Raping within Dating - Coursework Example

Gopal Pottabathni 7th July 2008 Rape ‘Rape’ as we all know is a heinous offence of sexual assault against women which is condemned by the governments of all nations. Rape has been broadly classified into two categories, one stranger rape which is defined as nonconsensual sex between two individuals who did not know each other before the sexual act, secondly acquaintance rape as nonconsensual sex between two individuals who are known to each other and thirdly date rape which is considered as a subset of acquaintance rape where nonconsensual sex occurs between two people who are in romantic relationship.[V.J. Rickert, Psy.D., and C.M. Weinmann, Ph.D ] Traditionally, it was believed that women are raped by some unknown person coming out of the darkness. But this paradigm has changed since evolution of acquaintance rape and ‘date rape’. Date rape is sexual assault that occurs when the victim and perpetrator are involved in dating relationship, ranging from first date to a steady dating relationship. [Sally K. Ward, Jane Stapleton and Jennifer Leatherman] On the basis of the information received and collated from Central Michigan University, the U.S. Dept. of Justice, the Kansas State University Alcohol and other Drug Education Service and other sources, the University of Tennessee prepared a report which revealed that 25% of women were victims of rape and attempted rape whereas 85% rapes occurred on campuses as acquaintance/ date rape and 42% of college women who were raped did not disclosed. [Sandra Choron and Harry Choron] Under the study conducted by Towson State University, it was believed that 33.6% of campus sexual assaults were reported to the Police where the rest went unreported. Campus rape victims are often away from the home for the first time in a new environment and after being victimized by sexual assault, many campus rape victims feel a loss of trust in themselves or others and transfer to another school or dropout [Allan M. Hoffman, John H. Schuh, Robert H. Fenske] Date rape can happen to anyone, you, me or anyone around. Anyone would like to go on for date to have some wonderful time only to discover at the end of the evening that her date can’t take no for an answer. It is estimated that 90 per cent of all rapes are never reported; of those that are reported about 60 per cent of the victims know their assailants. Although date rape is a problem among females of all ages, it is especially prevalent among girls who are in their final years of high school. American statistics highlight that most victims are between the ages of sixteen and nineteen, with the second highest rate between the ages of twenty and twenty-four. According to survey undertaken by psychologist Mary Koss, out of the female’s raped 84% victims knew their attacker while 57% of those rapes happened on dates. Studies also depicted that the amount of college girls raped by noncommittal dates was 21% while 30% were attacked by steady boyfriends. [Annemarie Failla] According to a 1989 article featured in Good Housekeeping, "freshmen girls, eager to appear sophisticated, are particularly vulnerable targets for date rape. When it does happen, it is easy for the victim to feel that it was somehow her fault. Humiliated and ashamed, many young women want only to shove the memory of what happened into the farthest corner of their minds."[Laura Sneade ] According to survey of 81,247 students of ninth and twelfth grade boys and girls in Minnesota Public Schools, it was revealed that one out of ten girls reported violence and/or being raped on date. It was also reported that the victims of date rape had high rates of disordered eating, suicidal thoughts and attempts and lower scores on measures of emotional well being and self esteem. [ Diann M. Ackard, Ph.D] In 1985, Mary Koss, a researcher at the University of Arizona, conducted the largest study of date rape on college campuses and estimated that one in six college women become victims of rape or attempted rape - that statistic has since increased to one in four. Koss found that most rapes occurred on campus, 84% of the women knew their assailants, but only 27% realized that their sexual assault fell within the legal definition of rape. Sixteen percent said they thought what happened to them was a crime, 11% did not feel a crime was committed and 46% believed they had been victims of "serious miscommunication" rather than rape."