Daigle_Victimology2e_Ch08.pptxSexual Victimization
Chapter 8
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What Is Sexual Victimization?
Encompasses victimizations of people that involve sexual behavior
Wide range of behaviors from videotaping to forced penetration
Physical injury and psychological trauma are included in effects of victimization
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Rape
Original definition
“Carnal knowledge”
Forced and nonconsensual vaginal penetration of a woman who was not married to the perpetrator
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Rape
Current definitions--include males and females as victims and most states have withdrawn the exclusion of husbands as perpetrators
Common indicators of rape
Nonconsensual contact between genital, anal, or oral areas of a victim and genital, hand, or finger of the perpetrator
Perpetrator could also use an object to penetrate victim
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Different Types of Rape
Forcible rape--someone forces or threatens to use force to penetrate victim against his or her will
Drug- or alcohol-facilitated rape--a victim was deliberately given drugs or alcohol so the perpetrator could commit the act of rape
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Different Types of Rape
Incapacitated rape--occurs when a victim is violated after self-induced alcohol or drug intoxication
Statutory rape--occurs when someone has sex with a person under the legal age of consent, even if that person may have consented to the act
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Sexual Victimization Other Than Rape
Sexual coercion
Penetration with penis, mouth, tongue, or object
Perpetrator does not use force, rather uses emotional or psychological tactics to sexually victimize an individual
Promising reward, pressuring for sex
Unwanted sexual contact
Penetration not an element
A person is touched in an erogenous zone, but it does not involve penetration (e.g., touching or groping)
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Sexual Victimization Other Than Rape
Noncontact sexual abuse
Visual abuse--sending pornographic images to the victim
Verbal abuse--sounds intentionally abusive in sexual manner
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Measurement and Extent of Sexual Victimization
UCR
2016--41.2 per 100,000 persons in the United States
NCVS
Rape and sexual assault
2016--323,450 rapes and sexual assaults
Rate of 1.2 per 1,000
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Measurement and Extent of Sexual Victimization
National Violence Against Women Survey
18% women and 3% men reported rape or attempted rape within their lifetimes
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Risk Factors and Characteristics
Females victimized most often
Most at risk in late teens and early 20s
Males most at risk under age of 12
Demographic characteristics with heightened risk
Lower socioeconomic status
Unemployed
Black persons have higher rates
Living in urban areas
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Characteristics of Sexual Victimization
Offenders
Offenders can be anyone
Most common--White male between the ages of 18 and 24 years
Perpetrated by someone known to the victim
Injury
Most victims do NOT suffer serious injury
Weapon use
In only about 11% did the offender have a weapon
Most common weapon is a firearm
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Responses to Sexual Victimization
Acknowledgment
A victim may feel immediately he or she was raped
Important to label incident as rape because:
May not get help from family, friends, or professionals
Police less likely to get notified
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Responses to Sexual Victimization
Reporting
Less than half of all rapes and sexual assaults come to the attention of law enforcement
Common reasons why victims choose not to report sexual victimization
Not sure perpetrator intended to harm
Reprisal of the perpetrator
Fear of not being believed
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Responses to Sexual Victimization
Resistance/self-protective action
Resistance = any act conducted during the victimization for the purpose of stopping the assault
Forceful physical strategies
Shoving, punching, or biting the offender
Non-forceful physical strategies
Fleeing or pulling away
Forceful verbal strategies
Yelling and screaming to get away from the offender
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Responses to Sexual Victimization
Non-forceful verbal strategies
Pleading with, talking to, and begging the offender
Most women do enlist some type of self-protective action
Parity hypothesis:
A victim utilizes self-protective actions that match the offender’s level and/or type of force
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Consequences of Sexual Victimization
Physical, Emotional, and Psychological Effects
Most do not experience physical injury
Depression, anger, guilt, helplessness, and irritability are common reactions
Compulsive behavior also common reaction
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal ideation linked to sexual victimization
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Consequences of Sexual Victimization
Behavioral and Relationship Effects
Some victims react by engaging in criminal behavior
Some victims self-medicate with alcohol or drugs
Some victims withdraw--isolate themselves
Some victims have problems with sexual functioning and in maintaining or creating intimate relationships
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Consequences of Sexual Victimization
Costs
Mental health counseling
$2,200 average cost for rape/sexual assault
$5,800 average cost for child sexual abuse
Miss time from work
Average cost over lifetime for rape victim--$87,000
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Consequences of Sexual Victimization
Recurring sexual victimization
Victims at great risk for second/multiple victimization
Second assault may happen relatively quickly
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Consequences of Sexual Victimization
Sexual Victimization of Males
Studies indicate 3-8% of males report being raped in their lifetimes
Experience same/similar psychological trauma as females
Depression, self-blame, and so on
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Consequences of Sexual Victimization
Sexual Victimization of Males
Additional factors:
Less support from family and friends
Fear of being labeled a homosexual if they are heterosexual
Feel they are not likely to be believed
May have had an uncontrollable physiological response (sexual arousal) and may feel shame and confusion because of it
Daigle, Victimology, 2e. © SAGE Publishing, 2020.
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Legal and Criminal Justice Responses
Reforms to rape and sexual victimization laws in 1970s
Originally, victims had to produce corroborating evidence to prove assault/rape
Difficult because:
Occurs in private places (no additional witnesses)
Majority of rapes do not result in physical injury
Many do not involve weapons
Perpetrator is known to the victim
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Legal and Criminal Justice Responses
Rape shield laws enacted--prohibits use of a victim’s previous sexual conduct in court
Polygraph examinations no longer required for victims
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Legal and Criminal Justice Responses
Violence Against Women Act (1994)
Funding provided for education, research, and treatment of victims
Revisions in 2000--added dating violence and stalking
Revisions in 2005--focus added on underserved populations
Sex Offender Registration and Notification
Megan’s Law--1996
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Legal and Criminal Justice Response
Police Response
Interaction determines how victims will deal with rest of CJ system
5% of cases reported to police are actually discovered to be false
Reasons for not reporting: mistrust of police
Medical-Legal Response
Staff not trained to work with victims and collect evidence
Solution: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE)
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Legal and Criminal Justice Response
Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART)
Multiagency collaborations to improve treatment
Individuals from the prosecutor’s office, local law enforcement agency, advocacy groups, and forensic examiners
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Legal and Criminal Justice Response
Prosecuting rape and sexual assault
Prefer to pursue slam dunk cases, which is rare for rape and sexual assault
Victim characteristics play a large role in whether case will be pursued
Juries may be swayed by own beliefs in rape myths
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Prevention and Intervention
The Clery Act required that colleges implement sexual assault prevention policies
Self-defense trainings
Seeks to increase individuals’ self-protective behaviors and psychological readiness to protect themselves against rape
Bystander programs
People are taught to intervene when they hear sexist comments or see high-risk behavior
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