CRJ #8

CRJ #8

Kahn’s article “What College Women Do and Do Not Experience as Rape” was especially interesting to read, since I am currently a college student. I thought it was extremely strange that 73% of the women questioned that showed clues to having been raped, did not admit that they were (pg. 593). Kahn goes on to explain that the likely reasoning for this is rape has a stereotype of its own. Rape is seen as a sexual assault performed by a stranger, and be extremely brutal and forceful. While this image is true, rape also can be submitting to a boyfriend or lover, being tricked into sex while asleep, intoxicated, or drugged, or even when a someone is taken advantage of while emotionally needy. I think that some of the reasons rapes are underreported among college females is a balance between confusion, isolation, and embarrassment. Often, alcohol is involved and the woman can feel like it was her fault she was raped because she allowed herself to become too intoxicated to stop the attack. Also, when at college, women are separated from their families and typical doctors, so it is harder to find the proper support. While many college campuses try to offer services that would allow women a safe place to seek help, testing, and aide after a rape attack, many women are too embarrassed to seek this help. They would rather talk to a family member and their own personal doctor than the police and local hospital. Embarrassment is a key role for all rape victims. Many people contain a superhuman mentality; they are aware of the evils and misfortunes in the world but they do not perceive any of them every happening to themselves. With one in four college women experiencing sexual assault (pg. 563), this can be an extremely harmful thought process. In order to protect the students, colleges should offer education programs on sexual assault, self defense lessons, and general campus security. Outreach programs and hotlines should also be available so that both men and women who find themselves sexually assaulted can seek the proper aide.

Debra Anne Davis presents a good point about gender roles and taught mannerisms in story, “Betrayed by the Angel”. Growing up she was taught the ideal feminine gender role, and it is due to this role, she was victimized. Girls are often expected to be polite, quite, and submissive. When a strange man showed up at Davis’ door, she could not be rude and shut the door in his face even though she knew something was fishy about the situation. Because she did do the “rude thing”, the strange man forced himself into her apartment and raped her. Now she realizes that if she hadn’t been raised to be so submissive the attack would never have been able to happen. Parents that do not want their children to be victimized should teach them not only manners and kindness, but the ability to stand for themselves and defend themselves when necessary. I would rather have a slightly rude child that ran away or fought when attacked then have a victimized one. Davis goes on to explain that even after the court process she still did not feel like her attacker deserved his punishment; that there was something inside her that blamed herself and not him. Ever since she was little she remembers images on television, (Bewitched, I Dream of Genie, and Leave it to Beaver for examples) where the females were casted in submissive roles. It is this expected submission that causes women to accept their attacks. Men seeking power can easily dominate women that are trained to be controlled by men. The media has a powerful role on gender ideals, and it should actively try to enforce that the sexes are equal. Also the media has a powerful influence on the news that is brought to the attention of the general public. The news should focus more on the severity and extent that sexual crimes are plaguing our country. Hardly does anyone see a rape on the national news level; it is usually just stuck in as a five minute filler on the local station. More media coverage and education, would promote more action from the government, agencies, and public. Changing apathy to action is the only way to prevent these crimes from happening.