[Laura Sneade] It is evident from the above figures and various studies which indicate that lifetime prevalence of date/acquaintance rape ranges from 13% to 27% among college aged women. [V.Rickert, Psy.D., and C.M. Weinmann, Ph.D ] Both forms of rapes; stranger and date, are serious offences and have devastating impact on the life of victim and their relatives. It is known that nowadays date rape drugs are in market making it easier for the assailant to incapacitate the victim, mostly at a party or bar. A survey of 119 schools by Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study, it was revealed that 1 in 20 female students reported being raped and ¾ of them were intoxicated before being raped. [Dianne Hales ] The researchers suggest that predictors of unwanted sexual activity may include reaching menarche at an early age, being sexually active, having sexually active – same sex friends, having poor peer relationships and being emotionally fragile or distressed. According to Vicary, The parents, teachers, counselors, the legal system and communities should be informed of the seriousness of this problem and should adequately address the issue. A study conducted by Schubot, 2001 in South Dakota, it was revealed that 14.9% of a statewide, random sample of female high school students were reported as victim date rape.[ Elizabeth Hutchison ] According to the study by New Hanover County Rape Crisis Center, July 2004 to May 2005, the victims between ages of 13 to 17 yrs reported the majority of sexual incidences as (54%) acquaintance / date, (14%) relative, (14%) stranger, (9%) drug induced and (9%) statutory. [www.ncdsv.org] In an incident, a fourteen years old girl went on her first date with her neighborhood boy, who was her classmate in junior high school, thinking going to a party. The girl was raped by the boy and his friends at a clubhouse which was used for group sex. [Peggy Reeves Sanday, 2007] Women at the highest risk of encountering violence from dates and boyfriends are high school students. Date abuse, bringe drinking, club drugs, drug facilitated sexual assault have been increasing on college campuses and rave parties frequented by high school students and young adults who are not in schools. Another incident where Keri and Erica, both 17 years old, high school students faked their identity to gain entry into a bar where they met two guys who gave drinks. After couple of drinks, the girls felt woozy and unable to drive, the boys drove them to a motel and raped her. The girls were victim of date rape drugs as they don’t know what has happened to them next morning.[Albert R. Roberts et.al, 2005] A biannual survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on youth and crimes involving sex notes that as of 2003, nearly 12 percent of high school girls reported they had been raped or sexually assaulted at some time in their lives, as did nearly 7 percent of high school boys. [www.ncdsv.org] This goes to shows that date rape is more prominent in young age students, so it is dire need of the hour to address this problem at junior and high school level to impart education and create awareness among the students about the issue and preventive measures to tackle and combat the situation. The issue of sexual consent is central to the problem of date rape. Sex forced on a date or partner who has not willing to have sex, clearly constitutes rape. Our society is reluctant to except that sexual consent can be denied within relationship because it is not communicated clearly and sometimes wrongly assumed for various reasons. It has been stated by IACP that other than homicide, rape is the most serious violation of a person’s body as it deprives the victim of both physical and emotional privacy and autonomy. Most of the victims experience a range of serious and long lasting effects including emotional, psychological, financial, educational and vocational repercussions. According to Frazier and Seales, 1997, date rape can be as traumatic as sexual assault by a stranger and may involve more trauma as it also involves breach of trust. Schwartz and Legget (1999) stated that another problem specific to date rape is confusion over whether sexual coercion is acceptable behavior and a failure to define the incident as rape or sexual assault which often leads to self-blame by the victim and a delay in seeking treatment, which can also impede recovery. [ Laura Russo] Society and the media pressures teenagers to date at a young age and to experiment with physical intimacy. Dating is a huge part of teenage life. The cases of date rape and physical abuse are on rise. Since the early 1990s, the date rape debate has continued on college campuses across the United States where co-ed dormitories, alcohol abuse, and casual sex lead to frequent accusations of sexual assault. A National Institute of Justice survey of 4,446 college women published in 2000 found that “for a campus of 10,000 women, the number of rapes could exceed 350. These figures suggest that rape victimization is a potential problem of large proportion and potential public policy interest.”