Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Sexual Assault on College Campuses


Sexual assault is a problem worldwide, but recently, its prevalence on college campuses has been under the spotlight. A recent study has shown that 80% of campus rapes are not reported to the authorities. Many students feel safer going to campus officials rather than the authorities with the hopes of avoiding a drawn out case that still may lead to no repercussions for their attacker.

In addition, it is no surprise that with the rape culture today, many victims aren’t even aware they are assaulted. With so many people claiming that if one is intoxicated they were asking to be assaulted, it is easy to not feel comfortable talking about an incident. However, what does this mean for the thousands of women and men facing sexual assault yearly?

If sexual assault is not reported, there is a small chance that the victim will be screened for STI’s, let alone helped with the potential emotional deficits they may face. Moreover, due to society’s beliefs, males who face sexual assault often suffer from the emotional trauma alone because it is seen and “un-masculine” to be a victim of sexual assault. Many people tend to neglect the health risks that follow an assault that was not addressed.

Overall, sexual assault is a serious issue that must be addressed. The health risks that follow a person after an assault can lead to an untreated STD, depression or anxiety. Society must change their views on sexual assault in order for the victims to receive the care they need.

Sources:

Question:

What can we do to make sure victims receive the care they need?

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