is happening to her body. The ability to silence its victims also erases evidence of the crime, thus leading to a higher incidence of underreporting. Rape is part of a system of male dominance. This system has lead to opinions that the female body, especially the black female body, is available for men at their leisure, thus leading to a society tolerant of prostitution and sexual violence against low-income black women. Race is one of the predicting factors of sexual violence. Although 80% of all victims are white, minorities are more likely to be attacked (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 2008). Since the black female body is hypersexualized, due to negative media images, black women face injustices when trying to pursue justice for an unjust attack on their bodies. Societal male dominance has created an environment where sexual violence is tolerated; this environment combined with the social position of low-income black women in the United States has lead to disproportionate sexual victimization...
Words: 3628 - Pages: 15
...Rape in the United States April Sexton Rasmussen College Rape in the United States A major social problem in the United States is rape and sexual assault. Studies show that one in six American women are victims of rape, and every two and a half minutes someone is raped in the United States. That is alarming! Studies also show that more than half, 59% to be exact, of all rapes go unreported (RAINN, 2007). What is rape and why is it so common in America? Why are so many victims of rape and sexual assault not reporting it to authorities? In this paper I plan to answer and address these questions, and many more in depth issues involving rape such as male and lesbian rape survivors, incest, post traumatic stress disorder, and rape trauma syndrome. Rape and Sexual Assault Rape is forced sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Penetration can be by an object or by a body part. Rape victims may be forced through physical means or threats. Anyone can be a victim of rape: women, men or children, straight or gay. A rapist uses violence or force, or the threat of it, to take control over someone. Rape is a crime across the United States, whether the person committing it is an intimate, a date, a stranger, an acquaintance, or a family member. Sexual assault is unwanted sexual contact that stops just short of rape or attempted rape, which includes fondling and sexual touching. Of the 200,780 victims in 2004-2005, about 64,080 were...
Words: 2291 - Pages: 10
...Justice for Rape Survivors, an “At Risk Population” and Ways of Advocating for Them Emily R. Cazier North Idaho College Social Work 240 Kateri Ray Abstract This paper defines the “at risk population” of rape survivors in the United States. Sources for this paper were found through peer-reviewed academic papers and articles, websites for organizations that advocate for victims of sexual assault and rape, and legislative bills from the state of Idaho. This paper also seeks to define the social justice issues, legal and political issues, and advocation for these victims on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of society. Keywords: rape, rape victims, and advocating Social Justice for Rape Survivors, an “At Risk Population” and Ways of Advocating for Them Definition of the “at risk population”: The definition of rape and survivors of rape varies around the world and especially differs from state to state within the United States of America. In the advocacy community, victims of sexual assault are generally referred to as survivors because they have survived a horrible event. (Cazier, 2013) For the purpose of this paper and in keeping with that belief, I will also refer to these individuals as survivors. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) the general definition of rape in the United States is, “forced sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Penetration may be by a body part or object.” In order for the term rape is apply...
Words: 2002 - Pages: 9
...‘’Rape’’ a social problem that continues to occur daily and is seldom reported, the rape of a women and children is a violent and alarmingly common crime, often committed by men the victims know and trust A rapist can come from any race, social class or environment. For many years South Africa has been considered the rape capital of the world, some analysis’s tend to blame this scourge on our countries history of apartheid and violence. Over the years the precise definition of rape has varied and thus there is no single agreed definition of rape. In 2012, the FBI changed their definition from "The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will." to "The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object or by oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim." The new South African law around rape came into effect in December 2007. This law is called the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act, No. 32 of 2007 and considers that males too can be victims of rape. Rape is an act of Sexual Penetration of a victim, without their consent. Rape occurs when * Someone inserts their genital organs into the mouth, anus or genital organs of a victim * Any part of someone’s body, such as a finger, goes into the anus or genital organs of the victim * Any object, like a stick or a bottle is put into the anus or genital organs of the victim * The genital organs of an animal are put...