[enotes.com] In view of the above, it is necessary to deal or tackle this problem in a critical way and amend policies in the school and college laws to stop the increasing trend of such offence, in and around the school and college campuses. The impact of various risk factors on the occurrence of date or acquaintance rape was considered. Some of these factors are attitudes of men and women towards sexual assault; demographic characteristics of women; drug use; prior victimization of women; and contextual factors. Schools and most importantly high schools are new and interesting place for freshman. Schools are becoming more involved in date rape education. Some federal governments have stipulated the schools and high schools to have written policy on date rape and sexual assault, including a definition, a disciplinary policy, and educational prevention programs. The management of school and high school should implement counseling classes to create awareness about the issue and its consequences and make them aware that date rape is crime and is punishable under the court of law. It is important for the school and high school administrator and management to educate students about the possibility of date rape. The data itself reveals that date rape is common at the beginning of the year. Another data gathered from US Department of Justice, it is revealed that 96% of date rape is male on female, 2% of date rape is male on male, and 1% of date rape is female on male and another 1% female on female. It should be understood that date rape is mostly planned and executed in school and high schools. So it is important for the administrators of the schools, high schools, colleges and other institution to educate the students about date rape. [www.incestabuse.about.com] According to Wekerle and Wolfe (1999), high schools commonly offer variety of learning opportunities – school assemblies, lectures, videos, drama, groups, discussion groups – in hopes of promoting healthy relationships and reducing dating and marital violence.[ Ola W. Barnett . et. Al, 2004] Date rape at Harvard University happens at alarming rate more than it is disclosed by the authority of University. Many victims respond with denial, self-hate, utter shock and chagrin or, most destructive, self-blame. As such, the College and HUPD understandably feel relieved when victims of sexual assault come forward and bravely report their experience. Harvard offers counseling services through the Universitys Mental Health Services and the Bureau of Study Counsel. When victims do seek retribution, they face two disparate avenues with which to persecute their attacker: the Administrative Board or HUPD. Victims of sexual assaults within the Harvard community unequivocally seek the support, guidance and assistance of HUPD rather than that of the College. [Jordana R. Lewis] Andrea Parrot’s surveyed two campuses which revealed that 20% women had been forced into sex whereas Muchlenhard and Cooks Survey reported 11% of college women had engaged in unwanted sexual intercourse because of other person got them drunk and took advantage of the situation. The only way that comes into visibility to combat date rape and other forms of sexual assault in and around school and college campus is educate, educate and educate. Awareness should be created among the victims and students about the date rape and legal laws implemented by the government that makes date rape prosecuted in the court of law. Colchester College is trying to combat this menace wherein the Students’ Union has pioneered a leaflet explaining the dangers of drug supported by the Colchester Drugs Reference.[www.echo-news.co.uk] In an article by Kate Stone Lombardi, it is evident that colleges are coming up with new strategies and polices to combat date rape. Posters on some college bulletin boards have been put up which reads as “Date Rape is Violence, Not a Difference of Opinion”.[ Kate Stone Lombardi ] To improve rape-intolerance on college campuses, the colleges must have a firm rape-intolerant policy that adjudicates a case swiftly and harshly. Moreover, educational programs are necessary to combat rape -tolerant attitudes among students and administrators.[ Korn, Jessica Susan ] More over the students and others should be made aware of the date rape drugs. The Safe Dates Project was implemented by the United States rural community in 1995 which consisted of schools and community activities aimed at the prevention of psychological, sexual and physical dating violence amongst the school students. [Foshee et al ] Reviewing the above facts, it is learnt that the issue needs to be dealt at the ground level i.e., junior and high schools. The schools should impart sex education to the students of 10 and 12 years teaching them about sex abstinence, as well as about honesty and integrity and responsibility and how to make good decisions. Teens need a comprehensive sexuality program that gives them all the information they need to become empowered and responsible for preventing pregnancy and disease. Parents, in today’s world are very busy, some on drugs, alcohol, stressed out, totally dysfunctional not knowing how to talk to their children, making school the best place to educated children about sexuality.