Sexual+Violence

Julia M. Momkus **Sexual Violence** **Sexual Violence Overview and Definition** Sexual violence doesn’t discriminate against age, sex, ethnicity, or anything else that makes you, you. Sexual violence is a problem every country in the world has to deal with. Although in most countries here has been little research conducted on the problem, available data suggest that in some countries, nearly one in four women may experience sexual violence by an intimate partner and up to one-third of adolescent girls report their first sexual experience being forced (World Health Organization, 2002). Sexual violence has an enormous effect on an individual’s physical and mental health. While sexual violence typically occurs against women, men are also at risk. There are many instances where men are the victims and this needs to be kept in mind while reading this report on sexual violence. It is important to understand the definition of sexual violence, [Sexual violence is] Any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including by not limited to home and work (World Health Organization, 2002). Sexual violence includes a large spectrum of things such as rape or attempted rape (within a relationship or by a stranger(s)), sexual advancements or harassment, sexual abuse of mentally or physically disabled people, sexual abuse to children, forced marriage or cohabitation, denial the right to use contraception, forced abortion, forced prostitution, and violent acts against the sexual integrity or women (National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 2010). As we can see these are many categories in which sexual violence falls under and is a problem that is occurring everywhere and all the time. In general, sexual violence has been a neglected area of research in terms of the world. Many women and men do not report sexual violence to police because they are ashamed, or have a fear of being blamed or otherwise mistreated (World Health Organization, 2002). Even though many rapes are reported, there are also tons and tons that aren’t ever reported. This makes it hard for statistics to be accurate. This paper will discuss some of the different types of sexual violence that occur. **Sexual Violence by Intimate Partners** Past research has said that one-half or more of all women who have had an experience that might meet the definition of rape do not label themselves as rape victims (Kahn et al, 2003). Sexual violence occurs in many different ways but only a small amount of women who are technically getting sexually assaulted are recognizing that it’s happening. Sexual abuse by intimate partners is one of the problems of sexual violence. In many countries a substantial proportion of women experiencing physical violence also experience sexual abuse. In Mexico and the United States, studies estimate that 40-52% of women experiencing physical violence by an intimate partner have also been sexually coerced by that partner (Campbell, 1999). Many studies that have been done about sexual abuse by intimate partners show that it’s prominent, not rare. The United States has a better reputation in this area of sexual violence than in most countries, but it is still occurring. For example, a sample from Africa indicates that the first experience of sex for girls is unwanted and forced (Swart L et al, 2000). Sexual violence is a problem within intimate relationships throughout the world, not only in the United States. Sexual violence within intimate relationships can mean many different things. It can mean relationships that are forced marriages, any violence of a chosen or forced boyfriend or husband, or forced sexual initiation. **Sexual Violence by a Stranger** Sexual violence by a stranger is what we typically think of when we think of sexual violence because it is the subject that is talked about the most. A stranger may be someone walking down the street, a teacher or coach, a healthcare provider or a hospital attendant, a customer of a sex-trafficker, a fellow prisoner, a fellow officer or armed forces member, a gang rape, and the list goes on. Sexual trafficking is something we rarely hear about in the United States but it is certainly occurring. Of those trafficked, 62% reported being forced to work without pay, while over 50% reported being physically abused or tortured by their employers (Chauzy, 2001). Another one we hear about in the news is sexual violence happening overseas in armed conflict and refugee settings. We typically don’t hear about sexual violence in these situations occurring in the United States but we hear about them happening overseas with United States and non-United States officers. In some armed conflicts- for example, the ones in Rwanda and the states of the former Yugoslavia- rape has been used as a deliberate strategy to subvert community bonds and thus the perceived enemy, and furthermore as a took of “ethnic cleansing” (Pacific Women Against Violence, 2000). These are just some situations that are often not thought about to most United States residences, particularly ones that have grown up in the United States. **Sexual Violence against Boys and Men** When we think of sexual violence against somebody, we typically think of women as the victims. Most research doesn’t even discuss boys and men because it’s not as prevalent as a topic. But sexual violence against boys and men occur in the same situations as they do women (although we hear about sexual violence against men in places like prison). It can occur at school, in the home, and around other populated areas. Forced sex in prisons can take prisoners pride and form hierarchies among the prisoners. Men are likely to suffer the same consequences as women when they are sexually abused. The problem is that in many countries, there are not resources for men to get help or the issue is not discussed at allbecause it is against cultural norms. **People who are more at Risk** Many studies suggest that for women, being “married” is a risk of being sexually assaulted because some see them as morevulnerable. More factors for being at a higher risk are being involved in sex work, being in poverty, being young, consuming alcohol or drugs and having previously been raped or sexually abused. In terms of age, young women are at a higher risk than older women. Two-thirds of victims of sexual assault are ages 15 or less (Greenfeld, 2003). In terms of age, the age is lowered of women who are most likely to get sexually assaulted because of college campuses and because of sex-trafficking. Both of these factors lower the age for sexual violence victims. **Effects of Sexual Violence** Being a victim or a perpetrator of sexual violence can cause many negative physical and mental effects. One major effect can be pregnancy. Many women often end up pregnant after a sexual assault and that’s something very difficult to cope with. A study of adolescents in Ethiopia found that among those who reported being raped, 17% became pregnant after rape (Mulugeta, 1998). Sexually transmitted diseases are also a big problem when it comes to sexual violence. This is a problem also among men who are raped. Unlike pregnancy, this is an issue that affects both sexes. HIV and AIDS is an ongoing problem in every country and the main way that it is spread is through sexual intercourse. Research on women in shelters has shown that women who experience both sexual and physical abuse from intimate partners are significantly more likely to have had sexually transmitted diseases (Anteghini, 2001). Mental health is also a pressing issue after a person has been sexually violated. Women can be more at risk for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other things, if they have been sexually abused. Suicide is also a linking factor to mental issues over being sexually abused. Victims may also have other problems that occur, such as social isolation. **How can we help prevent Sexual Violence?** There are many steps that one can take to help to get over a sexually violent assault but the real problem at hand is how we can lower the sexual violence around the world. We can develop mandatory programs for college students, high school students, and even grade-school students so they can learn at an early age that sexual violence is a problem and that it’s a very wrong choice. If an incident happens to you, make sure you call the police and tell them everything that you can, get help, and assess the situation. Healthcare professionals need to be trained to deal with sexual assault victims as well. Also the reporting and preventing of sexual assaults by the police is huge. Each country needs to work harder to charge criminals of sexual violence. **Conclusion** Sexual violence is a constant problem that affects too many people all over the world today. People are searching for ways to make the number of sexual assaults decrease all the time. Sexual violence is not just one specific kind of attack, many different kinds of attack fall under the definition. Sexual violence can have harmful and lasting consequences for victims, families, and communities. So it’s important to be educated on sexual violence and its effects.

