Each year, millions of individuals throughout the world are impacted by sexual assault. The likelihood of sexual assaults in colleges is still rather high.
According to the 2019 Campus Climate Survey by the Association of American Universities, nonconsensual sexual contact occurred at American universities at a rate of 13% overall. More over one in four female undergraduates said they had had non-consensual sexual contact while starting school.
High rates of nonconsensual sexual contact were also reported by students who identified as transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, or gender-questioning.
What is Sexual Assault?
Crimes involving unwanted or unwelcome sexual contact with victims are known as sexual assault. It is regarded as a type of sexual violence, a general word including rape, sexual assault, and other related crimes. However, each of these phrases has a different legal meaning in each jurisdiction.
For instance, states may stipulate that having sexual contact with a victim under the age of 14 or without their consent is first-degree rape or first-degree sexual assault. In the United States, a sexual assault happens every 68 seconds on average.
Adults between the ages of 18 and 34 are most at risk for sexual assault, which accounts for 54% of all instances. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) estimates that 1 in 6 American women will experience a rape in their lifetime.
Male college students in this age group are around five times more likely to experience rape or sexual assault than non-students in this group. Furthermore, sexual assaults against transgender, genderqueer, and gender nonconforming students have occurred in 21% of cases.
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Effects of Sexual Assault on Students
The victim of sexual assault may experience severe psychological and bodily harm. The following are some effects of sexual violence on college students.
- Health Concerns: After a sexual attack, survivors may develop a number of health issues. Loss of appetite, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal thoughts are typical side effects.
- If a student exhibits symptoms of these disorders, it may be difficult for them to retain friendships and family ties and other elements of their life.
- Survivors can feel too anxious to participate in club or social activities. Similar to how depression or PTSD side effects can make it difficult or seem meaningless to stay up academically.
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Obstacles to Pursuing Legal Action against Sexual Assaults
Sexual assault victims on campus may seek disciplinary action from their college and the local authorities. However, survivors who decide to pursue legal action for their assaults face a difficult and frequently lengthy process.
It can be difficult to finish this drawn-out process while juggling your academic obligations. Furthermore, several of the survivors might have attended lessons with their assailants. In this situation, they might need to change their course schedule, unless their institution offers assistance by mandating that the attacker do so.
In the event that their attackers are given the benefit of the doubt during procedures, which is typical, other students who are in their assailants’ social circles may force them to keep their distance from friends.
Unfortunately, campus culture at many schools frequently includes social attitudes that stigmatize sexual assault victims.
Causes: Why is Sexual Assaults in colleges Prevalent?
Sexual assault affects both men and women of all ages and occurs worldwide. However, it is common on college campuses, and among adults, sexual assault most frequently affects women who are typically college age (18–24). Public reporting of sexual assault is required for colleges receiving federal assistance.
Drugs and Alcohol:
Alcohol and drug use are frequently factors in campus sexual assault. One study indicated that during their first year of college, 15% of young women were victims of incapacitated rape. These young women were raped because they were helpless and unable to offer consent since they were unaware of what was happening. Many young individuals experiment with drugs or alcohol for the first time while in college. You may become unconscious of what is happening to you and around you if you use drugs or consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
Not Disclosing a Sexual Harassment Case:
When a woman of college age is sexually assaulted, only one out of every five reports the incident to the authorities. It can be challenging to discuss sexual assault with complete strangers, but doing so can help you feel more in control and stop offenders from hurting other people. Making a report enables school administrators to take action and prevent you from having to interact with the attacker.
Peer Influence
Instead living with their parents or other older individuals, college-age women frequently live on campus with persons their own age. Students may experience peer pressure to partake in social activities including drinking, using drugs, attending parities, or having awkward sex. Sexual coercion is the act of forcing someone to engage in undesired sexual activity for social acceptance. You should try everything to avoid bad friends in colleges that will manipulate you to commit social vices.
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Preventive Measure: What Guardians and Parents should do
When sending their children off to college, parents and guardians frequently face anxiety, especially worry about their kids being sexually abused.
Through age-appropriate teaching, which includes defining unwanted contact and using right names to describe body parts, parents can assist their children in reducing exposure to sexual violence.