[www.rethinkingschools.org] Date rape should be a relevant issue in high school. Especially with growing popularity on facebook, predators- even students from school - stalk out "prey" and then attack. This should be brought up in schools and discussed among the students because in the end it has the same effect as regular rape does.[www.dosomething.org] Even the girls are responsible for the act committed by their date. It is the responsibility of the girl to make it clear at the first meet itself, that she is not ready for sex or anything like that. In some cases, movement of girls is the main reason for the rape. When on a date, females or males should never ignore their boyfriend or girlfriend when they touch or does anything intimate to make them feel uncomfortable. They should speak up right away and let the person know that theyre not ready to be intimate and they need more time to feel comfortable around them. When at parties, they should pour their own drinks thus avoiding the danger of being on drugs.[www.123helpme.com] Various rape prevention programs targeting female, mixed gender, and male audiences should be reviewed, exploring the programs impacts on awareness of rape, strategies for preventing date acquaintance rape, and behavior change. Programs targeting school aged female audiences have been shown to improve awareness of rape, dispel rape myths, teach effective strategies for preventing rape, and improve sexual communication. Studies have suggested that special prevention programs addressing the unique needs of women with a history of sexual assault may need to be developed. Programs designed for mixed gender audiences were found to be successful in changing rape-supportive attitudes. However, most evaluations of these programs focus on attitudinal changes and do not measure behavior change. Programs targeting male-only audiences also appear to be successful in reducing commonly held beliefs that promote or condone coercive sexual behavior. Yet, some programs designed to address men who are already at high risk for sexual aggression were found to be less successful than those addressing mainstream men. In some cases, they actually had a "backlash" effect. Some men who had been through the program were reported to have a greater likelihood of sexual aggression after the prevention program than before exposure. [V.J. Rickert, Psy.D., and C.M. Weinmann, Ph.D ] Pregnancy Resource Center of SW Oklahoma started Teen Choices as an abstinence education division in 2001 teaching relationship education with a focus on abstinence until marriage. The three-day interactive presentation fits into a variety of individual classroom situations reaching an entire grade level of students of classes like science in junior high and English in high school. Also, its elementary program targets 5th and 6th grade students. In this program, the students are provided steps to protect themselves against date rape. [www.prcswok.org/tc] Educational programs in area high schools and even middle schools, sponsored by prosecutors and advocacy groups should spread the message that date rape is unacceptable. Students should be told that if they are a victim or know that a friend is a victim, someone in authority should be told. [www.ncdsv.org] Prevention of sexual assault is very difficult. The only way of prevention is through awareness among students. Longitudinal research designs are needed in order to further our understanding of sexual violence among adolescents and young adults as well as find ways to prevent it. Such studies could clarify the impact of environmental factors, attitudes, and behaviors on date and acquaintance rape. They would also assist in assessing the degree to which dating behaviors change among women who have been sexually assaulted after they have been victimized. To facilitate cross-study comparisons, consensus needs to be reached regarding definitions of date/acquaintance rape, sexual aggression, and sexual assault. The most effective ways of preventing date rape is to never lead a man on in a sexual fashion which in turns prevents the man to get sexually excited. Furthermore, little is known about the prevalence among non-college-aged women and about the perpetrators of date/acquaintance rape. Further studies need to be conducted on difficult-to-reach populations in order to obtain a better understanding of date and acquaintance rape. Primary and secondary date/acquaintance rape prevention programs need to continue to be developed and their impact systematically evaluated. Sensitive outcome measures must be developed to evaluate changes in attitudes and behaviors among prevention program participants. These