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Abstract
Victims of rape and sexual assault usually go through a harrowing, traumatic experience both on the mental and physical level and so, the process of recovery is usually slow and gradual. Rape can occur irrespective of gender, though it is common among women. They cannot be expected to cope on their own and require support from friends and family members. The support group of the victim has to look after issues related to health, justice and welfare while the victim makes a complete recovery. This research seeks to understand the various facets of rape and sexual assault and its impact on the victim’s personality and behavior. The study divides the victims according to their respective profiles along with the offender. The psyches and behaviors of the offenders are discussed in the paper in order to make the process of identification easier. The attacks usually leave mental scars which last for a long time and require treatment.
Sexual violence is predominantly a crime of control and power. There is no fixed pattern for rape and sexual assault and any individual, irrespective of ethnicity, race, age or economic status can be the victim of rape and sexual assault .
Sexual assault and rape constitute the most traumatic experiences in the life of an individual that can have significant impact on their quality of life at home, at school, at work. The tragic experience is capable of damaging relationships with family members, friends and peers. Survival happens to be the key motivator for recovery in rape and sexual assault victims. The path to recovery is a slow and gradual one; healing takes time and the process can be confusing and slow for the victim. However, with the proper determination and understanding through guidance a great deal can be achieved within the set period of time. It is important for the person to realize that they have complete control over the manner of recovery.
The support and reassurance of family and friends is vital during this crucial phase. But their reaction might not always be the one the victim anticipates or prefers. Different people react in different ways – while some prefer to blame, others offer both moral and psychological support. As soon as the victim feels ready, he/she must allow the people who offer their support to assist their recovery during this phase since additional help hastens the process of recovery. But it is up to the victim whether they wish to share their experience with others or not. They can personally choose to keep their memories to themselves until they feel strong enough to expose them in front of others .
Victims of rape and sexual assault are often classified on the basis of their gender and age. Women occupy the majority portion of the demographic. According to facts, 1 out of every 6 women in America has been subjected to sexual assault or rape in her lifetime. Till now, more than 17.7 million women in the United States have come out as victims of completed or attempted rape. Out of these numbers, 2.8% of these cases were attempted rape while a whopping 14.8% was completed rape. In 2003, 9 out of every 10 victims of sexual assault were women and the number has risen steadily in the subsequent years. In most cases, it is seen that women of color are prone to rape and sexual assault than white women. 17.6% women reported instances of completed or attempted rape and sexual assault. White women account for almost 17.7% of the entire number. The rate of sexual assault or rape among black women is higher at around 18.8%. The lowest reported cases of sexual assault arise from women of the Asian Pacific Islands at 6.8%. The number is extremely high among Alaskan women as well as American Indian women at 34.1%. Almost 24.4% of mixed race women have been the victim of rape or sexual assault in their lifetime.
The number of men who have been subjected to sexual assault is low compared to women but it does not indicate that their experience is any less painful and horrendous as their female counterparts. In America, more than 3% of men have been victims of sexual assault. This means that 1 man out of every 33 people has experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime. In the year 2003, out of every ten victims of rape, one happened to be male. There are more than 2.78 million men in America who have been the victims of rape or sexual assault. Children are also prime targets for rape and sexual assault. 15% of the children who are subjected to sexual assault and rape fall under the age of twelve. The percentage of victims in the 12-17 age group is 29 while the under 18 group reportedly has a percentage of 44. 80% of the victims of rape and sexual assault are under the age of 30 .
The highest risk years for rape and sexual assault appear to be between the ages of 12-34. Girls, between the ages of 16 and 19, have four times the regular chance of the general population to be the victims of sexual assault, attempted rape or completed rape. 7% of these girls are in the fifth to eighth grades and almost 12% of the girls who study in grades 9-12 reported that they had fallen prey to sexual assault and rape. Out of the boys studying in grades 5-8, 3% stated that they have been sexually abused while 5% of the boys in grades 9-12 reported incidents of sexual molestation and rape .
