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Sociology

9April2017

PreventionandEducationonSexualAssaultandRape

Sexualassaultandrapeisanissuethathasbeenaconstantproblemallthroughout

history.Priortoaboutfiftyyearsago,womenwerenotlookeduponasequaltomen,andoften

experiencesexualharassmentandrapewithoutanyconsequencesfallingupontheassaulter.

AccordingtotheUnitedStatesDepartmentofJustice,sexualassault is defined as any type of

sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under

the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy,

child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape. 1 out of every 6 American women and 1

out of 33 American men have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime

(United States Department of Justice). This issue is widespread, and programs must be instituted

to educate the general public and also prevent future sexual assaults and rapes.

When it comes to sexual assault and rape, a common issue is victim-blaming. Often, the

victim is either not believed or is made to believe that the rape is somehow their fault due to the

circumstances of the situation (i.e. the amount of alcohol drank, whether or not they were flirting

with the attacker, what they were wearing at the time of the assault). Society must become

educated on the issue of sexual assault or it cannot get any better. The blame needs to be put

upon the perpetrator and not the victim. There are many ways that education could spread about

this and that the perpetration of rape culture can subside. To begin, teenagers must be taught

consent more carefully. This should fall in with sex education and these teenagers must be
informed about what is considered consent and what is not. This would absolutely help with

clearing out the grey area of what consent is.

Secondly, rape culture must subside as a whole. Rape culture, according to the text, is a

social culture that provides an environment conducive to rape (Discover Sociology G-7). Rape

culture can be the type of music thats popular or the way that women are viewed within society

or many other factors. When it comes to music, rap is specifically very degrading towards

women in regards to sex. A conversation should be had with popular rappers about the way they

portray women and how to make it so that it does not condone what can be considered sexual

assault. Also, the way women are viewed should be looked at in all angles. The way theyre

portrayed on television, the internet, and other major entertainment outlets needs to become

better. Instead of over-glorified, sexualized women, real women should be used in

advertisements. This will target not only men, but also women, to help them understand that they

are worth more than their bodies.

Finally, a very important part of the whole system would be much heavier sentences upon

those who sexually assault or rape. Recently, a Stanford student was raped by another student

and the assaulter only received three months of prison time. Instead of siding with the victim, too

often the courts will side with the rapist. This cannot be accepted. If these criminals are receiving

low sentences, the perpetrator is not risking that much and is more likely to offend or offend

repeatedly. Harsher prison sentences for such a horrible crime is completely necessary, as sexual

assault and rape ruins lives. It should be looked upon as a horrible crime, not as something that

happens to women. Society must switch its way of thinking. The target audience for this is for

offenders or those who have the intention to rape. Seeing what theyd be giving up by

committing this crime may sustain them from committing the crime.
 These programs would be very successful, as there is not very much in place now for

prevention and education. Often, rape and sexual assault is swept under the rug and forgotten

about. Instead, society must take it upon itself to help stop this crime. It is absolutely societys

responsibility to institute similar programs and try to stop rape. Rape can happen to anyone at

any time, and its something that almost all women are afraid of. The statistics back up this fear,

as so many are sexually assaulted. Society has set up rape culture and it is societys responsibility

to get rid of it as well. This is truly crucial, as this crime is horrendous for all involved. In the

end, change can be brought about but only if someone does something about it. These programs

should at least help the issue, if not solve it.

Reilly Grealis

Stelhe

Sociology

9 April 2017

Work Cited

Chambliss, William J., and Daina S. Eglitis. Discover Sociology: Second Edition.

SAGE Publications.

Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime

Victimization Survey, 2010-2014 (2015).