Words: 2798 - Pages: 12
...Head: Rape Trauma Syndrome Kianna Walls Forensic Psychology March 26, 2015 Abstract Rape is commonly defined as using force to make someone do a sexual act against their will. Rape can cause a person to experience symptoms that are very similar to post-trauma stress disorder. The person experiences symptoms such as nightmares, constant reliving of the event, and denial. Victims experiencing this go through rape trauma syndrome. RTS is not commonly used in court rooms as it is easily dissuaded. When it used in the courtroom, it is used more of a defense than to show that a victim can experience this. This paper explores what RTS is and how it used in courtrooms. It also explores why RTS should be used courtrooms, not as a defense but to show that it exist and that victims can experience this. Rape Trauma Syndrome There have been many trials that use rape-trauma syndrome as either a defense mechanism or as a way to say that rape happened and this was a consequence. But not many trials with expert testimony on RTS as allow to be used. Yet it should be as many people, both female and males, are raped and experience RTS. Rape trauma syndrome is defined by Gupta (2013) as a type of PTSD that consists of physical and emotional traits from post-rape that many people are rape victims share (pg. 415). RTS is very serious and those that have experienced this syndrome deserve to have it recognized in court. There are many misconceptions of rape. Greene...
Words: 2027 - Pages: 9
...Although sexual abuse is recognized as a serious violation of human well-being and of the law, no community has yet developed the mechanisms that ensure none of their youth will be sexually abused. Child sexual abuse is, sadly, an international problem of great magnitude that can affect children of all ages, sexes, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic classes. Upon invitation, this current publication aims at providing a brief overview of a few lessons we have learned from child sexual abuse research as to heighten awareness of mental health professionals on this utmost important and widespread social problem. This overview will focus on different kinds of sexual abuse throughout my paper. Keywords: Child sexual abuse; Review; Prevalence; Mental health outcomes; Prevention Sign up to receive new article alerts from Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental HealthSign up Sexual abuse remains a challenging topic which can be difficult to talk about. Sexual abuse refers to any action that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually they don't want to do. Sexual abuse can be listed in different categories such as child abuse and rape. Studies show that Florida, Ohio, California and Kentucky have the highest percent of child abuse and rape. There is still a lot we don’t know about the extent of people being abused. Sexual abuse is the most harmful and immoral criminal act, many children have been abused by their close relatives, and most rape victims don’t...
Words: 1323 - Pages: 6
...opinions of our fellow community members and educators to see how these service gaps may have affected them or may not have. We discovered that ContactLifeline is a nonprofit agency that provides specific services to sexual assault and rape survivors for the entire state of Delaware. ContactLifeline offers many options for survivors to receive multiple kinds of aftercare services, free of charge, but we noticed that their efforts in prevention were not being met on a full scale by our school system in an effective long term manner. We asked what is being done by our local schools to provide and promote education on this specific topic. What is being done to educate our youth on what healthy relationships and sexual behaviors are so that most importantly we see a decrease in victims and are not spending so much time and money on aftercare? This needs assessment addresses this service gap in depth and provides a possible policy change within our local school districts and potentially a state wide adaption of a sexual education program that includes a curriculum that teaches our youth what healthy relationships and sexual behaviors are and how to effectively maintain these. All of this is based on a hope to prevent the large amount of sexual violence and abuse we see in our society and start addressing it in our local communities. II. Nature and Extent of Problem Definition of Sexual Violence Sexual violence...
Words: 3860 - Pages: 16
...Child Abuse Adrianna White SOSC 499 DR. TURNER In 1999, an estimated 3,244,000 children were reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies as alleged victims of child maltreatment. Child abuse reports have maintained a steady growth for the past ten years, with the total number of reports nationwide increasing 45% since 1987 (Nation Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse (NCPCA) 2000 Annual Fifty State Survey). Neglect represents the most common type of reported and substantiated form of maltreatment. In 1996, 25 states provided the following breakdown for reported cases: 62% involved neglect, 25% physical abuse, 7% sexual abuse, 3% emotional maltreatment and 4% other. For substantiated cases, 31 states gave the following breakdowns: 60% neglect, 23% physical, 9% sexual, 4% emotional maltreatment and 5% other (NCPCA's 1996 Annual Fifty State Survey). In 1999, an estimated 1,401 child abuse and neglect related fatalities were confirmed by CPS agencies, nearly 4 every day. Since 1985, the rate of child abuse fatalities has increased by 39%. Based on these numbers, more than three children die each day as a result of child abuse or neglect (NCPCA's 1996 Annual Fifty State Survey). According to information from at least 18 states that were able to report the type of maltreatment which caused the child's death for at least one of the past three years. Approximately 54% of the deaths were due to physical abuse while 43% resulted...
