soc 360 Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Sexual Assault and Child Sexual Abuse

Case Study: New Jersey High School Incident (2008)

• In 2008, three students from a high school in New Jersey faced charges for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old special education student at home.

• Romal Roberts (18) and two 16-year-olds invited the girl to his house, where they assaulted her for several hours, forcing her to perform sex acts and abusing her with a broomstick.

• Roberts was characterized by peers and neighbors as a polite, responsible teen, contradicting the severity of the crime.

Statistics on Sexual Violence

• Sexual violence against women is a common issue in the U.S.

• The U.S. Department of Justice (2010) reports a decline in rape rates from 1993 to 2010, followed by fluctuations.

• As of 2022, CDC survey results highlight:

  • 26.1% of women reported experiences of completed or attempted rape during their lifetime.

  • Rates of non-Hispanic Black and White women: approximately 29%.

  • Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander: lower, yet significant rates.

  • Native American and Alaskan Native women show notably higher rates.

• Most rapists are known to their victims (87% identified as family, intimate partners, friends, or acquaintances).

Underreporting of Sexual Assault

• Sexual assault crimes are notoriously underreported, affecting the reliability of statistics.

• Differences in survey methodologies lead to varying results; context matters significantly.

• The #MeToo movement has not significantly altered official reporting rates but has inspired state legislation regarding workplace sexual harassment.

Effects of the #MeToo Movement

• Research (Jaffe et al., 2021) indicates no significant change in rape prevalence.

• Public recognition of past unwanted experiences may have increased, re-defining them as sexual assault.

• There remains a disconnect between public awareness and a reduction in assault rates or changes in male perpetrator behavior.

Understanding Rape

• Rape is defined as nonconsensual penetration of any body part or object.

• Key questions include who is likely to rape, planning and execution of rapes, understanding different forms of rape, and victim-blaming.

• Sexual assault reactions vary by victims and law enforcement; caregiving preparedness is essential.

Patterns of Rape

• Rapists tend to be male; common forms include gang rape, acquaintance rape, and campus rape.

• Racial and situational factors complicate the assessment of rape prevalence (e.g., underreporting challenges).

• Differences arise in rapist behaviors based on relationships to their victims (i.e., acquaintance vs. stranger).

Racial, Age, and Situational Factors

• Racial biases can influence police reporting and prosecution rates.

• Intraracial nature is highlighted in Amir's study showing that most rapes involved offenders and victims of the same race due to segregation and accessibility.

Common Myths

• Myth: Most rapists target strangers.

  • Reality: Most victims know their assailants.

• Myth: Increased integration leads to a rise in interracial rapes.

  • Reality: Most rapes remain primarily intraracial.

• Myth: Rape incidence rises in summer due to passion heat.

  • Reality: Social interactions increase; no direct correlation of temperature with rape rates.

Acquaintance Rape and Campus Culture

• Acquaintance rape relies on verbal/psychological coercion, often influenced by perceptions of consent.

• Male aggression normalized in many college environments; facilitating a culture of sexual assault.

Factors Affecting Rape Survivor Responses

• Survivors experience various responses, often related to societal blame that complicates recovery.

• Many are reluctant to seek help, fearing societal stigma and lack of support.

The Cycle of Victimization

• Victims may experience a transition from acknowledgment of assault to societal pressures to self-blame.

• An unacknowledged survivor may become confused and may internalize feelings of guilt rather than seeking support.

Consequences of Rape

• Rape affects survivors psychologically (PTSD, depression) intensely, compounded by societal stigma.

• Survivors often witness ongoing relationships challenged by guilt and distrust stemming from their trauma.

Male Victims

• Men can also be victims; their experiences often lead to underreporting and a lack of administrative responses.

• Cultural barriers prevent male victims from receiving adequate support due to societal perceptions of masculinity and victimhood.

Global Perspective on Wartime Rape

• This section summarizes various historical instances where conquering armies have targeted women systematically during conflicts.

• Rape utilized as a tool for humiliation, oppression, and establishing power dynamics.

Child Sexual Abuse

• Child sexual abuse defined as engaging minors in sexual acts without the capacity for consent.

• The profile of offenders and differences from adult rape offenders; a dissection of motivations behind child abuse behaviors is key.

Social Profile of Child Molesters

• Most commonly male, often acquainted with the victim. Psychological profiles of offenders who struggle with social coercion and related issues.

Conclusion and Future Directions

• Continued work is needed to change societal perceptions that enable and excuse sexual violence.

• Development of educational programs targeting young men has potential benefits in changing pervasive rape culture.

Rape culture refers to a society or environment where rape is prevalent and normalized due to societal attitudes about gender and sexuality. Evidence of rape culture can manifest in various ways, including:

1. Victim-Blaming: Common assumptions that survivors of sexual violence are at fault due to their behavior or appearance.

2. Media Representation: Movies, music, and advertisements that trivialize sexual violence or portray aggressive male behavior towards women as romantic.

3. Jokes and Humor: Casual references to sexual assault in jokes, leading to a desensitization of the seriousness of these acts.

4. Normalization of Aggression: Colloquial phrases that diminish consent or promote male dominance, such as "boys will be boys," which excuses inappropriate behavior.

5. Lack of Education: Insufficient awareness and education on consent and respectful relationships in schools and community programs.

Factors influencing the reliability of known data on male victims of sexual violence include:

1. Underreporting: Cultural barriers and societal perceptions of masculinity often lead to underreporting of sexual violence against men.

2. Stigma: Male victims may experience stigma and shame, deterring them from seeking help or reporting incidents, thus skewing statistics.

3. Survey Methodologies: Differences in how data is collected and the context of surveys can result in varying reporting rates and interpretations of experiences.

4. Lack of Awareness: A general lack of awareness about male victimhood and resources available for support can lead to decreased reporting and acknowledgment of instances of assault.

5. Administrative Responses: A lack of administrative responses to male victims can contribute to their reluctance to report, affecting the overall data reliability.

Researching instances of women who rape men presents several complications, including:

1. Underreporting: Male victims may be less likely to report their experiences due to societal stigma against male victimhood.

2. Cultural Perceptions: Societal attitudes often question the legitimacy of male victimhood in sexual assault cases, complicating acknowledgment and understanding.

3. Stereotypes about Gender Roles: Gender stereotypes may lead to disbelief or minimization of women's aggressive behaviors when they involve sexual violence against men.

4. Legal and Administrative Barriers: Legal definitions and frameworks may not adequately address female-perpetrated sexual violence, impacting the prosecution and reporting of such cases.

5. Lack of Research and Resources: There is generally less scholarly attention focused on women as perpetrators, leading to limited data and understanding of these instances.