Despite the condemnation of SVSH in this modern era, it is still very prevalent - according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), an American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds. Yet only 25 out of 1,000 SVSH perpetrators are actually incarcerated for their crimes. One of the biggest reasons why so many perpetrators walk free is that the majority of SVSH survivors do not report their cases to the police, and this is because survivors fear retaliation and don't believe that the authorities would make strides to help them. In many cases, this stems from deeply rooted sexism and uneven power dynamics within society.
Only 310 out of 1,000 cases of SVSH are reported to the police. And from 2005-2010, 20% of survivors that did not report their cases feared retaliation from their perpetrator. Perpetrators could retaliate physically by inflicting further harm upon the survivor, or they could retaliate by damaging the survivor's career prospects, as seen often with powerful executives in Hollywood, like Harvey Weinstein. In both cases, the survivor finds themself in an uneven power dynamic. In the first scenario, the survivor believes they could be physically overpowered by the perpetrator. In the second scenario, the survivor feels that their career prospects lie in the hands of the perpetrator. Both scenarios often result in perpetrators walking free due to fear of reporting.
SVSH is particularly prevalent on college campuses. According to RAINN, "13% of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation." This is partially due to the presence of Greek Life on campus, as both fraternities and sororities can cultivate uneven power dynamics. As survivors in the workplace worry that reporting can hurt their career prospects, college student-survivors fear the social repercussions that come alongside a report. For one thing, the relative immaturity of college students turns serious matters like this into a "he said, she said" sort of debate, where loyalty is not placed on the survivor but often on who is more well-known or influential in the social space. This can paint the survivor in a bad light, leading to the survivor being labeled a "false accuser."
Only 20% of female students report their experiences to the police (RAINN). Women feel less and less inclined to report their assault because there is a massive culture focused on victim blaming and normalizing aggressive men's tendencies. From 2005-2010, 15% of all SVSH survivors didn't report their cases because they felt like the authorities wouldn't do anything to help, and a lot of this sentiment is due to the tendency of authorities to not believe survivors. Many survivors fear that if they report a case, they will not be taken seriously and placed in a bad light. Often, survivors are critiqued for the circumstances in which the instance of SVSH occurred, including what they were wearing or where they were when it happened.
Reporting also forces the survivor to relive their traumatic experience as they recall specific details for the police and for court. Some say that reporting seems like it "places lives on hold." It is surprising how easily the youth can be persuaded by sheer loyalty to the social system. Not to mention, if the survivor loses the case, they find themselves paying extensive legal fees. These reasons make it incredibly terrifying for victims of SVSH to report their experiences, as it shines a public light on their trauma.
Another reason why so many issues of sexual violence go unreported is "rape culture," which is so prevalent on college campuses. This culture can be seen when people place the blame of rape on the survivor and not the perpetrator. Often, society becomes hypercritical of the survivor, criticizing their choice of clothing or commenting about how they (the survivor) were "asking for it." This exact insinuation, asserting that the clothes someone wears mean that it is their fault for being assaulted, can cause women to fear that something entirely out of their control will be turned on them as "their fault." Other instances of victim blaming are illustrated in a TedTalk about rape culture by Jackson Katz (PhD), "What was she wearing at that party… Why was she drinking with that group of guys in that hotel room? This is victim blaming" (Katz). By merely questioning a survivor, we end up diminishing their trauma and their struggle solely because of minuscule things like the clothes they wear. Survivors should never have to feel that the clothes they wear will mean they will be blamed for being raped, yet this is the unfortunate truth. This is why only 20% of female students report their experiences to the police (RAINN). Survivors, especially women, feel less and less inclined to report their assault because there is a massive culture focused on victim blaming and normalizing aggressive male tendencies.
There comes another set of difficulties and challenges when it comes to SVSH targeting men. According to an article published in the Behavioural Sciences journal, "it is estimated that the help and support for male victims is over 20 years behind that of female survivors." This lack of resources sprouts from the negative stigma that male sexual assault survivors face. It is noted in the same article that "respondents [to a survey] take male survivors less seriously when the perpetrator is female than when the perpetrator is male." This lack of seriousness leads many male victims to be accustomed to not recognizing that what they have gone through is assault and makes many men keep these events to themselves. Adding to this, many male survivors fear reporting acts of SVSH as they feel it would be seen as emasculating. There is a consistent standard idea of masculinity where men are perceived to be emotionless, "strong men" who never falter. This toxic mindset leads to people fearing ridicule when reporting assault as it is an incredibly vulnerable topic, and vulnerability is seen by many as unmasculine. Furthermore, according to the journal, "90-95% of all male sexual violations are not reported." This shocking number illustrates the rate at which male survivors hide their experiences to maintain their public image.
