2008 Woodie Awards
SEXUAL ASSAULT: Silent epidemic
Matt Twillman
Issue date: 4/13/06 Section: Features
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When most people think of an epidemic, they think of AIDS or perhaps the Black Plague.
But sexual assault is another kind of epidemic. It is often called a "silent" epidemic because so few cases of sexual assault are reported to authorities.
Amy Kiger, assistant director of University health services, said reasons sexual assaults go unreported are that victims are unsure of who to contact, do not want to relive the event if the case goes to trial or simply want to put the past behind them.
Jennifer Turrentine, of the Lighthouse, a 24-hour availability advocacy program and Sexual Assault Response Team, provided additional reasons.
"Some reasons include fear of not being believed, embarrassment, shame, guilt, fear of retaliation or fear of self-incrimination, if underage drinking or drug use occurred," Turrentine said.
Kiger said sometimes friends and family members can make the victim feel as though the rape was their own fault, which can discourage the victim from reporting it.
"What happens is that our society too often blames the victim for being a target of sexual assault, and this is one of the major reasons that victims do not come forward," Kiger said.
Unfortunately, many of the traditional methods of protecting yourself from sexual assault are irrelevant. For years, people were told to never walk alone at night, always walk in well-lighted areas and lock your doors. While these suggestions are still good advice, they imply those most likely to assault would be strangers.
Drake said most rapes occur in a residence, as opposed to a non-residence location.
"By giving a list of things a woman should do or should not do," Kiger said, "we are inadvertently sending messages like 'Since you were assaulted, you must not have been doing all that you could do in order to protect yourself.'
"This leads to victims feeling like they have no right to come forward, because they weren't doing everything they could, which leads to under reporting to police, which leads to lack of prosecutions, which leads to more victimizations-it's really a cyclical thing."
But sexual assault is another kind of epidemic. It is often called a "silent" epidemic because so few cases of sexual assault are reported to authorities.
Amy Kiger, assistant director of University health services, said reasons sexual assaults go unreported are that victims are unsure of who to contact, do not want to relive the event if the case goes to trial or simply want to put the past behind them.
Jennifer Turrentine, of the Lighthouse, a 24-hour availability advocacy program and Sexual Assault Response Team, provided additional reasons.
"Some reasons include fear of not being believed, embarrassment, shame, guilt, fear of retaliation or fear of self-incrimination, if underage drinking or drug use occurred," Turrentine said.
Kiger said sometimes friends and family members can make the victim feel as though the rape was their own fault, which can discourage the victim from reporting it.
"What happens is that our society too often blames the victim for being a target of sexual assault, and this is one of the major reasons that victims do not come forward," Kiger said.
Unfortunately, many of the traditional methods of protecting yourself from sexual assault are irrelevant. For years, people were told to never walk alone at night, always walk in well-lighted areas and lock your doors. While these suggestions are still good advice, they imply those most likely to assault would be strangers.
Drake said most rapes occur in a residence, as opposed to a non-residence location.
"By giving a list of things a woman should do or should not do," Kiger said, "we are inadvertently sending messages like 'Since you were assaulted, you must not have been doing all that you could do in order to protect yourself.'
"This leads to victims feeling like they have no right to come forward, because they weren't doing everything they could, which leads to under reporting to police, which leads to lack of prosecutions, which leads to more victimizations-it's really a cyclical thing."