Words: 1914 - Pages: 8
...December 2014 When discussing sexual assault or rape, people often overlook the effects and aftermath of the situation, especially non-physical effects. Those of us who have the privilege of receiving public education are taught about the importance of consent-getting someone’s permission before touching their body-in sexual education classes, or maybe we are taught by our parents or other guardians. Regardless of how we are taught, we all learn that it is wrong to touch other people when we are told “no”. However, we hardly ever take the time to consider that there are more lasting effects of sexual assault than making someone uncomfortable. Sexual assault damages victims’ health physically as well as psychologically (Campbell). It is most common to hear about the physical impacts sexual assault can have on victims. Perpetrators of sexual assault are motivated by feelings of power and control over their victims, and therefore are violent and forceful, which can cause lasting physical damage to the victim. One hundred percent of completed rapes, 39 percent of attempted rapes, and 17 percent of sexual assaults against females result in injured victims. Immediate physical effects a person can experience after a sexual assault or rape include bruising, bleeding, difficulty walking, soreness of the body, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, and tension headaches, among other effects. Some other physical consequences experienced by rape survivors include gynecological damages, pregnancy...
Words: 1803 - Pages: 8
...sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation, whether occurring in public and private life (Mallorca-Bernabe 1-2).” In simpler terms, domestic violence refers to the abusive treatment one evokes another in the family context. Fifty years ago, domestic violence was not even recognized as a significant study or as a legal problem. It was not until the time when feminist activism developed concerning domestic violence that this issue surfaced publicly. From then on, domestic violence has been understood as abuse not confined to the criterion of being physical but as an act involving emotional abuse and sexual assault (Schneider 353-363). Physical violence, being the most evident of the three, involves acts that somewhat suffuse physical torment upon the victim. This encompasses slapping, hitting, kicking, burning, punching, choking, shoving, beating, throwing things, locking out, restraining, and other acts designed to injure, hurt, endanger, or cause physical pain. Emotional abuse, believed to have longer lasting effects than physical abuse, entails saying things to despise another person. Taken into detail, this type of violence covers the act of consistently doing or saying things to shame,...
Words: 2580 - Pages: 11
...Rape Culture Views: Attitudes and Practices in our Society that Normalize or Excuse Rape. Brianna Burke Sociology of Women Dr. King June, 20, 2013 Abstract Rape Culture views are based on attitudes and practices in our society that normalize or excuse rape. Society excuses rape because it has come to the belief that sex is an act of male domination and female submission. Although we have laws against rape they do not appear to be a main focus point. Society seems to minimalizes rape to the point of not caring, in some cases making the victims seem to be at fault. Because it seems that the repercussions of the rapist are not as tough as they should be, rapists repeat their actions without fear of severe punishment. The average sentence for convicted rapists was 11.8 years, while the actual time served was 5.4 years. In the US because of our rape culture, rape in the military became a major problem in recent years, even up until this problem was publicized. When first brought into the public’s eye the military didn’t seem to be taking rape seriously. Rape is not just a nightmare for military women but for men as well. Rape seems to be more main stream than some might think. Society more often than not are blaming the victims, the proof is in a recent 12-minute video of young men in Steubenville, Ohio, joking about the brutal, extended gang rape of a 16-year-old girl. According to one study of 16,000 Americans, 17.6% of women report having been victims of rape or...
Words: 3888 - Pages: 16
...Josephine Nguyen Professor Mark Harrison English 1A 6 December 2013 Should the First Amendment Protect Sexual Images? Very few of us are strangers to pornography. Pornography is not only defined as four-letter-word and indecency but it also is an issue that has and will keep on calling upon a lot of debate. There are numerous different opinions about pornography. While many people who identify pornography as derogatory, disgraceful, and abominable, there are also a large number of people who recognize it as an attraction, a form of sexual countenance, and amusement. Pornography is sexually accurate substance, such as pictures, videos, or even writing, whose constitutional element is to cause sexual awaking. Moreover, sexually explicit material becomes more and more abundance on magazines, television, movies, and on billboards, and it can be much more accessible through the Web. After exploring the war on pornography, although there are a lot of people who stand for pornography, I still think that pornography should be censored on magazines, movies, television, and on the Internet, and there also should be limits for pornography because it’s harmful to our society. First of all, let’s talk about the differences between sexual images of consenting adults and sexual images of children. Most people consider pornography to be stirring images of consenting adults. In particular, sexual images of consenting adults are images of someone who is legally eighteen years old...
