Casual Analysis: The Epidemic Of Campus Sexual Assault

Last week, the White House released a short, celebrity packed, 60-second public service announcement (PSA) on the topic of sexual assault. 1 is 2 Many addressed those who are in control of preventing sexual assault as its intended audience was those who can put a stop to sexual violence: the perpetrators or would-be offenders. Although this one minute announcement completed the task of bringing sexual assault to the forefront of discussion, it failed to encompass the central issues concerning the culture of sexual assault: societal misperceptions, the victims, and the justice system. Sexual assault is a phenomenon that has been around for centuries; the culture of sexual assault is rooted in both legal practices and societal perceptions.

“I didn’t know…” that is what all the students on campus say, when they are being forced into the back of a uniform vehicle. In college, there are many contributing factors to the high frequency of sexual assaults on campuses. Well of course they would not have known as they were most under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Another factor would be their living environment, and the societal norms.

When approaching this problem, one has to look into all the different factors as to why the sexual assault or rape happened in the first place. Victims of these kinds of crimes often have different outlooks on how it happened or as to why it happened to them. Majority of the time either both parties or just one were intoxicated when the crime takes place. At a college though, one can not simply factor out the alcohol use, due to it be such a big existence to the college life. Antonia Abby states in the article, “On average, at least 50% of college students’ sexual assaults are associated with alcohol use” (119). By looking at statistics 50% or higher is a very accurate number when it comes to sexual assault and rape. Most of the time when sexual assault or rape occurs, it happens between people that know each other, and generally have some kind of social life with one another.

Peer groups and individuals have been identified as a major contributor for perpetration of sexual assaults surrounding college and university males in the U.S. According to esteemed academic professors Laura Widman and Michael Olson, it has been reported that a self-report of proclivity to commit rape in a hypothetical scenario or having a sexual history of aggression can produce a positive correlation with the endorsement of the rape tolerance or the rape supportive attitudes in men (Widman and Olson, 2012: p. 813; Koss and Dinero, 1988: p. 133). The acceptance of rape myths, as well as, the prejudicial and stereotypical beliefs about rape and the circumstances can surround the context of rape that the belief is only subject to ‘promiscuous women only get raped’ and ‘women are asking to be raped’ are correlated with the self-reports history of sexual aggression and the willingness to commit rape amongst men in the future (Lonsway and Fitzgerald, 1994: p.

Before the emergence of the Westernized “anti-rape” movement, there was a distinctly rape supportive discourse in our society, supported by myths and justifications for the act of raping another human being. The resulting trauma for the victims of rape was greatly ignored as society

In order to begin addressing these issues, Indiana University launched a multi-pronged Student Welfare Initiative, developed a separate Office of Title IX and Student Welfare, and also revised and widely distributed new campus sexual misconduct policies. Indiana University defines sexual misconduct as, “To include sexual harassment, sexual assault, other forms of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and sexual exploitation and stalking. For purposes of this policy, sex or gender based discrimination is considered sexual misconduct.” (Indiana University, 2015). In comparison, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ; 2010) defines sexual violence as referring to “a specific constellation of crimes including sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape.” Within this constellation of crimes, sexual violence includes any form of sexualized penetration, threats of physical force, and/or use of actual force that is attempted or completed upon a nonconsensual victim (not dependent on the condition of said victim) committed by a stranger, acquaintance, friend, family member, or intimate partner. In short, the legal criteria for rape is relatively clear (Karjane, Fisher, & Cullen, 2005; Koss, Gidcyz, & Wisniewski, 1987; Russell & Bolen, 2000), but a knowledge gap remains between these legal definitions and those individuals who experience sexual

“rape culture includes jokes, TV, music, advertising, legal jargon, laws, words and imagery, that make violence against women and sexual coercion seem so normal that people believe that rape is inevitable. Rather than viewing the culture of rape as a problem to change, people in a rape culture think about the persistence of rape as ‘just the way things are’” (Wavaw,)