Additionally, they have the power to instill in the child a strong culture of consent and respect for both their own body and the bodies of others, both within the family and their wider social networks.
Parents and guardians should go over risky scenarios, strategies for lowering the likelihood of committing an assault or becoming a victim of one, and effective ways to let friends and family know where children are before they leave for college.
Inquiries concerning schools’ rules should be made by parents and incoming college students, who should also inquire about amnesty provisions for nonviolent offenses, Title IX training, resources, and student training.
Additionally, parents and guardians can aid in their children’s education by looking at online resources. For instance, End Rape on Campus discusses risk-reduction strategies and outlines how parents can offer support and take action.
How Students can Prevent Sexual Assault
Because the perpetrator of violent or abusive behavior is always liable, it is impossible to prevent sexual assault. However, you can take precautions to feel safer with people and protect them from potential offenders:
- Before spending time alone with someone, get to know them well. It’s common in college to meet new individuals and form friendships. However, you shouldn’t rely solely on a new acquaintance to keep you safe.
- Visit gatherings or events with friends. Together, you should arrive, check in, and go. So that everyone is aware of your intentions for the evening, talk about them.
- In a public setting, go on first dates or meet new people.
- Pay attention to your gut sensations or intuition. Most sexually abused women are aware of their attacker. Leave if you ever find yourself alone with a person you don’t trust. Leave if you ever feel uneasy anywhere for whatever reason. Only you have the authority to state whether you feel safe.
- Be mindful of your use of alcohol or other drugs. According to research, almost half of sexual assault victims were intoxicated at the time of the incident. While consuming drugs and alcohol can make it more difficult to be aware of what is going on in your environment or with you, drinking alcohol does not make the attack your fault.
- Maintain control over your own beverage because it can include drugs or alcohol that you are unaware of.
- If you feel inebriated but haven’t had any alcohol or if the effects of alcohol seem harsher than usual, seek immediate medical attention. If someone mixes a date rape medication into your beverage, this may occur. Drugs used for date rape have no taste or smell and can make you pass out and lose consciousness.
- Observe your surroundings carefully. Avoid using your phone or using headphones to listen to music, especially if you’re walking alone. As you go around the campus, be aware of your location. Stay in well-lit locations at night, or ask a friend or a campus security officer to accompany you.
- Recognize your resources. You must be aware of where to go if you require assistance. Be aware of the whereabouts of the campus police, the health facility, and the sexual assault center. Put the school security number in your cellphone after locating the campus emergency phones.
- Make a route to your house. Make sure your phone is charged before using a ride-sharing service. As a backup, think about keeping cash or a credit card.
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What should I do if I Experience a Sexual Assault At College?
No matter what the circumstances, you are not to blame if you are the victim of sexual assault. Call 911 if you are in urgent danger. If you’re in a secure location, you can dial 911 or any other emergency number in your state to immediately report the sexual assault to the authorities.
You can also report a sexual assault to school authorities for additional support if it occurred on campus or if the perpetrator was a student. You must be given assistance from the institution to complete your studies.
There are ways to increase your sense of security on campus, like asking for a change in your class schedule, moving to a different dorm, or receiving a no-contact order. If you require additional support as a result of a sexual assault on campus, schools that receive federal funding might be able to help. These supports might include counseling or tutoring.
Sexual Assaults FAQs
What can be done to stop sexual assault the most effectively?
Primary prevention, or putting an end to sexual assault before it starts, is the most successful strategy for doing so. Targeting risk factors at each level, including the individual, relationship, community, and society, is necessary for preventative efforts to be effective.
What is the average age of sexual assault?
The risk of sexual violence is highest among younger people. The riskiest years for rape and sexual assault are 12 to 34 years old. Those 65 and older are 83% less likely than those 25 to 49 to have rape or sexual assault, and they are 92% less likely than those 12 to 24.
What type of sexual abuse occurs most frequently?
In terms of sexual assault, acquaintance rape is the most typical kind. Over 80% of rapes involve an acquaintance, and more than 50% take place on dates.
What kind of female abuse occurs most frequently?
Domestic abuse. All actions or threats of actions—physical, sexual, emotional, financial, and psychological—that have an impact on another individual are included. One of the most prevalent types of violence against women worldwide is this.
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