Sexual Assault Effects

Great Essays
People believe that they could never be a victim of sexual assault, but that just is not reality in today’s society. One in every five women have been a victim of sexual assault in their lifetime, and 1.6 million men will also be victims. However, many victims are unable to get the justice they need in pursuing a case such as rape because out of every 1,000 cases, 994 of the perpetrators will walk free (“Statistics”). This means that the United States has thousands of sexual assault criminals walking around the streets, not mentioning the possibility of them attacking again. However, rape does not just stop after the act is done; it lives on in the victim’s brain for the rest of their life. This impacts everything they do on a daily basis, …show more content…
Effects such as bleeding in the vaginal or anal area, bruising, broken or dislocated bones, and soreness, are examples of the temporary damages that sexual assault can have (“Effects”). Sometimes, however, there is no physical injury done to the victim, only the act itself, but there are also permanent damages that can also be done. Permanent damages, such as sexually transmitted diseases, can occur from unprotected sexual assault (“Effects”). However, there can also be internal damage that may not be identifiable until seen by a doctor. In a recent sexual assault case of a five-year-old girl from Philadelphia, her perpetrator kidnapped her from her elementary school, threw her in a laundry bag, sexually assaulted her, and left her naked for over 19 hours. When the victim was found, she had told investigators that she was poked by a toothpick in her private parts; come to find out that this “toothpick” was actually a broken, blue broomstick. The victim suffered from wounds in her anus, which required surgery to be fixed, as well as a temporary colostomy due to the immense pain that she had felt, in order to let her body recover (Glover). In this case, her perpetrator was found guilty and sentenced to 40 years in prison; however, other victims are not as fortunate to receive this type of justice. Out of the 84 percent of convicted rapists, eleven percent will not face jail time, but simply just …show more content…
Sexual assault can result in the victim feeling like they have a loss of control, like they did when the assault happened. Feelings of anger and blame are also common. Many begin to feel as though they are “damaged” or “broken.” Some will take the blame upon themselves because they may feel that they “allowed” this to happen, rather than to have fought to try and stop the attack from occurring (“Effects”). One of the most common spiritual effects that rape can have is that it changes the victim’s views on trust. A woman by the name of Noemi was invited to a co-worker’s house in 2011 and was raped that night. Her rape ended up resulting in a pregnancy, and for five months the father did not want anything to do with the child. After Noemi filled for child support, her attacker began to demand for visits. Now, he gets four, unsupervised visits a month, and her biggest fear is that something bad may happen to her child. She put her trust in a man and he betrayed her. In an interview with the victim she said, “Now, I have to text my rapist or email my rapist. To leave my daughter with someone I didn 't trust (Fink).” This is not an uncommon event among rape victims. Every year, thousands are forced to co-parent with their rapist because the states they live in do not have laws protecting victims from having to share custody with the attacker. Anyone that has been

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    Sexual assault has a severe impact on survivors. These often include such drastic psychological reactions as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Dissociative Identity Disorder, and Stockholm syndrome (“Effects of Sexual Assault”). This can lead to an intense fear of social ostracization, which is not unwarranted. A large majority of rapes or sexual assaults happen with someone who a close friend, or at least an acquaintance of, the victim. At a smaller or midsize campus, the rapist is likely to be part of the victim’s social circle. “‘I’ve seen this in every single case. The victim lose friends or becomes a social pariah. If you report on a really small campus, it’s really difficult to re-integrate after you report,’ says Bruno” (Gray, “Why Don 't Campus…”). Often, survivors of rape are thought of less of victims then the rapists are – and the actual victims are blamed because friends and peers sympathize more with the man than the woman. “I’ve lost friends because some people just don’t understand what it means to be raped,” says Emma Sulkowicz, a junior at Columbia University who was brutally attacked on campus - and whose case was diminuated not only by school board officials, but by fellow students. “One friend asked me if I thought that my rapist would be expelled from school. I said, ‘I really hope so.’ And he said, ‘Poor guy’, because I think many men see rape as…

    • 1890 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Masculinity And Rape Essay

