Ah, April. The month students are trying to raise that D to a B, all while trying to hit up every party to go out with a bang, the month professors assign a semester's worth of papers in a week, and also the month that is devoted to sexual awareness. Now, I know. Another girl ranting and raving about sexual issues in 2016, but hear me out.
Sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, and rape are very common crimes that are committed throughout the world, but they are also very common on college campuses. In 2016, everyone is still avoiding eye contact and whispering when someone says the word "rape." Sexual awareness needs to be a topic that is heavily discussed with older and new generations, and that is why I made a simple guide; Sexual Awareness Month For Dummies. This guide will contain references from popular media trends, memes, and even will contain your favorite celebrities!
1. Sexual assault is the least reported crime; tragic.
College is time for the three 'B's: boys, booze, and bars! While girls are at their favorite frat or bar, there is a high possibility that someone in that bar will be sexually assaulted. By the end of a woman's college career, there is a 1 out of 5 chance that she will be sexually assaulted, and it has been estimated that only 5 percent of these woman will report their sexual assault. This is making sexual assault the least reported crime.
2. Damn, Daniel, only 9 percent of rape and sexual assault victims are men, while 91 percent are women.
An article on Slate.com is titled "When Men Are Raped: A new study reveals men are often the victims of sexual assault, and women are the perpetrators." This article is simply stating that rape and sexual assault of men is something new. Men are also victims of sexual assault. The '9 percent are males' stat is simply gathering information from men who have reported their rape. Men of every sexuality have been sexually assaulted, but being sexually assaulted is viewed as being "weak," so they oftentimes will not be keen on reporting it. 40.2 percent of gay men, 47.4 percent of bisexual men, and 20.8 percent of heterosexual men have reported that they have endured some sort of sexual violence during their lifetime. It is time to realize that men also can be sexually assaulted by a boyfriend, girlfriend, of even their lifetime partner or spouse.
3. Statistics say that 1.8 million adolescents in the U.S. have been victims of sexual violence. That's enough to make anyone tear up.
In 2012, reports showed that 26 percent of children ages 12 to 14 had been sexually assaulted, while 34 percent were younger than 9 years old. This means someone's child, sibling, and someday someone's parents had experienced sexually violence before even hitting puberty. 34 percent of child abusers are family members. 1 in 4 girls will be sexually assaulted before they turn 18, and 1 in 6 boys will also be sexually assaulted before becoming 18. This will in turn create some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder in 81 percent of women and in 35 percent of men.
4. YIKES! More than 90 percent of college students do not report their sexual assault.
This means college students are walking around campuses, where their assaulter more than likely also goes to college, and there is nothing they think they can do or say. Fun fact! Title IX was an act put in place in 1972 that states that an individual cannot be discriminated by their sex, or be excluded, or not provided the same privileges as other individuals. College students often are not aware they have these rights and that any violation of them is taken very seriously. Especially on college campuses.
5. Studies show that an estimated 3.4 million men and woman will be victims of stalking. That is not Kanye Approved.
Individuals oftentimes overlook stalking and don't really associate it sexual awareness, but stalkers will/have the ability to threaten, harm, or actually inflict pain on victims. There is nothing they are immune to.
6. WHAT THE? Individuals often have a stigma that rapes do not occur in their house, or in a familiar environment, but over 50 percent of victims have been assaulted either one mile from their house of in their own home.
In other words, individuals are able to be assaulted in any environment. In recent studies, 4 in 10 assaults take place in the victim's home, 2 in 10 take place in the home of a friend, 1 in 12 take place in a parking garage.
Sexual Assault Awareness is something that needs to be known and more often talked about. Dedicating a month in April to it is simply not enough. The world is gradually coming together and spreading awareness about sexual assault in the world and in college campuses. It is important to dedicate more time to understanding sexual assault and how to deal with sexual assault if you or a friend is caught in a situation.
