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Sexual violence on college campuses
Sexual assault on college campus essay outline
Sexual assault on campus introduction
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In the video we watched in class, titled The Hunting Ground, we learned about sexaul assault and rape on college campuses. You would think that when a person does something as evil and heinous as raping another human being, that someone would do something about to bring justice to the victim. Not in this case. Many of these school officials turned the victims away and told them that they were lying. One official even compared rape to football game. They do this because they do not want to decrease the number of applicants for their school. If word got out that rapes were common at the campus, they would surely lose potential students. Surprisingly, “...most assaults are committed by a small percentage of men.” In fact, “two-thirds of those men (4 percent of all men) were serial rapist, having committed an average of six rapes each.” These men are responsible for many of the rapes and sexual assaults that happen on college campuses. You would not be able to tell who he was because he blinds right in with everyone else (Wade, 2015, p.234). Growing up as girls, we are taught to be weary of strange men, to never leave your drink unattended for a second, to never go out to a party or a club or a bar without a group of friends to accompany you. This small percent of men are responsible for this way of teaching and parenting. …show more content…
“They plan their assaults carefully choose their victims, use alcohol as rape drug, and employ force when necessary.” As children and adolescents, people use the phrases “boys will be boys” or “if he’s mean to you, that mean he likes you” as excuses for their violent behavior towards each other and women instead letting them be accountable for their own actions. This is an example of rape culture. Rape culture is “an environment that justifies, naturalizes, and even glorifies sexual pressure, coercion, and violence,” (Wade, 2015,
In today’s society, there is evidence that gender roles hold high standards in forming an identity, whether that gender is male or female. These standards put pressure on either gender to uphold them and commit to specific behaviors/actions that validate their very being. For men, this includes being considered masculine, or portraying the sense that they are authoritative over others, in which this includes displaying attitudes that contribute to female subordination. According to Pascoe (2016) in his article “Good Guys Don’t Rape” men are given the opportunity to challenge rape yet reinforce rape attitudes at the same time that are contained within rape culture and masculinity considered “norms.” Pascoe, illustrates that rape can be seen
When university or police find out about the sexual assault, they immediately blame the victim or question what the victim was wearing, drinking, or doing. “Brownmiller identified four basic rape myths: (1) All women want to be raped; (2) a woman cannot be raped against her will; (3) a woman who is raped is asking for it; and (4) if a woman is going to be raped, she might as well enjoy it” (Helgeson, 2012, p. 432). In The Hunting Ground, the rape myth, which a woman who is raped is asking for it, is seen throughout the testimonies of the survivors. Clark, herself, was told by her dean that “rape is like a football game” and asked if “looking back, what would you have done differently?” (Ziering & Dick, 2015). These rape myths affect how many victims actually report and how seriously sexual assaults are taken within universities and the justice system. For example, some women, themselves, subscribe to rape myths because they see how current cases are handled. “Women who did not physically fight off the person who raped them and who subscribed to the rape myth that “it can’t be rape if a woman doesn’t fight back” were less likely to acknowledge that they had been raped” (Helgeson, 2012, p. 434). Universities need to teach first-year students about consent and how to
Cross-cultural research has shown that rape is most common in cultures that are dominated by males and violence. This means cultures in which males dominate the political decisions and cultures adhering to the male ideology of toughness, interpersonal violence and war (Groth 7). In a culture of people with more traditional or sexist gender role, attitudes are more tolerant of rape than are people with more nontraditional attitudes. Traditional men are more likely to report that they would commit rape if they knew they would not be caught; some researchers have found that a traditional man is much more likely to commit a rape than a nontraditional man is. Many attitudes in our culture perpetuate rape, for example: A husband is entitled to have sex with his wife," "A 'real man' never passes up a chance to have sex," and, "A women who 'leads a man on' deserves what she gets (Growth 7). “ Some media depictions may promote rape. Many movies make violence appear attractive and some movies convey myths about rape. Such as slasher films that make violence seem exciting, or movies suggesting that women like to be forced to have sex or that women's only value...
... feel more superior and think they can get away with rape. When the penalties are harsher and people are made example of then fraternities and sports in college will become safer environments. Also the colleges that attempt to cover up the crime should be penalized by not other our justice system but the media so the world can be better informed about the college they either way to go to or send their child to. First I summarized "Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture: Why Are Some Fraternities More Dangerous Places for Women?" written by A. Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Space. Then I used information from my criminology class to better define violent crime . Lastly, I explained how rape on campuses is not a cultural component. Society should banish the word rape culture all together, we shouldn't confuse what a true culture is and confuse it with an inhumane crime.