    • 1109 Words
    • 4 Pages

    When you hear the words sexual abuse and rape, what pops into your head? An innocent, defenseless, woman or creepy looking man? While that version of events is the majority of cases, it is not all. Especially in my friend’s situation; my friend, a man, was sexually coerced by a women and was affected heavily. Men who have experienced any type of unconsented sexual act are negatively affected no matter their sexuality or gender of the perpetrator. However, due to the beliefs that men cannot be victims of sexual acts by the sex they are attracted to, men are not affected psychologically or physically from unconsented sex, and that erection signifies consent. Many men do not seek the help they need after an unconsented sexual act because of the…

    • 1109 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sexual assault is a very serious offence. Sexual assault may seem to affect only one person, the victim. However, sexual assault effects the family and social support networks of the victim, these people are called secondary survivors. From the moment the assault takes place thorough medical attention, therapy and in most cases, all the proceedings that come with laying charges and ensuing legal proceedings, the victim goes through a series of anguish and healing with the result of having the chance to never be fully healed. This essay discusses the effects of sexual assault on individuals and their family and social support network as a whole while emphasizing that sexual assault is a large and serious issue with serious impacts that are mental and physical.…

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I’ve discovered rape isn't a short term event; it’s a long term emotional conflict. The scary thing for me is the emotional turmoil had been going on for so long before I even knew of it. When my brother told me, his voice was strained and tears formed in his eyes. We talked about how ashamed he felt. My sister told me a year after and it tore me to pieces. My innocent mindset and fearless attitude were obliterated, and I was left to reinvent these parts of myself. From struggling to understand both my sibling’s hidden pain, I strive to be conscious of the little ways people hide or reveal themselves; when someone walks past me I looked for the intensity in their eyes or what the strain in their voice could tell…

    • 650 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sexual Assault Recidivism

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages

    However, as time progresses, the researcher had found studies that shown up to a 20 percent reoccurrence in rape or child molestation cases. High rates of non-sexual offenses against children or peers were seen within two years of incarceration release and continued to be high as time progressed. The trend shows that going into adulthood sexual assault recidivism seems to increase while general recidivism stays at higher rates almost throughout the whole period of…

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Child sexual abuse leaves a huge impact on its victims. Following child sexual abuse initial effects include fear, anger, hostility, guilt and shame, low self-esteem, anxiety, early overt sexual behavior and behavioral disturbances; these same feelings can last into adulthood. Childhood sexual abuse survivors may experience depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, dissociation, low self-esteem and Post Traumatic Shock Disorder . The article Sexual Abuse Histories of Young Women in the U.S. Child Welfare System informs that rape, being tortured or a victim of terrorists and molestation are the types of drama associated with PTSD (Breno, AL, and MP Galupo). Incest child sexual abuse survivors may have more severe problems, especially if the offender…

    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sexual Trauma Paper

    • 728 Words
    • 3 Pages

    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…

    • 728 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sexual Violence Effects

    • 2176 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Sexual violence is a largely overlooked issue within the black community affecting an intolerable amount of young black girls. Black Women’s Blueprint, an organization that endorses the global equality of Black women conducted a study in which they found that “Sixty percent of black girls have experienced sexual abuse at the hands of black men before reaching the age of 18”. Black girls who experience sexual abuse choose to keep silent about the abuse they have endured until adulthood, but some choose to remain silent for life. Understanding how the effects of sexual abuse and violence against Black girls in the United States seeks to demise them spiritually, mentally and sometimes physically…

    • 2176 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The incidence of sexual assault in the United States is disturbing. Each year, “an estimated 300,000 women are raped and 3.7 million are confronted with unwanted sexual activity” (Bonnar-Kidd). In addition, 900,000 children are neglected…

    • 1219 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sexual Assault Issue

    • 690 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Although many people in the United States believe that sexual assault is not a major problem within our social atmosphere, the reality is that sexual assault is a serious social and public health issue today. Furthermore, sexual victimization is commonly associated with a wide range of short and long-term physiological consequences. According to national surveys, one in six women will experience attempted or completed rape at some time throughout their life. Despite the resources available to victims such as rape kits, RAINN, crisis support, and counseling, our judicial system continually places blame on the victims since they brought this unfortunate consequence upon themselves. Due to this, in the United States alone only 5-50% of sexual…