Words: 1731 - Pages: 7
...Child abuse is a very common occurrence in society today, although some people may not be aware that the abuse occurs in the home where the bruises can be hidden behind clothes, makeup and lies. There are four different types of abuse, physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect, unfortunately many cases of abuse become fatalities. Emotional abuse includes acts or the failure to act by parents or caretakers of the child that have caused or could cause serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional or mental disorders (International Child Abuse Network-ICAN). This can include bizarre forms of punishment, such as confinement in a closet , belittling, rejecting, threatening, terrorizing, scapegoating or blaming the child. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) 2.9% of child abuse fatalities were associated with emotional abuse. Sexual abuse is the inappropriate sexual behavior between an adult and a child. It includes fondling a child, making a child fondle an adult, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, and sexual exploitation. To be considered child abuse these acts have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of the child (baby sitter, parent, day care provider) or related to the child. According to NCANDS 0.3% of child abuse fatalities are due to sexual abuse. Physical abuse, is the infliction of physical injury upon the child. This can include burning, hitting, punching, shaking, kicking, beating, or otherwise hurting a child. ...
Words: 1294 - Pages: 6
...Brittanie Adams Professor Gibson-Lucas 1st Year Seminar 1 October 2015 Child Abuse and Suicide Child abuse and suicide, two of the most well-known topics worldwide for all the wrong reasons. When many people hear the words “child abuse” they easily assume it was some form of physical maltreatment, but child abuse is often sexual molestation of a child (“Sexual Abuse”). Suicide is known as the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Child abuse and Suicide are two completely different topics that are related in many different ways that most people are unaware of. In 1986 there were an estimated 155,900 cases of child sexual abuse identified by scientists, a 221% increase over 1980 (Finkelhor 79). When a perpetrator engages with a child this way, they are committing a crime that can have lasting effects on the victim for years. Child sexual abuse does not need to include physical contact between a perpetrator and a child. Sexual abuse on a child can range from obscene digital interaction to intercourse, even anything causing mental harm to the child/minor. Often times people picture a perpetrator as someone who is a stranger to the child or an adult, but the abuser is many times known by the child or family and has a relationship with the child. As many as 93% of victims under the age of 18 know the abuser (RAINN). Often times people wonder why the victims don’t speak up and it's not because they don't want to, but because the abuser threatens them with a number of...
Words: 1190 - Pages: 5
..."There are no recorded cases of overdose fatalities attributed to cannabis, and the estimated lethal dose for humans extrapolated from animal studies is so high that it cannot be achieved," stated in a 1995 report prepared by the World Health Organization. (Medical Marijuana Mall USA, 2013). Medical marijuana is safer than prescription drugs, alcohol, and spice. Marijuana is more beneficial to use than prescription drugs because of the lack of serious side effects. The most common side effects of marijuana are coughing, wheezing, and bronchitis. These side effects are easily taken care of by using a vaporizer or preparing foods with marijuana. Marijuana is less dependable than prescription medication such as pain killers. Prescription medications are now killing more people in the United States than illegal street drugs. Even more importantly the consumption of marijuana cannot result in a fatal overdose. (Medical Marijuana Mall USA, 2013). Someone can’t even take a Tylenol or Aspirin without there being serious side effects to the liver and other organs in the body. Medical marijuana is not lethal, prescription and even non-prescription pills, powders, liquids, and injections are. (Medical Marijuana Project, 2012). A CBS news editorial by Dr. Mitch Earleywine mentions that medical marijuana can be marked cheaper to use than certain prescription drugs. This is especially relevant to patients in chronic pain who do not have medical insurance and need to pay out of...
Words: 1989 - Pages: 8
