Rape causes depression, loss of self-esteem, self-incrimination, and suicide. Therefore the consequences of rape should be life in prison or put in a mental institution. Rape should be banned nationally because you don’t know who could be raped next. Victims fear personal and family safety after a tragic incident like being raped. Narration The trauma of rape can lead to depression and can put victims in a horrible mental state of mind. Symptoms of depression can go unnoticed for long periods of time especially if the victims doesn’t speak out and tell someone. “Symptoms of depression are social withdrawnness, lack of interest in things the victim would normally enjoy, feelings of worthless unexplained irritability, and inability to sleep. After rape or sexual abuse, survivors often find their self-esteem suffers significantly”.(After silence. org) The way victims view themselves and others change significantly after being raped. They may lose their integrity and power to continue a balanced life. It is very common for rape survivors to blame themselves for what happened. They believe they could of prevented the incident or even stopped it from happening. When victims finally come to the realization that it wasn’t their fault and someone else had complete control and power over them is when they really break down. It’s better for victims to believe that they had a part in the event rather the admit to themselves that they were helpless and couldn‘t do anything. Many offenders tend to express and do certain things to make victims get into the mindset that they endure. Not only do rape victims have suicidal thoughts, but they also act on these thought as well. Sexual assaults are not uncommon at all. There is no specific re... ... middle of paper ... ... used data from Texas laws. I used this source to support my claim that rape consequences should be more severe. U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sex Offenses and Offenders. 1997. In this source it elaborates on how men are being rape just as much as women are. Even though it seems more common for only women to be rape both genders are affected. This source supports my claim that rape needs to be taken more seriously. I used this source to support my claims. U.S. Department of Justice. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2012. Rape isn’t a problem for only one gender, but both. These statistics shows evidence that woman as well as men have been mostly likely raped by someone they are familiar with. The statistics also expresses that rape happen anywhere. I use this source to show evidence that rape affects both genders and the severity of the problem.
According to the authors of “Enhancing Care and Advocacy for Sexual Assault Survivors on Canadian Campuses”, “Sexual assault has immediate and long-term health consequences for victims including suicide, HIV infection, depression, and social isolation,” (Quinlan, Clarke, and Miller). Another common side effect these victims face is post-traumatic stress disorder. Someone experiencing PTSD may have random outburst of anger, have trouble concentrating on day to day tasks, or may even have flashbacks of their attack. These consequences make it hard for victims to get back into the normal routine of everyday life (“Effects of Sexual Assault”). In a case at Amherst College a young women named Angie Epifano faced many of these consequences after she was raped by an acquaintance in one of the college’s dormitories. While immediately choosing to ignore what had happened to her Epifano soon became an emotional wreck. Before the attack Epifano had believed herself to be an extremely strong and independent individual. In an article done on Epifano’s story she stated “Everything I had believed myself to be was gone in 30 minutes,” (Epifano). Sexual assault takes away a piece of someone. With their hopes and dreams clouded by the tragedy they have endured, victims face a lifetime of
In what is sure to be a very solemn matter for all American students and their families across the country , in January 2013 , President Obama, the office of the Vice President and the White House Council on Women and Girls converged and issued a renewed call to action against rape and sexual assault report which analyzes the most recent reliable data about this issue and identifies who are the most in peril victims of this malefaction, investigates the costs of this violence both for victims and communities , and describes the replication very often inadequate of the US malefactor equity system.
90 percent of the victims of sexual assault are women and 10 percent are men, and nearly 99 percent of offenders in single-victim assaults are men (Bureau of Justice Statistics 2010). According to https://www.justice.gov/ovw/sexual-assault, Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape. () Sexual Assault can happen to anyone, not just women it can happen to men and kids as well. Sexual Assault these days are a big trouble and it is not being addressed in good order, and it is
Rape is an issue that usually occurs to females and is more likely executed by males than females. Nonetheless, a female’s position in rape can and does go further than being the victim. Considering that women can be the perpetrator in this sexual assault, who are their victims? Rape can occur to anyone by anyone. In the same way a female can be a victim of rape, so can a male. According to RAINN, an anti-sexual assault organization, “About 3% of American men have experienced attempted or completed rape as of 1998, an estimated 4.5 million as of 2010” (Who Are the Victims?). However, men are not necessarily the victims of solely female-on-male rape. In fact, the majority of males who are raped are the victims of male-on-male rape and
Rape affects you on a personal level because of the mental scarring it gives you. Someone can be scarred for life and never be able to recover from that traumatic event. It also may ruin your confidence and make you feel embarrassed. It physically scars you, from the pain of rape to
It is very important that we are invulnerable to rape. Rape can happen to anyone at any time. Rape prevention strategies help to decrease the risk, but the risk never drops to zero percent. In our society of rape myths, gender ideology, and exposure of sex in the media, especially in advertising, and especially when it involves violence, rape will be in our culture for a long time. Our culture promotes this brand of sexuality and we turn our cheeks to rape and any negative form of sex.
