Sexual Coercion Chapter 18

Learning Objectives  Rape: The Most Intimate Crime of Violence  Types of Rape  Social Attitudes, Myths, and Cultural Factors that Encourage Rape  Psychological Characteristics of Rapists: Who Are They?  Adjustment of Rape Survivors  Sexual Abuse of Children  Treatment of Rapists and Child Molesters  Sexual Harassment

Rape Sexual activity that takes place without consent Forcible rape Sexual activity obtained by the use of force or threat of force Statutory rape Sexual activity with a person below the age of consent Sexual assault Any sexual activity that involves the use of force or the threat of force

Critical Thinking Why is rape a political issue as well as a crime?

Incidence of Rape Numbers are inconsistent and staggering FBI reported almost 85,000 in 2011 CDC reported 1.3 million in in 5 women In US two women are raped every minute

Incidence of Rape Incidence of rape is underreported About 2/3 not reported to police or prosecuted Many women mistakenly believe coercive sex is rape only if rapist is a stranger Many women mistakenly assume only vaginal penetration is rape Why the discrepancy?

Types of Rape S TRANGER R APE Rape by assailant previously unknown to the person Assailant typically chooses a vulnerable victim

Types of Rape A CQUAINTANCE R APE Rape by acquaintance of the victim Women are more likely to be raped by men they know Is less likely to be reported than stranger rape In a national college survey, only ¼ saw themselves as rape victims

Types of Rape D ATE R APE A form of acquaintance rape As many as 1 in 4 college woman reports being forced into sexual intercourse by dates Man tends to perceive returning home with him as willingness to have sex Consent is at issue since incidents occur in context in which sex could voluntarily occur

Types of Rape G ANG R APE Exercise of power and expression of anger against women More vicious than individual assaults

Types of Rape M ALE R APE Prevalence is unknown Estimated that one in ten rape survivors is a man Most men who rape other men are heterosexual Sexual motives may be absent Most, but not all, occur in prison settings Male rape survivors may suffer traumatic effects similar to female survivors

Types of Rape P ARTNER R APE May be more common than date rape Men who are less accepting of traditional stereotypes about sexual relationships are less likely to commit partner rape Often occurs within a context of relationship violence, battering, and physical intimidation Long-term effects on survivors are similar to those experienced by survivors of stranger rape

Critical Thinking Why do you think it was a political struggle to pass laws against marital rape?

Types of Rape R APE BY W OMEN Although it is rare, women have raped men and have aided and abetted men who are raping another woman

Social Attitudes, Myths, and Cultural Factors Rape myths are rationalizations for violence Myths create a social climate that legitimizes rape Myths are related to other social attitudes Gender-role stereotyping Perception of sex as adversarial Acceptance of violence in relationships Male socialization and gender typing The traditional masculine gender role is related to acceptance of violence against women and rape

Critical Thinking Agree or disagree with the following statement and support your answer: A woman who walks in a dangerous neighborhood or talks to a stranger deserves what she gets.

Psychological Characteristics of Rapists There is no single type of rapist Many have antisocial personalities Compared to other men, self-identified sexually aggressive men are more likely to: Condone rape and violence against women Hold traditional gender-role attitudes Be sexually experienced and hostile toward women Engage in sex to express social dominance Be sexually aroused by depictions of rape Be irresponsible and lack a social conscience Have peer groups that pressure them into sexual activity Who are they?

Adjustment of Rape Survivors Crisis Involves shock, loss of self-esteem, and lessened capacity for making decisions Can last for weeks Both physical and psychological effects Problems in the workplace and in relationships with spouses or partners Disturbances in sexual functioning Most fail to report sexual assault Reasons include fear, social stigma, doubt of others, feelings of hopelessness, emotional distress Survivors tend to experience

Adjustment of Rape Survivors Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) A type of stress reaction brought on by a traumatic event and is characterized by Flashbacks of the experience in the form of disturbing dreams or intrusive recollections A sense of emotional numbing or restricted range of feelings Heightened body arousal Women who blame themselves for the rape tend to suffer more severe depression and adjustment problems, including sexual problems Psychological Disorders

If You Are Raped Don’t change anything about your body Strongly consider reporting the incident to police Ask a relative or friend to take you to a hospital Seek help in an assertive way Question health professionals Call a rape hotline or crisis center for advice

Treatment of Rape Survivors Crisis intervention and long-term adjustment Provide support and information to help develop strategies for coping Psychotherapy Treatment targets are often PTSD, depression, and anxiety CBT most effective form of therapy Rape crisis centers and hotlines Help mobilize social support of family, friends, religious leaders, and health care providers

Rape Prevention Elimination of rape will require changes in attitudes Education can reduce the incidence Some precautions include Establish signals with other women in building or neighborhood Use dead-bolt locks Do not walk alone after dark Avoid deserted areas Don’t converse with strange men on street

