McNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY
The homes of victims or perpetrators are the most likely location of a rape or sexual assault, according to the DOJ report, which also identifies the summer as the peak season for attacks.
The majority of sexual assault incidents go unreported, partially due to different social stigmas experienced by men and women who are victims of these crimes. Survey results published by RAINN show that about 60% of victims do not go to police, and only 25% of reported assaults actually lead to an arrest. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) describes other factors that prevent women from reporting attacks, including distrust of authorities and fear of blame.
Men can also be victims. About 10% of sexual assault incidents involve attacks against males according to statistics provided by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault. The support organization, Male Survivor, describes male victims face different types of stigma involving stereotypes of machismo, toughness, and a lack of vulnerability. These societal misconceptions can prevent men from reporting unwanted sexual activity.
But sexual assault is not the only type of relationship abuse. Stalking is the the intentional and repeated following or harassing of another person that would cause a reasonable person to feel alarmed or suffer emotional distress including the uninvited presence of the perpetrator at the person’s workplace, school, or home. Relationship violence includes behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control another. Behaviors can include physical, emotional, verbal, or psychological abuse. Partners may be married or not married, heterosexual, gay, or lesbian, living together, separated, or dating. Persons of any class, culture, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, age, or sex can be victims or perpetrators of relationship violence.
According to surveys from the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCDSV), over 40 percent of college women reported experiencing some form of violent or abusive behavior while dating.
If you’ve identified that your partner exhibits the controlling or aggressive behaviors listed above and you are too afraid to bring these issues up safely within your relationship, it’s time to get help. Victims often realize the dangers of their situation after it’s too late; the dynamic between the abuser and abused is strategically created to discourage the victims to acknowledge or address the problem.
Intimate partner abuse and violence is never okay. It is more common than you may think and it is wholly within your power and your rights to get out safely.
Ms. Anna Grace Bizzle is an Academic Advisor for the College of Nursing and Health Professions. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master's degrees in Secondary Education from Mississippi State University. Her favorite part of advising at McNeese is being a resource for students as they get used to the expectations of college and helping students pursue their degrees at such a wonderful school.