Anyone is a potential rape victim; however, women between the ages of 15 to 25 are frequent targets due to their inexperience and vulnerability. By some estimates, one out of four women will be the victim of rape in her lifetime. However, some studies show that about two out of four women have experienced some form of sexual assault during their lifetime.Sexual violence may occur in any type of relationship or from strangers, but there are compelling evidences that most rapes are committed by perpetrators who are well known by their victims. Alarmingly, in almost 90% of the cases, offenders were known to the victims and those involved included acquaintances, family members, relatives, neighbors, or colleagues.
There are plenty of reasons that motivate men to rape women. According to a research, 100 rapists could rape for 100 different reasons, but in all cases the rape will serve to satisfy a certain psychological need of the perpetrator. For example, some men rape in order to assert their manhood, especially if they have had doubts about their own masculinity; some indulge in the crime in order to compensate for the lack of intimacy in their social lives. Likewise, feeling of superiority to women, seeking revenge, regaining control, and dealing with rejection may be some other most common psychological reasons behind rape.
Thanks to the gender stereotypes we're fed with since a young age, boys are made to believe that showing their emotions is 'unmanly.' What they should be taught now is that violence doesn't equal to manliness. They must be taught that expressing emotions in a healthy way can never be wrong.
Rape is a sudden, unexpected, and unpredictable arbitrary event in the victim's lifestyle, and this may lead her to feel physical trauma as well as deep psychological trauma. Studies have shown that a person who has been raped will generally experience high levels of distress immediately afterward. It may bring about strong feelings of shame, guilt, anxiety, fear, anger, and sadness. One of the most common psychological consequences of rape is self-blame, which, in many cases, stops the healing process of the victim.
The number of rape victims coming forward is increasing for sure, but it's still like a drop in an ocean. So it's difficult to know if the crime is increasing, or if it's just being reported more. According to a research in sexual violence, millions of women are raped each year all over the world, but less than 5% of them are reported. The biggest reason for unreported rape case is the victim-blaming tendency widely prevalent in today's society. In some cases, victims give in to the criminals' threats. There are some who feel like no one will believe them; some women are ashamed to report a rape, some do not report to avoid embarrassing examinations by doctors and police, and some do not want to face the perpetrator in a court of law.
Encouraging victims to report sexual violence is absolutely important. For this to happen, it is necessary to recruit more women in the police force, because many studies have shown that women are more likely to report sex crimes if female police officers are available.
We need to establish a culture where crimes like rape will not only be reported, but taken seriously and acted upon. Protests uprising every now and then over news of rape still point at the need of improvement in women's safety. However, legal preventive actions alone can no longer curb sexual abuse or rape. We also need a real change in our behavior and attitude; everyone should know that rape is wrong. It is imperative to teach both men and women about what constitutes rape and what doesn't.
Ashmita is a student of Chartered Accountancy.
Related story
Break taboos to reinstate rape victims
