| Rape & Sexual Abuse
There are many crimes that are gruesome. It is even worse when the victim has to live with it for the rest of his or her life. One such act of violence is rape or sexual abuse. So, what is it? The dictionary defines it as: any act of sexual intercourse that is forced upon a person. 1 This definition pertains to both males and females. Sexual assault can be inappropriate touching, child molestation, vaginal, anal or oral penetration. In many cases it is also sexual assault when the victim, male or female, is coerced into committing sexual acts unwillingly. The saddest part about sexual assault is that it is the only crime where the victim has to prove his or her innocence.
What kinds of rape are there?
|
Photo of a women who has been sexual abused |
|
 |
Date Rape or Acquaintance Rape |
|
This kind of rape is done by someone whom the victim is familiar with. For example, a friend or a person who you see often could be the perpetrator in this kind of rape. In 8 out of 10 rape cases, the victim knows the perpetrator. 2
|
|
Spousal Rape |
|
This kind of rape is usually done by a long-term partner (wife, husband, or boy/girlfriend) who makes the victim engage in sexual activity even though he or she does not want to. A national survey found that 10% of women were victims of rape or attempted rape by a husband or intimate partner in their lifetime. 3
|
|
Drug-Aided Rape |
|
In these cases, the victim has been intoxicated and then taken advantage of. The perpetrator will usually use substances like alcohol or drugs to make the victim unconscious or forgetful of the act. A person who has been a high-risk lifestyle is more susceptible to being taken advantage of while under the influence of narcotics or alcohol.
|
|
Gang (or Group) Rape |
|
Gang rape is when multiple offenders attack one person. This a brutal act because it is only one person that cannot fend for his/herself properly and then taken advantage of. One such example of brutality was the 2000 Puerto Rican Day Parade in
New York City
where multiple women were harassed, assaulted and publicly taken advantage of.
|
|
Statutory Rape |
|
Statutory rape brings up laws for the ages of consent. The younger person can choose to have sex with an older partner but depending on the country and state in which he or she lives in determines what the age for consent to have sex. In the
US
, the ages range from 14 to 18. 4 But it must be noted that there is a higher risk for the younger person to be pressured to have intercourse.
|
|
Child Rape |
|
Age is one of the biggest factors when it comes to how predators seek their victim. A young boy or girl is a lot less likely to defend his or herself in such a situation. Around 54% of the rapes that occur to girls and women happen before the age of 18 and 22% occur before the age of twelve. 5 For boys and men, more than ¾ of rapes happen before the age of 18 and 48% before the age of 12. 6 Another sad fact is that a person who has been prey to rape once will probably be taken advantage of again later in life.
|
Results of Rape 7
|
|
|
|
Rape is a serious issue. It violates a person’s rights. Another thing to keep in mind is that a person who has a high-risk lifestyle is more susceptible to be in danger of this action. If you or someone you know is a victim of this crime, contact your local authorities if you have not done so already. If you need someone to talk to, call 1.800-656-HOPE or search online for a local crisis center.
|
|
|
1 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rape
2 http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/svfacts.htm “Relationship between victim and Perpetrator”
3 http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/svfacts.htm “Relationship between victim and Perpetrator”
4 http://www.avert.org/aofconsent.htm
5 http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/svfacts.htm “Victimization”
6 http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/svfacts.htm “Victimization”
7 http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/svfacts.htm “Psychological”
|
References:
http://www.rainn.org/what-should-i-do/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/svfacts.htm
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rape
Thank you to clearwisdom.net for allowing the usage of this picture for educational purposes.
http://clearwisdom.net/emh/article_images/2005-12-28-rape-cases-02.jpg
|
Emotional detachment