126,000 children were identified by local child protection services in the year 1995 as being the victims of either indicated or substantiated sexual abuse. Out of them, 75% were females. Almost 30% of the child victims were aged between 4 and 7. It is commonly seen that in cases of juvenile sexual assault or rape, 93% are familiar with their attacker . Family members constituted almost 34.2% of the attackers while 58.7 were acquaintances of the child or the family. Only in 7% of the cases were the perpetrators unknown to the victim of sexual assault or rape. During the years 1992-2001, an average of 5,900 American Indians of 12 years of age or older were subjected to sexual assault or rape on an annual basis. The probability of rape and sexual assault among American Indians was twice as high compared to other races. Sexual violence constitutes almost 5% of every violent crime committed against the Indian race .
A profile consisting of different types of sexual assault was developed by H. Jean Birnbaum and Dr. Nicholas Groth in 1979. The basis for their work was offenders who had been convicted, arrested and incarcerated for their violence and crimes . The first category is the power rapist. Power rapists are aware of their sexual prowess. They exhibit reduced aggression compared to other types of rapists. Power rapists can be subdivided into Power Assertive Rapist and Power Reassurance Rapist. Power Reassurance Rapist suffers from low-esteem and might be an underachiever. They are usually employed in menial jobs. A loner by nature, their style of attack is preceded and premeditated by fantasies of rape. The offender’s language and tone are instructional and he uses limited force. He relies on the threat of weapons .
Power Assertive rapists possess a macho image and he has to prove his “masculinity” by any means possible. A very self-centered individual, he drinks and drives to protect his manly image. The offender is often athletic and may have been married more than once. He attacks to prove his power over women and his virility. The use of abusive language is common and the attack style is unplanned and impulsive. The assault usually lasts a short duration. Anger rapists target women and their attack style is unpredictable. Their rage can find outlet in the form of verbal abuse to murder. An explosive personality is common along with impulsive actions. Usually involved in action-oriented jobs, there is a perceived dark side to the offender’s personality.
Sadistic rapists are a rare category. They are usually well-liked and outgoing, having a decent level of education with an above-average IQ. There is no history of mental health care and the offender exhibits compulsive nature. Often happily married, the offender may have a white collar job. The attacks are both pre-planned and calculated. These offenders use degrading and commanding language and the use of aggression and physical violence is eroticized. The offender exhibits selfish behavior and the attacks last a long time .
Victims of sexual assault and rape require proper care after their tragic experience. Healthcare disparities are common but they must be overcome if the victim has to make a suitable recovery . One of the best programs is the Post Rape Care or PRC Program. Their main aim is to use the research findings as well as technical resources to inform AIDS and HIV policy formulation as well as build the capacity of the government, civil society and private organizations to offer the best HIV services and testing. They offer a wide range of care services including physical injury management, STI treatment and prevention methods, HIV post exposure prophylaxis, hepatitis B toxoid and emergency contraception .
Even though rape victims are reluctant to visit health clinics, they must get themselves checked thoroughly in order to ensure their well-being in the long run. They need to make difficult decisions and seek advice where necessary. Emergency help to rape and sexual assault victims are offered at the Emergency and Accident (A&E) department of hospitals. Sexually transmitted infections are common after sexual assaults. Often they exhibit no symptoms so the victim remains unaware that they might have contracted the disease. Pregnancy is rare from a one-off assault but it is not impossible. Emergency contraceptives are the best option for sexual assault cases.
Northern Ireland has several options for women who have been subjected to sexual abuse and rape. The most prominent organization is Nexus NI which works all over Northern Ireland and responds to the needs of individuals who are over the age of 16. The organization provides expert counseling for sexual abuse survivors. Other important agencies that help women cope with sexual trauma include NI Women’s Aid Federation and Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre NI .
Treatment of individuals who have been the victims of sexual abuse and rape is possible through crisis debriefing and intervention. Cognitive behavioral therapies also prove to be effective in some cases to help the victim recover from the experience. Pharmacotherapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy are used less frequently but they have proven useful .
Rape can have severe psychological impact on the victim. In most cases, the victim suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which disrupts their normal life and impedes their chances of full recovery. Fear and anxiety are common and can lead to stress and changes in the nature of the individual; the person might even become suicidal if proper care is not taken. Depression and poor self-esteem are common symptoms found in rape and sexual assault victims along with sexual dysfunctions and social adjustment problems .
Works Cited
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