measures will improve efforts to prevent date/acquaintance rape and also help community programs provide better care to its victims. Date rape prevention programs should address the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Definitions of "date rape," "rape," "sexual assault," etc. need to be made clear and consistent. The use of legal definitions may be helpful. Both young men and young women need information about date rape prevention. Women who have a history of victimization and men who are at high risk for sexual aggression may benefit from additional or separate educational interventions. [V.J. Rickert, Psy.D., and C.M. Weinmann, Ph.D ] As it is known that date rape is prevalent among school and college students, it is utmost responsible of parents and teachers to make the students aware of this untimely crime that may wreck their lives and future. As a teacher, it is the responsibility to create awareness by making this a topic of debate in the classroom. Make the students talk about this issue and gather data on how much they know and any incidents that they have come across as such like date rape. Students should be made comfortable while talking on this topic. If in any case, a student is victim of such crime, she should be sent for immediate counseling to overcome the trauma and physical and emotional difficulties. Nowadays dating is a common thing happening in our surrounding. Some of the actions that can be taken by the teacher, staff, or administration are to foster and encourage feminist organizations in high school campus, encourage organizations that advocate sexual respect and nonviolence, encourage men’s organizations that advocate sexual respect and nonviolence, earmark desirable campus housing as Honor Houses dedicated to these issues and should give them other campus resources that are not available to the general student body. Teachers and Schools should work to promote an institution-wide atmosphere of sexual respect and safety. Moreover, it shouldn’t be misunderstood that all men are rapists, most men dont rape. Most men hate rapists. Men can be one of your most valuable assets in the fight against date rape. Promote an atmosphere that values these men, that encourages them to actively oppose date rape. Many institutions have atmospheres where men are not supposed to get in the way of another guy trying to "score," no matter what tactics the guy uses. Should be working to encourage an atmosphere of honor and integrity, where real men hold rapists in scathing contempt. Teachers should make a special effort to reward and honor those who speak out against, or interfere with, date rape or date rape drugs. [www.incestabuse.about.com] Date rape is a problem that that involves everyone today, men and women. Date rape prevention programs need to be taught to people everywhere so that women know how to protect themselves and so men can understand the issue of rape and that when a woman says "no," you must stop. If we can educate ourselves on the dangers of date rape, we can make the environment in which we live safer for everyone. Early intervention is critical to reducing the occurrence and consequences of date violence and rape. Teachers should provide detailed information to the students which includes the fact that date rape exists on this campus and is a very real threat, thoroughly review the legal definition of consent to the student, encourage men to object and intervene if they see someone administering a date rape drug or taking advantage of someone who is impaired by alcohol. Educate the students about the existence of a date-rape time lag and give detailed instructions on how to avoid date rape drugs. Include the fact that alcohol is by far the most common date rape drug.[www.incestabuse.about.com] Preventative efforts need to begin before high school. Parents, guardians, educators and youth leaders should discuss with adolescents appropriate dating interactions, safer dating situations and what to do in high-risk scenarios. These same adults need to be aware of abrupt changes in an adolescents behavior that could be a signal of an abusive experience. Rape has become a catch-all expression, a word used to define everything that is unpleasant and disturbing about relations between the sexes, The best solution would be to implement more date rape’ education programs throughout the schools. This will enable girls to become more aware of surroundings and situations that could lead to date rape’. Another feature of these education programs should include group discussions so rape myths can be exposed about and destroyed, as well as allowing girls to talk about their experiences, which in turn could assist other females in becoming aware of different situations that lead to acquaintance rape. These education and awareness programs should not be exclusive to females but