If I were to ask people how they feel towards survivors of rape or sexual assault, the majority would respond with feelings of sympathy, concern, and wishes for the victim to recover. If this is true, and rape is a universally condemned, abhorrent crime, why are the victims of such a crime not treated with the same level of respect as those of other crimes? Rape and sexual assault are some of the most psychologically damaging offenses, with only 37% of women feeling fully recovered from their assault after a period of four to six years (Burgess and Holmstrom, 1979). Lack of support from family members, society, and the justice system following their rape or sexual assault is sure to contribute to this lack of recovery. Even our own laws
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I wished there was some way to eliminate all instances of rape from the world with the snap of a finger. Despite this not being possible, I have come to realize that one of the most beneficial things we can do for those who have experienced some form of sexual trauma is to make their situation as conducive to recovery as possible following the incident. If law enforcement officers, lawmakers, and society as a whole were to increase their understanding of rape and improve their attitudes toward the victims, it could have a ripple effect that would increase the rate of reporting of such heinous crimes, therefore allowing more victims to receive the help they need. This could also reduce the rates of PTSD in survivors of rape and sexual abuse. I believe that instigating more research about individuals’ attitudes toward rape victims could be a way to help the victims in a way that can be much more easily measured. As I read the article discussing sexual assault, I came to realize how difficult it was to conduct studies on the subject. It is a sensitive, complex subject and any phenomena surrounding it are exceptionally difficult to measure. This is why I think that investigating and correcting society’s attitudes towards victims of sexual assault is a way to improve their situation in a way that is easier to approach and
I wished there was some way to eliminate all instances of rape from the world with the snap of a finger. Despite this not being possible, I have come to realize that one of the most beneficial things we can do for those who have experienced some form of sexual trauma is to make their situation as conducive to recovery as possible following the incident. If law enforcement officers, lawmakers, and society as a whole were to increase their understanding of rape and improve their attitudes toward the victims, it could have a ripple effect that would increase the rate of reporting of such heinous crimes, therefore allowing more victims to receive the help they need. This could also reduce the rates of PTSD in survivors of rape and sexual abuse. I believe that instigating more research about individuals’ attitudes toward rape victims could be a way to help the victims in a way that can be much more easily measured. As I read the article discussing sexual assault, I came to realize how difficult it was to conduct studies on the subject. It is a sensitive, complex subject and any phenomena surrounding it are exceptionally difficult to measure. This is why I think that investigating and correcting society’s attitudes towards victims of sexual assault is a way to improve their situation in a way that is easier to approach and