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), approximately 207,500 rapes occur annually in the United States (“Statistics RAINN”). If we were to spread that out evenly over the 365 days of a year, that would equate to a sexual assault occurring every two minutes. Although the amount of rapes occurring annually has decreased by 60% since 1993 (“Statistics about Sexual Violence”), that’s still an incredible amount of sexual violence occurring yearly--- a facet of American culture that must be addressed. Although women are not the only victims of rape, and men are not the only perpetrators of rape, this essay will strictly refer to male-on-female cases of rape. The factors present in a society that naturalize or rationalize rape and sexual violence are known in Women’s Studies as ‘rape culture’. Many would deny its existence, but here in the United States, ‘rape culture’ is prevalent in the media, social roles, and in the way we educate our children about rape prevention. This gives rise to a society wherein rape is tolerated and even ignored, and it absolutely must be stopped. I will first outline the problematic facets of society that perpetuate rape culture, and then identify solutions to help eradicate the problem.

Over the years many feminists have sculpted what the definition of rape culture is. This term aims to shine a light on the different ways in which society has shifted blame from perpetrator to victims of sexual assault and in doing so, normalized male sexual violence. This is a complex set of beliefs developed within society that encourage male superiority and sexual aggression. This is dangerous because it creates an atmosphere where violence against women is supported. We, as a society, need to be more conscious about our values and ideals. We need to not only be aware of what is going on, but also stand up and see it for what it truly is.

Americans are born into a systematic tolerance of rape culture. It is a complex set of beliefs in which sexual violence, harassment and predominantly male aggression towards females is normalized as a matter of life. It starts as young as preschool where children are taught that if a boy pulls a girl’s hair, he must like her. In ancient Greece, rape was indeed a crime; however it was not against the victim but against the protectors whose “property” was considered damaged. This common crime was typically punished with a small fine issued to the protector of the “damaged” victim. Thousands of years later, time has not healed this alarming acceptance of sexual violence in society, leading to an institutional perception that rape culture is normality.

Rather than viewing the culture of rape as a overcomable obstacle, individuals in this culture view the persistence of rape as “just the way things are” (“What is”, 2016).

In the midst of a dehumanizing and sex-driven culture, rape has plagued the bodies and minds of millions. Unfortunately, for victims, a reality of physical and emotional trauma just briefs the repercussions of a sexual assault. In addition, rape victims face the negative alterations of post-rape trauma due to the negative reactions of society (Yamawaki). Though society recognizes rape as an increasing societal problem, rape myths have tainted the perception on blame and responsibility (Johnson). As society integrates myths surrounding the responsibility and blame of rape within societal norms, current civilization transforms into a pandemic coined as the “rape culture”. Dating back to the early 1970’s, staple figures of the second feminist

Brinson (1992) reported that “rape myths allow our culture to rationalize the prevalence of rape by offering explanations for its occurrence” . Further she states rape myths actually influence whether or not an assault will be considered “real rape.” Researchers have found evidence that the “greater acceptance of rape myths is associated with greater willingness to attribute blame to the victims of sexual assault” .

Students are becoming more and more influenced by the rape culture that surrounds them. According to an assault database, there were 3,300 forcible sex offenses occurring on college campuses/involving college students in 2011, compared to 2,200 in 2001 (Stampler). This is an alarming 50% increase in the number of sexual assaults on college campuses, and is definite proof that rape culture is becoming stronger and having a much bigger influence on college students.“When men treat women as objects of sexual conquest, and see that conquest as essential to proving manhood, rape culture gets worse. Here, women are reduced to prey in the hunt for male sexual gratification” (Dougan). In other words, more college students are adapting the very demeaning and dangerous mindset that accompanies the influence of growing rape culture. Such views that condone sexual assault have been much more prominent as of late, increasing the number of people who would actually commit sexual assaults. And the increasing number of sexual assaults are not isolated by any means. More than 200 schools are being investigated due to allegations of violations, “... [including] four schools in New Jersey and 11 in Pennsylvania…” (Philadelphia Inquirer). Dishearteningly, this surge of sexual assaults on college campuses is happening across America. This increase is not an isolated occurrence, and it continues to

Many people are under the impression that rape culture is a made-up thing, created so that people, specifically women, could get attention. When in fact, that is the complete opposite of what it is. The women’s center at Marshall University defines it as “ an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety” (Marshall University). Teens these days and for the past decade have been being raised on rape culture. Rape and sexual violations of other people are not made as big of a deal as they once were. We need to stop this broken system that continues to protect male abusers, blame victims and condone violence against women.