should also involve males. In order for acquaintance rape percentages to decrease, males must be perceived as part of the solution, and not just the source of the problem, of date rape’. With the inclusion of males, perhaps miscommunication will decrease and acquaintance rape will not be as frequent. Rape is not a private issue but a public one, which concerns all males, and females because it deals with the basic issue of the ways in which humans interact. Promoting and providing a safe environment for all is paramount. [Annemarie Failla] Date rape cannot always be avoided but nevertheless, there are certain things a girl can do to minimize her chances of being raped. Firstly, set sexual limits - it is your body and no one has the right to force you to do anything you do not want to do. The sooner you communicate firmly and clearly your sexual intentions, the easier it will be for your partner to hear and accept your decision. [Annemarie Failla] Avoid giving mixed messages - say "yes" when you mean "yes" and vice versa. Be forceful and do not worry about not being "polite", as guys will often interpret passivity as permission. Trust your gut feelings - if the situation feels wrong, or you start to become nervous about the change in your dates behaviour, confront the person immediately or leave the situation as quickly as possible. Avoid secluded places where you are in a vulnerable position - this is especially critical at the beginning of a relationship. Works Cited 1. “Date Rape." 123HelpMe.com. 07 Jul 2008 . 2. Albert R. Roberts, Beverly Schenkman Roberts (2005) Ending Intimate Abuse: Practical Guidance and Survival Strategies, Oxford University Press US, p.10 3. Allan M. Hoffman, John H. Schuh, Robert H. Fenske Violence on Campus: Defining the Problems, Strategies for Action, 1998, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 4. An Interview with Jocelyn Elders, Vows of Abstinence Break More Easily Than Latex Condoms http://www.rethinkingschools.org/sex/elders.shtml Date Rape, 5. Annemarie Failla, Date Rape: Could it happen to you? Girl.com, http://www.girl.com.au/cr-rape.htm 6. Colchester college tackling date rape threat, Monday 27th Sep 1999, http://www.echo-news.co.uk 7. Date Rape, http://www.enotes.com/date-rape-article 8. Diann M. Ackard, Ph.D, One Out Of Ten Female Adolescents Experience Date Violence And/Or Rape, Says Study Of Over 80,000 Youths In Minnesota, 9. Dianne Hales (2005) An Invitation to Health: Brief, Thomson Wadsworth, p.348 10. Dosomething.org, http://www.dosomething.org/node/39910 11. Elizabeth Hutchison, Dimensions of Human Behavior: The Changing Life Course, SAGE, p.288 12. Foshee et al. Foshee, V., Bauman, K., Arriaga, X., Helms, R., Koch, G. and Linder, G.F. 1998, “An Evaluation of Safe Dates, an Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention Program”, American Journal of Public Health, vol. 88, no.1, pp. 45-50. 13. Jordana R. Lewis, Date Rape happens at Harvard, November 30, 2000, http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=102552 14. Kate Stone Lombardi, New Police is aimed at preventing Date Rape on Campuses, October 25, 1992, The New York Times Company, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/ 15. Korn, Jessica Susan, 1996, Another Dimension Of Campus Date Rape: The College Community Reaction, University Of California, Los Angeles, Phd Research Thesis. 16. Laura Russo (2000), Date Rape: A Hidden Crime, Australian Institute on Criminology, trends & issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, Canberra, Australia, p. 1-5 17. Laura Sneade, Date Rape: College’s Dirty Secret, http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/journalism/magazine/4- 97/features/articles/f-daterape.html 18. Ola W. Barnett, Cindy L. Miller-Perrin, Robin D. Perrin (2004), Family Violence Across the Lifespan: An Introduction, SAGE, p.19. 19. Peggy Reeves Sanday (2007) Fraternity Gang Rape: Sex, Brotherhood, and Privilege on Campus, NYU Press, United States. p.24 20. Sally K. Ward, Jane Stapleton and Jennifer Leatherman (1994) Acquaintance and Date Rape: An Annotated Bibliography, Greenwood Publishing Group, p.1 21. Sandra Choron and Harry Choron (2004) College in a Can: What’s in, Who’s out. Where to, Why not, and everything else you need to know about life on campus, Houghton Mifflin Books, p. 211 22. School can take action against date rape, August 27, 2004, Medical Review Board, About.com, http://incestabuse.about.com/od/daterape/a/daterape.htm 23. School Presentation Teen Choices: Abstinence Until Marriage, http://www.prcswok.org/tc_school.htm 24. V.J. Rickert, Psy.D., and C.M. Weinmann, Ph.D., Date Rape Among Adolescents and Young Adults, Journal, September 2000. 25. When ‘No’ is not Enough/Lack of evidence can make ‘Date Rape’ difficult to prove, John DeSantis, Staff Writer, Star News, June 26, 2005, Sunday, Wilmington NC. Read More