    • 690 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sexual violence can cause different levels of psychological symptoms. A broader term that people use is PTSD, which indicates the mental dysfunction that victims develop for responding to tragic experiences. Jaxcoy, Zoellner and Foa (2002) research that “most rape victims exhibit PTSD symptoms immediately after an assault and these symptoms persist for years” (p. 892). PTSD can become a lifetime mental disorder, and it can bring a lot of stress to victims. Research by Kaitlin A. Chivers-Wilson (2006) states that “94% of women experienced PTSD symptoms during the first two weeks after an assault” (as cited in “National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder”, 2005). If there is no intervention or counseling provided…

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    248) are among some if the crime that is highly underreported. This probably due the negative connotations and myths that surround it. Survivors of rape or sexual assault are probably the most heartbreaking clients to work with. These clients would have gone through the torture of dealing with the psychological and physical damage of something that unwanted and grotesque. Many of these clients, usually women, deal with depression, anxiety, fear, humiliation and overall a negative self-image. Intervention strategies for Rape and sexual assault include Grounding (James and Gilliland, 2013, p. 248). Grounding is where clients are taught to anchor themselves and basically control flashbacks and overpowering emotions that may cause them to relive their trauma. Next, there is Validation (James and Gilliland, 2013, p. 248). In this process, the client the assault or rape is acknowledged as a real event that took place. Then there is Extinguishing the Trauma, (James and Gilliland, 2013, p. 248), in this process it is enforced that the client is an innocent and guilt free. She is reminded that what happened was not her fault, thus reframing her previous…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    From time to time, we come across stories of sexual assault either through the news or a tv show. At first, there may be some people who are interested in the story but feel disturbed by it; however, there may also be people who simply don 't care just because it did not happen to them or it doesn’t affect directly. In addition, some people may either feel sympathy for the victim, or others may insinuate that the whole action was there fault. However, imagine how the victim feels after this degrading and traumatizing event. They may feel disgusted, shocked,and upset. Now they must live with these feelings just because of someone else 's actions towards them. Now all of a sudden their life isn’t the same, and it has changed. Although, they can…

    • 2266 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Sexual assault and rape in the United States of America is reaching new epidemic levels and nothing is being done to stop it. Rape kits sit untested and collecting dust all over the United States and it is estimated that the numbers have reached hundreds of thousands. In places like New York City for example, the backlog of untested rape kits by 2003 had reached 17,000. In order to reduce this epidemic, the country must implement harsher punishments and prioritize educational classes earlier in age in order to emphasize the importance of consent and responsibility.…

    • 1124 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Persuasive Essay On Rape

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 2 Works Cited

    If the victim is telling a lie, then the charged rapist may pay the price of a crime he did not do. If a victim is telling the truth and the police just can’t put the puzzle together, then the rapist is still out on the streets. Rape is something that no one should take lightly. “Rape can have profound and long-lasting psychological effects on victims. Survivors may feel intense shame, fear, and rage (Rape).” Losing the part of you that you treasure most can be very traumatic and such a thing may never be forgotten. The life of a rape victim will forever be different, some break and some become a stronger person. There are many famous people who become very successful even after such a traumatizing experience. For example, “Winfrey has spoken of being sexually abused as a child, and stated publicly that she'll never have children of her own. She testified before Congress in support of "The Oprah Bill", establishing a national database of convicted child abusers (Oprah Winfrey).” This tells us that even though Oprah became stronger as a person, she was also affected by the incident by not wanting children of her own. Some victims become permanently damaged and suicidal. A victim could suffer from STDs, blaming themselves, getting pregnant from the incident, become suicidal, and even be afraid of the opposite sex (Effects and Aftermath of Rape). Common physical injuries received by rape victims include: vaginal bleeding or infection, fibroids, decreased sexual desire, genital irritation, and pain during intercourse, chronic pelvic pain, and urinary infections (Effects and Aftermath of Rape). All types of rape lead to the same outcome, which the victims fear in something if not everything. Clearly what angers the rape lobby (and the rest of us) is that a lot of men get away with rape, either because women can’t or don’t report it, or because the courts can’t or don’t prove it. It is also true…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 2 Works Cited
    Superior Essays