Unfortunately, there are many sexual assaults, or rapes, per year. According to the Affirmative Action Office at Iowa State University, there have been at least two reported rapes per weekend since classes have begun this year. Throughout the United States in 1996, there were 98,000 completed rapes, and 219,000 attempted rapes (Stanford University, 1999). Most of these assaults were upon women. In fact, women were ten times more likely than men to become victims of rape or sexual assault in 1996, a reality that still holds true (Stanford University, 1999). The number of sexual assaults upon men is so minor that statistics are rarely given.
Sexual assault is an offense that plagues many U.S. citizens. Although some studies show that rape is on the decline, other studies report that the phenomena actually occuring is that less rape victims are reporting the crime. In fact, approximately 68% of sexual assaults go unreported to the police according to the U.S. Department of Justice in a National Crime Victimization Survey from 2008-2012. It is common knowledge that rape victims are usually severely traumatized after the event, which leaves them susceptible to various emotions such as shame, anxiety, numbness, fear, denial, and guilt. Because of this, many rape victims decide to repress their experience and let it go unheard. However, not only does this prevent them from healing emotionally,
Women are more likely to be victims of rape or sexual violence than men. Seventy-eight percent of victims of women and twenty-two percent are men. Women who are raped before the age of eighteen are twice as likely to be raped again as adults. Victims are at greater risk of rape or sexual assault while intoxicated. ("Sexual Violence: Fact Sh...
“Every 107 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted” (“Statistics”). With the prevalence of rape in this country, one must suspect that there is something more to the frequency rape than the rapist himself. Of course, individuals need to be held responsible for their actions--especially when those actions include the despicable crime of sexual assault--however these individuals are not all shady characters hanging out in alleys waiting for a victim: they are seemingly normal citizens who are a byproduct of society’s acceptance and normalization of rape. Rape culture is ubiquitous in American society today, and needs to be addressed. Rape culture is a real problem in society that needs to be recognized, is problematic on college campuses,
That also relates to why men are less likely to report being victimized because they feel they will be judged and their masculinity make come into question. Since male rape often goes unrecognized there is a lack of services available for male survivors. So there is also a lack in knowing exactly how to cope in a positive way after sexual
To be raped is to be sexually assaulted forcefully and unwillingly. According to the Uniform Crime reports, of all serious offenses, rape is probably “the most under reported crime.” Victims of rape are not only violated physically, they are violated mentally as well. It is a very traumatic experience that woman have to deal with for the remainder of their life. They usually incur symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome, stress disorders, fear, constant memories of the attack, a loss of confidence, and shame. (Mary E. Williams) These effects alter the victim’s life severely and can interfere with their day to day life and relationships. Being raped is a horrific crime that no woman should ever have to endure. In many cases victims of rape may become impregnated by the perpetrator leaving the victim to another form of violation. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, at least 9,100 abortions each year are attributed to pregnancies that occur because of forced sexual intercourse. (Irin Carmon)
Immediately after an attack rape victims feel withdrawn, they become detached from the people they used to be closest with. Shock is a big factor of an attack; often rape victims are too traumatized to even discuss their attack. After the initial shock has passed many symptoms are experienced like: loss of sleep, loss of appetite, depression, anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks of the actual occurrence (Pat Walker Health Center). A lot of rape victims often respond to their attacks by blaming themselves for their attacks. Victims blame themselves by saying things like “I shouldn’t have had so much to drink” or “I should’ve fought back.” The victims themselves are never to blame in a situation like rape; the incident is the attackers fault.
According to rainn.org, 93% of juvenile sexual assault victims know their attacker; where 34.2% were family members, 58.7% were acquaintances and only 7% were strangers. Rainn.org also states that victims of sexual assault are 3 times more likely to suffer from depression; 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, 26 times more likely to abuse drugs, and 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide. The 17,342 pregnancies were causes of rape in 2012. If a girl who was 17 years old or younger was raped and in one of these percentiles, she would have to live with a baby that reminds her of her attack, which can also lead substance abuse or mental health issues.
After a traumatic experience such as this, you will never be the same emotionally. Some people end up being worse off than others, but it does take a big toll on the victim in every situation. There are a lot of emotional effects from a sexual assault. A few of these effects are: changes in trusting others, anger and blame, shock, numbness, loss of control, disorientation, helplessness, sense of vulnerability, fear, self-blame/guilt, and feeling that all of these emotions are a sign of weakness. In such a situation as this, it is never the victim's fault, but they often assume it is. They think that they caused the assault, especially if they know who did it.