“Every 21 hours there is a rape on an American College Campus” (Sexual Violence on College Campuses). Sexual assault is something many have heard of and maybe know someone who was sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Sexual assault and sexual violence has been around for as long as our history books can tell us. With multiple cultural changes and new “fads”, as some may say, of college life; sexual assault has become a sort of recurring phenomenon of college lifestyles. This is not a positive thing and in no way should this be labeled as something good for college campuses. Sexual assault on college campuses should be prosecuted as rape can be falsely accused, non-consensual or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and is permanently
Most schools report that they have implemented programs and are actively participating in anti-rape activities around campus but are only doing so to meet the standards and make the school seem safer and more actively against the crime. In a study published in the National Institute of Justice it is reported that “anonymous reporting, which encourages victims to come forward, is an option at only half of the nation's school…and fewer than half the schools inform students on how to file criminal charges.” Schools advertise that they are educating their students about how to report the crimes and the importance of being aware of the dangers of rape but only meet the bare minimum with online programs that students can simply click through to pass. Schools are not effectively communicating that students really need to take these programs seriously and are instead allowing them to have negative attitudes towards the minimal education programs that they have set
According to an interview by Beckett Brennan with Katie Couric “95 percent of victims that were sexual assault on college campuses do not report the sexual assault” (The Case). Majority of sexual assaults that happen on a college campus, will never be reported. Colleges should have more of a responsibility when it comes to the sexual assaults on campuses. Colleges need to own up to the sexual assaults, and take responsibility for the sexual assaults. Colleges need to stop pushing sexual assaults away, and need to stand up and do something about the sexual assaults on college campuses. Although sexual assaults are an individuals responsible, colleges should also be responsible in the sexual assaults that happen on college campuses.
With one in five college students experiencing sexual assault during their college career who wouldn’t be afraid? This remains especially true for young women between the ages of 18-24 (“The Realities of Sexual Assault”). While a woman’s freshman and sophomore year of college are when she is at a most risk for assault, it can happen at any time. According to Robin Gray in the article on sexual assault statistics, “between 20% and 25% of women will experience a completed and/or attempted rape during their college career,” (Gray). At Northwest Missouri State University for the 2016-2017 academic year there are 5,618 undergraduate students enrolled. With the ratio of male to female students being 44% to 56%, there are about 3,147 female students. In terms of the statistics estimated by Gray, 630-787 of the female student population at Northwest Missouri State will experience rape during their college career (“Northwest Missouri State University”). This is a disturbingly large figure. Women are not the only ones susceptible to these acts, but men are too. It is said about “10%” of all sexual assault cases involve male victims (“The Realities of Sexual Assault”). While this number is slightly lower for men it is often believed that male victims of sexual assault do not often report their crime due to the social stigma surrounding their assault. Men may feel
Have you ever been encountered in a circumstance of being raped or knew an individual that was a victim of rape? Every one-hundred and seven seconds an American is sexually assaulted (RAINN). Rape has become a continuous problem causing controversy due to the way colleges cover up or simply hide incidents of rape throughout campus. More college students are also being raped by their own acquaintances rather than random strangers. Students, parents, and politicians question the way schools protect students and how their campuses can become more effective and efficient in preventing further occurrences of rape. Over the past years there has been a series of incidents where rape has been an extreme problem on college campuses in America that have been kept quiet until something traumatic happens. The prevalence of rapes on college campuses is continuing to rise due to lack of security, surveillance and awareness.
According to Kathleen Hirsch, the author of “Fraternities of Fear: Gang Rape, Male Bonding, and the Silencing of Women” 1 in every 4 women attending college will be the victim of sexual assault at some point during her academic career. Or in another study reported in the “The sexual Victimization of College Women” there are 35.3 incidents of sexual assault in a group of 1,000 women in a time span of 6.91 months (Statistics). Obviously sexual assault is a huge problem that should be taken very seriously. Some colleges have wonderful programs put in place that provides great services to help those students who have been have been sexually assaulted and programs that help education and prevent sexual assault.