**//References//**

Anteghini M et al. (2001). //Health risk behaviors and associated risk and protective// //factors among Brazilian adolescents in Santos, Brazil.// Journal of Adolescent Health, 2001, 28:295–302.

Campbell JC, Soeken KL. (1999). //Forced sex and intimate partner violence: effects on// //women’s risk and women’s health.// Violence Against Women, 5:1017–1035.

Chauzy JP. (2001). //Kyrgyz Republic: trafficking.// Geneva, International Organization for Migration.

Greenfeld LA. //Sex offenses and offenders: an analysis of data on rape and sexual assault.// Washington, DC, United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics (NCJ 163392).

Kahn et al. (2003) //Psychology of Women Quarterly,// 233–242. Blackwell Publishing. Printed in the USA. Division 35, American Psychological Association. 0361-6843/03

Matasha E et al. (1998). //Sexual and reproductive health among primary and secondary school pupils in Mwanza, Tanzania: need for intervention.// AIDS Care, 10:571–582.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2010). //Definition//. Enola, PA.

Pacific Women Against Violence. (2000). //Violence against East Timor women.// Pacific Women’s Network Against Violence Against Women, 5:1–3.

Swart L et al. (2000). //Rape surveillance through district surgeons’ offices in Johannesburg, 1996–1998: findings, evaluation and prevention implications//. South African Journal of Psychology, 30:1–10.

Thayne Center for Service Learning. (2011). (Images). http://slccthaynecenter.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

World Health Organization. (2002). //Chapter Six: Sexual Violence.// 149-173.