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Sociology Of Rape

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According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey an American is sexually assaulted every 107 seconds. The prevalence of sexual assault is statistically difficult to analyze because of the frequency of unreported cases. Victims of sexual assault endure an extensive recovery process to regain power and control. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) defines sexual assault as, “sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Some forms of sexual assault include: Penetration of victim’s body (rape), attempted rape, forcing to perform sexual acts (oral sex), fondling or unwanted sexual touching” (RAINN, 2016). Sexual assault perpetrators thrive in environments where victims …show more content…
Victims of rape experience both acute and chronic psychological consequences. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention identifies the immediate psychological consequences of sexual violence as: “shock, denial, fear, confusion, anxiety, withdrawal, shame/guilt, nervousness and distrust. Victims may also experience the following chronic psychological consequences: depression, generalized anxiety, suicidal behavior, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), avoidance of sex, low self-esteem and self blame” (CDC, 2015). All of which are feelings discussed in the personal testimonies in, The Hunting Ground.
Before proceeding further, the rarity behind the story of Annie and Andrea must be addressed. The Hunting Ground, serves as a tool of inspiration for other victims alike, however, survivors viewing the documentary may feel defeated by the duo’s ability to publically exceed expectations throughout the recovery process. Annie and Andrea served as sensational advocates for others, while overcoming trauma of their own. It is also important to note the rarity of multiple victims recovering together from sexual assault. Perhaps this highlights the importance of attending support …show more content…
There are now over 70 schools under investigation by the Department of Education. All U.S. colleges are legally required to collect and annually submit statistics of campus rape occurrences. Once the statistics are published they can be accessed by the public. The Hunting Ground, served as a major tool to raise awareness about the unreliable reports submitted by colleges. Administrators fear campus rapes will have a negative impact on the colleges reputation, resulting in decreased enrollment. The Hunting Ground, reports one in five women is sexually assaulted during college, yet in 2014, ninety-one percent of colleges reported zero incidents of rape. This statistic indicates that young women and men are not only abused by their attackers but also but their

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