There is a difference in campus sexual assaults from sexual assaults that are committed outside of the college campus. One of the main differences for victims who are involved in an on campus sexual assault is that they have access to two adjudicatory systems: the academic institution and criminal justice system. However, victims of outside sexual assaults can only seek compensation through the legal system such as a criminal complaint and/or civil action. (DeMatteo, August 2015) One may argue that when having access to both adjudicatory systems deliberates a great benefit to the victims who were involved in an on campus sexual assault. In a criminal trial for sexual assault, the prosecution must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the highest burden of proof in the U.S. justice system. (DeMatteo, August 2015) By contrast, when dealing with administrative contexts showing proof is very lower in sexual assaults. Victims of sexual assaults have multiple benefits when their cases are controlled administratively rather than it being controlled by the criminal justice system. A major benefit is that a lower burden of proof in an administrative context makes it very easy for a victim to establish that a sexual assault took place. An additional benefit is that an administrative resolution may authorize the victim to obtain suitable accommodations and services from the academic institution, as well as counseling and academic support. Although victims of campus sexual assaults collect some benefits when such incidents are conducted by the academic institution, the suspected perpetrators of campus sexual assaults frequently receive less routine due process protection when sexual assault allegations are processed in administrative contexts. (DeMatteo, August 2015) While 304 of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 provides
They insist that these rapes are isolated incidents, and most certainly have nothing to do with an attitude prevalent on campuses everywhere. Rapes, to them, are simply the result of drunken college students making poor judgements. “It was an unfortunate mistake,” they say. However, a quick study of the evidence shows that defence to be completely false. There is overwhelming evidence that most rapes are premeditated. Lisak says that most, contrary to popular belief, don’t stem from “mixed signals” or “dates gone bad”. Nine out of ten campus rapes are perpetrated by serial rapists. He himself admits to having previously harboured what he calls a “naive schema” that these numbers “may be true about crime in the community or crime in the military but surely university students are different. Turns out they’re not. But it’s a mental step to understand that there are a small number of repeat sex offenders who enroll in universities just as there are sex offenders in the military” (“Myths”). The simple fact that the majority of rapists are repeat offenders indicates a flawed mentality. One rape could possibly be a lapse in judgement, but two? For multiple rapes, the perpetrator has to believe his actions are okay. Nine out of ten rapists believeing their actions are okay indicates a prevalent, flawed mentality; one that universities fail to recognize. Progress cannot be made because universities are too afraid of damaging their reputation to even acknowledge rape
It is not a topic that is brought up often, especially at schools or at gatherings, yet it is crucial that everyone be educated, or at least informed on a topic that affects women every day. “Given that sexual violence continues to occur at high rates in the United States, it is vital that we understand attitudes and cultural norms that serve to minimize or foster tolerance of sexual violence” (Aosved, 481). Growing rates of sexual violence goes to prove that it is not taken seriously by many, especially when myths excuse the actions of the perpetrator and instead guilt victims into thinking they are responsible for the horrible act. Burt (1980), in her article titled, “Cultural myths and support for rape” attempts to make sense of the importance of stereotypes and myths, defined as prejudicial, stereotypes, or false beliefs about rape, rape victims and rapists- in creating a climate hostile to rape victims (Burt, 217). Examples of rape myths are such sayings as “only bad girls get raped”; “women ask for it”; “women cry rape” (Burt, 217). This only goes to prove that rape myths against women always blame and make it seem like it is the women’s fault she was raped and that she deserved it for “acting” a certain way. McMahon (2007), in her article titled, “Understanding community-specific rape myths” explains how Lonsway and Fitzgerald (1994) later described rape myths as “attitudes and beliefs that are generally
According to Marshall University, Rape Culture is defined as “an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in media and popular culture.” In American society, it is not hard to find examples of rape culture. In popular movies, music, and current events there is an undeniable notion of victim blaming, and sympathizing with male perpetrators. People have begun to use the term rape as a casual adjective. For example “I just raped him in that game,” could be used to describe two people playing a game and one winning easily against the other. American society uses pop culture and current events to promote and justify the prominent rape culture.
The United States Department of Education released a list of 85 colleges that are currently under federal investigation for mishandling sexaul assault cases. This means, around 85 colleges hid and buried the voices of many victims that wanted justice for being violated of a basic right. Campus rape or sexual assault is an under-reported crime with only 12% of cases being reported to law enforcements. According to Danielle Dirks in her article “Surveys Will Reveal the True Numbers of Sexual Assault Survivors on Campus”, in a 2009 study, 77% of college campuses documented zero reports of sexual assaults. Many students complain that their universities discouraged sexual assault survivors from” reporting incidents to local authorities, failing