Another community that faces a lot of challenges when reporting SVSH is members of the LGBTQ+ community. According to the article written in the Behavioural Journal, participants of an experiment tend to find heterosexual rape more disgusting than homosexual rape, mentioning that homosexual survivors of SVSH were "more responsible" and "less traumatized" (Behavioural Sciences). The idea that homosexual acts of SVSH are more forgivable than heterosexual acts results in many members of the LGBTQ+ community feeling hesitant to report their experiences due to a potential lack of support from others. The available resources for this specific set of SVSH are lacking, leading to many cases being thrown under the rug. It is also important to note that many individuals are fearful of reporting SVSH because it might out their sexual identity, which can be incredibly personal and, in some cases, poses a danger to the survivor if they are in a hostile environment.
While each community faces different struggles when considering reporting, all are bound by societal constraints and norms that create several obstacles to reporting. Rape culture perpetuates an idea that survivors are to blame, allowing perpetrators to get off easy. There also appear to be numerous social repercussions from reporting, like being looked down upon, slut shaming, or being perceived as weak. Furthermore, people end up being forced to reveal incredibly personal information to not only cops but also courts, juries, and the public, which can lead to judgment and ridicule due to society's general lack of sensitivity. There is indeed a lot of support for survivors of SVSH, yet it seems that the issues within our culture have made it so that people are afraid to ask for help and support in times of immense need.
However, UC Berkeley has many on-campus resources that help remove the stigma of reporting. Path to Care is a social justice organization on campus equipped with confidential advocates for SVSH survivors. CAPS, Counseling and Psychological Services, is a resource that offers mental health services to students. OPHD, Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, ensures students comply with campus regulations and is the primary resource for reporting acts of SVSH to UC Berkeley. UHS, University Health Services, provides medical care to students and is a resource for SVSH survivors. There are also many local Bay Area organizations such as BAWAR (Bay Area Women Against Rape), Ruby's Place (a shelter for survivors of SVSH), and Family Violence Law Center, which all have 24/7 hotlines in English and Spanish. For those within the Greek community at UC Berkeley, if the act of SVSH took place at a fraternity, survivors can report it anonymously in a reporting form made by the Pan-Hellenic Council Risk chair, and this helps take away the fear of retaliation that many survivors have, especially in places in which they feel they have less power than the perpetrator. Although the anonymity and confidentiality of the form help encourage survivors to report because the reports are anonymous and often lack proof, the cases are labeled as "alleged," and the survivor's story is not always believed by the public.
As a society, reporting needs to become destigmatized and looked at in a positive light where the survivor is trusted. The fear and agony of reporting an SVSH case has led to an immense lack of legal action taken against perpetrators, making them think they are invincible and allowing them to continue to harass others. Failure to report is not the survivor's fault, but instead, of society as we perpetuate a culture that labels survivors as untrustworthy. It is essential to remember that the decision to report is the survivors' to make. Whether or not an assault is reported, the experience of the survivor is valid and theirs alone to share.
Resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wVJxp0poSQ
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=issues+with+reporting+sexual+assult
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpfEg-5Hczg
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10135558/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvSfeCRxe8
Only 310 out of 1,000 cases of SVSH are reported to the police. And from 2005-2010, 20% of survivors that did not report their cases feared retaliation from their perpetrator. Perpetrators could retaliate physically by inflicting further harm upon the survivor, or they could retaliate by damaging the survivor's career prospects, as seen often with powerful executives in Hollywood, like Harvey Weinstein. In both cases, the survivor finds themself in an uneven power dynamic. In the first scenario, the survivor believes they could be physically overpowered by the perpetrator. In the second scenario, the survivor feels that their career prospects lie in the hands of the perpetrator. Both scenarios often result in perpetrators walking free due to fear of reporting.
SVSH is particularly prevalent on college campuses. According to RAINN, "13% of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation." This is partially due to the presence of Greek Life on campus, as both fraternities and sororities can cultivate uneven power dynamics. As survivors in the workplace worry that reporting can hurt their career prospects, college student-survivors fear the social repercussions that come alongside a report. For one thing, the relative immaturity of college students turns serious matters like this into a "he said, she said" sort of debate, where loyalty is not placed on the survivor but often on who is more well-known or influential in the social space. This can paint the survivor in a bad light, leading to the survivor being labeled a "false accuser."
Only 20% of female students report their experiences to the police (RAINN). Women feel less and less inclined to report their assault because there is a massive culture focused on victim blaming and normalizing aggressive men's tendencies. From 2005-2010, 15% of all SVSH survivors didn't report their cases because they felt like the authorities wouldn't do anything to help, and a lot of this sentiment is due to the tendency of authorities to not believe survivors. Many survivors fear that if they report a case, they will not be taken seriously and placed in a bad light. Often, survivors are critiqued for the circumstances in which the instance of SVSH occurred, including what they were wearing or where they were when it happened.
