| There are violent crimes against women on
campus including:
What to do if you are sexually assaulted
Current Research:
Dowdall, G.W., Koss, M.P., & Wechsler. (2003, September 2).
Correlates
of Rape while Intoxicated in a National Sample of College Women.
Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of
Public Health. |
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault takes many forms including attacks such as rape or attempted
rape, as well as any unwanted sexual contact or threats. Usually a sexual
assault occurs when someone touches any part of another person's body
in a sexual way, even through clothes, without that person's consent.
Some types of sexual acts which fall under the category of sexual assault
include forced sexual intercourse (rape), sodomy (oral or anal sexual
acts), child molestation, incest, fondling and attempted rape. Sexual
assault in any form is often a devastating crime. Assailants can be strangers,
acquaintances, friends, or family members. Assailants commit sexual assault
by way of violence, threats, coercion, manipulation, pressure or tricks.
Whatever the circumstances, no one asks or deserves to be sexually assaulted.
- 1992, the National Women's Study estimated that 683,000 adult American
women are forcibly raped each year (National Center for Victims of Crime
& Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, 1992). According
to Bureau of Justice Statistics data, U.S. male and female residents
age 12 and older experienced an estimated 307,000 rapes and sexual assaults
in 1996 (Ringel, 1997). The difference between the number of rapes in
1992 and the number of rapes and sexual assaults in 1996 reflects standard
statistical error and differences in methodology. One significant methodological
difference is that the National Women's Study interviewed individuals
by telephone, allowing women greater confidence in their anonymity.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics conducted face-to-face interviews,
in some cases with entire families present, which could have possibly
deterred disclosure.
- 12.1 million American women have been victims of forcible rape. In
other words, 13% or one out of eight adult American women has been the
victim of forcible rape in her lifetime. (National Center for Victims
of Crime & Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, 1992.)
- In 1994, 64.2% of all rapes and sexual assaults were committed by
offenders who were previously known to the victim. (Ringel, 1997).
Verbal or emotional abuse
includes name-calling, threats, screaming, yelling, ridiculing, criticizing,
emotional blackmailing, and stalking
Sexual abuse
includes verbal sexual abuse such as sexual slurs or attacks on the
victim's gender or sexual orientation, unwanted sexual touching and
kissing, intimidation to force the victim to engage in any kind of sexual
activity, and rape
Physical abuse
includes shoving, punching, slapping, pinching, hitting, kicking, hair
pulling, choking, use of a weapon, and any other acts causing physical
harm
Source: http://www.ncvc.org
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