Rape Prevention Suggestions for avoiding date rape Set limits with partnerMeet new dates in publicBe firm in refusing sexual overtureTrust your gut feelingsBe cautious in new environmentsDon’t let an ex-boyfriend into your living space

Sexual Abuse of Children Estimated ,000 annually Most abused children are girls Ranges from exhibitionism, kissing, fondling, to sexual intercourse Sexual relations between adults and children under the age of consent is a crime in every state Any sexual contact between adult and child is abusive About 8% of boys and 20% of girls are sexually abused worldwide Occurs over internet with images and invitations to interact in chat rooms Voluntary sexual activity between children of similar ages is not abuse Must involve coercion

Patterns of Abuse Most molesters are someone close to child Stable, middle-class children less at risk Often unreported when discovered Child typically trusts abuser Repeat abuse by family members Genital fondling most common, intercourse is rare Children rarely report due to fear of retaliation or blame First abuse Boys on average 7 to 10 years old Girls on average 6 to 12 years old

Critical Thinking Why do you think that most cases of child sexual abuse are not reported to the authorities?

Types of Abusers Overwhelming majority are males, most are adults, some are adolescents Male abusers more likely to have been abused themselves Female abusers may be more common than previously thought

Pedophilia A paraphilia involving persistent or recurrent sexual attraction to children Almost all pedophiles are males Abuse patterns vary and there is no consistent personality profile of the pedophile May have complex origins Some were sexually abused as children Often unstable, disagreeable, angry, impulsive, and mistrustful

Pedophilia Pedophiles have distorted reality See children as sexual beings who want to have sex with adults Believe that sex does not harm children and may be beneficial Think of themselves as important enough to have sex with whomever they want See others as dangerous and controlling Believe they cannot control their impulses

Incest Marriage or sexual relations between people who are so closely related by “blood” that sexual relations are prohibited and punishable by law Most cultures have an incest taboo Perspectives on the incest taboo To prevent harmful effects of inbreeding Cooperation theory Emphasizes the importance of cooperative ties between family groups to the survival of the society

Types of Incest Father-daughter incest Often begins affectionately and progresses to sexual behavior Brother-sister incest Most common type Most likely to be harmful when it is forced or when parental response is harsh Family factors in incest Incest often occurs within the context of family disruption Marriages tend to involve an uneven power relationship Sexual relations between the spouses are troubled Abused daughters may assume mother’s responsibilities Incest is often repeated from generation to generation

Effects of Sexual Abuse on Children Involve great psychological harm and physical consequences Abused children commonly “act out” Younger children display aggressive or antisocial behavior Older children abuse drugs Many show signs of posttraumatic stress disorder Sexual development may be adversely affected May lead to psychological problems in adulthood

Prevention of Sexual Abuse on Children Help children understand what sexual abuse is and how they can protect themselves Teach adults signs of sexual abuse and require them to report suspected abuse to authorities

Treatment of Survivors of Sexual Abuse Many therapists recommend a multifaceted treatment approach with children and their families With adults, psychotherapy can improve self-esteem and ability to develop intimate relationships

Treatment of Rapists & Child Molesters Goal is to help society eliminate problem behavior Common form of treatment is group therapy However, majority of incarcerated sex offenders receive little to no treatment in prison Results of these prison-based programs are mixed More promising results from CBT, such as empathy training and covert sensitization Castration Chemical or surgical Reduces testosterone levels and consequently sex drive May not lower sexual interest or behavior What Does Treatment Mean?

Critical Thinking Agree or disagree with the following statement and support your answer: We should punish sex offenders and not worry about “treating” them.

Sexual Harassment Deliberate or repeated unsolicited verbal comments, gestures, or physical contact of a sexual nature considered to be unwelcome by the recipient: Verbal harassment or abuse Subtle or direct pressure for sexual activity Remarks about person’s clothing, body, or sex acts Leering or ogling a person’s body Unwelcome touching, patting, or pinching Brushing against a person’s body Demands for sexual favors with threats concerning one’s job Physical assault

Sexual Harassment Men or women can commit or be subjected to sexual harassment 99% of harassers are men Often ignored or trivialized Stress may cause physical illness, anxiety, irritability, lowered self- esteem, and anger More to due with power than sexual desire

Sexual Harassment Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Most severe form involves supervisor who demands sexual favors as a condition of employment or advancement Laws do exist to protect workers, but proving charges of sexual harassment can be difficult

Sexual Harassment Sexual Harassment on Campus 25% to 30% of students report at least one incident of sexual harassment in college Males are about twice as likely as females to commit sexual harassment Most forms of harassment involve unequal power relationships However, students can and do harass professors Peer harassment Many high school and junior high school students report being sexually harassed Negative attitudes toward school and lower grades can result

Sexual Harassment How to Resist Sexual Harassment Convey a professional attitude Discourage harassing behavior Avoid being alone with the harasser Maintain a record Talk with the harasser Write harasser a letter Seek support File a complaint Seek legal help