By Anahy J. Gutierrez
Illustration by Ailyn Prada
A Perspective
Sexual assault happens far too often in a nation that considers itself advanced and civilized.
• Almost 20 percent of first year American college women are raped
• About 13 percent of female high school students experience rape or sexual assault
• Only 20 percent of rape or sexual assault victims aged 18-24 report to law enforcement
Then there are the headlines—“San Diego ‘Teacher of the Year’ Arrested on Suspicion of Child Sex Abuse,” “Lincoln HS Students Protest Amid Sexual Assault Allegations,” “No Charges to be Filed in Alleged 2021 SDSU Rape Case.” Search “sexual assault in San Diego schools” and there are many, many more.
Data from the Association of American Universities (AAU) is chilling, but not shocking. Rape and sexual assault figures in the U.S. have been sky high for decades. Women are more willing than ever in our nation’s history to report sexual crimes, but one-in-five is still way too low. The low reporting rate only encourages more sexual violence.
There are five main reasons why victims do not report the people who sexually assaulted them, according to a study by Dr. Courtney E. Ahrens published in the “American Journal of Community Psychology.”
She cited 1) lack of options, 2) fears of negative reactions or consequences, 3) ineffectiveness of support, 4) self-blame or embarrassment and 5) did not qualify for support.”
Ahrens said victims fear “insensitive reactions” and “ineffective support.” Often the negative or unhelpful reactions can trigger the same responses as the assault, including depression, panic attacks, flashbacks, isolation and shame.
Clinical Psychologist Dr. Azmaira Maker said we must continue to support victims, but also put much more attention into prevention.
“My motto is prevention is always better than intervention,” she said. “So if we can find out how often it’s happening and how it’s happening, we want to really put a lot of resources in prevention work. Educating students, boys and girls, young men and women, faculty and admin staff about inappropriate sexual behavior, any kind of inappropriate sexual behavior right.”
Maker said training related to inappropriate sexual behavior be integrated within every classroom activity as well as lunch and recess. Students also need a safe and easy mechanism to report sexual assault, she said.
“Not Anymore” is a sexual assault program available through Southwestern College developed to “help (students) better understand how vitally important these issues are and what you can do to help make your campus safer and more welcoming.”
It is a hot mess.
“Not Anymore” is more of the same old rhetoric that places sexual safety on former or likely victims rather than perpetrators and law enforcement. It spends more verbiage talking about consequences for false claims than for consequences for sexual criminals.
Long term, society needs to develop young men as allies of women, Programs like “Men Against Rape” created by Dr. Jeffrey Bucholtz speak directly to young males about things that make women feel demeaned and unsafe. They can also provide strategies to aid prevention and intervention.
Rape and sexual assault numbers in this nation are terrifying, but even worse when we put faces to the data. Victims are our sisters, mothers, brothers, children, friends and any people we know and love.
America must do better to stem this epidemic.