Reporting also forces the survivor to relive their traumatic experience as they recall specific details for the police and for court. Some say that reporting seems like it "places lives on hold." It is surprising how easily the youth can be persuaded by sheer loyalty to the social system. Not to mention, if the survivor loses the case, they find themselves paying extensive legal fees. These reasons make it incredibly terrifying for victims of SVSH to report their experiences, as it shines a public light on their trauma.
Another reason why so many issues of sexual violence go unreported is "rape culture," which is so prevalent on college campuses. This culture can be seen when people place the blame of rape on the survivor and not the perpetrator. Often, society becomes hypercritical of the survivor, criticizing their choice of clothing or commenting about how they (the survivor) were "asking for it." This exact insinuation, asserting that the clothes someone wears mean that it is their fault for being assaulted, can cause women to fear that something entirely out of their control will be turned on them as "their fault." Other instances of victim blaming are illustrated in a TedTalk about rape culture by Jackson Katz (PhD), "What was she wearing at that party… Why was she drinking with that group of guys in that hotel room? This is victim blaming" (Katz). By merely questioning a survivor, we end up diminishing their trauma and their struggle solely because of minuscule things like the clothes they wear. Survivors should never have to feel that the clothes they wear will mean they will be blamed for being raped, yet this is the unfortunate truth. This is why only 20% of female students report their experiences to the police (RAINN). Survivors, especially women, feel less and less inclined to report their assault because there is a massive culture focused on victim blaming and normalizing aggressive male tendencies.
There comes another set of difficulties and challenges when it comes to SVSH targeting men. According to an article published in the Behavioural Sciences journal, "it is estimated that the help and support for male victims is over 20 years behind that of female survivors." This lack of resources sprouts from the negative stigma that male sexual assault survivors face. It is noted in the same article that "respondents [to a survey] take male survivors less seriously when the perpetrator is female than when the perpetrator is male." This lack of seriousness leads many male victims to be accustomed to not recognizing that what they have gone through is assault and makes many men keep these events to themselves. Adding to this, many male survivors fear reporting acts of SVSH as they feel it would be seen as emasculating. There is a consistent standard idea of masculinity where men are perceived to be emotionless, "strong men" who never falter. This toxic mindset leads to people fearing ridicule when reporting assault as it is an incredibly vulnerable topic, and vulnerability is seen by many as unmasculine. Furthermore, according to the journal, "90-95% of all male sexual violations are not reported." This shocking number illustrates the rate at which male survivors hide their experiences to maintain their public image.
Another community that faces a lot of challenges when reporting SVSH is members of the LGBTQ+ community. According to the article written in the Behavioural Journal, participants of an experiment tend to find heterosexual rape more disgusting than homosexual rape, mentioning that homosexual survivors of SVSH were "more responsible" and "less traumatized" (Behavioural Sciences). The idea that homosexual acts of SVSH are more forgivable than heterosexual acts results in many members of the LGBTQ+ community feeling hesitant to report their experiences due to a potential lack of support from others. The available resources for this specific set of SVSH are lacking, leading to many cases being thrown under the rug. It is also important to note that many individuals are fearful of reporting SVSH because it might out their sexual identity, which can be incredibly personal and, in some cases, poses a danger to the survivor if they are in a hostile environment.
While each community faces different struggles when considering reporting, all are bound by societal constraints and norms that create several obstacles to reporting. Rape culture perpetuates an idea that survivors are to blame, allowing perpetrators to get off easy. There also appear to be numerous social repercussions from reporting, like being looked down upon, slut shaming, or being perceived as weak. Furthermore, people end up being forced to reveal incredibly personal information to not only cops but also courts, juries, and the public, which can lead to judgment and ridicule due to society's general lack of sensitivity. There is indeed a lot of support for survivors of SVSH, yet it seems that the issues within our culture have made it so that people are afraid to ask for help and support in times of immense need.
However, UC Berkeley has many on-campus resources that help remove the stigma of reporting. Path to Care is a social justice organization on campus equipped with confidential advocates for SVSH survivors. CAPS, Counseling and Psychological Services, is a resource that offers mental health services to students. OPHD, Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, ensures students comply with campus regulations and is the primary resource for reporting acts of SVSH to UC Berkeley. UHS, University Health Services, provides medical care to students and is a resource for SVSH survivors. There are also many local Bay Area organizations such as BAWAR (Bay Area Women Against Rape), Ruby's Place (a shelter for survivors of SVSH), and Family Violence Law Center, which all have 24/7 hotlines in English and Spanish. For those within the Greek community at UC Berkeley, if the act of SVSH took place at a fraternity, survivors can report it anonymously in a reporting form made by the Pan-Hellenic Council Risk chair, and this helps take away the fear of retaliation that many survivors have, especially in places in which they feel they have less power than the perpetrator. Although the anonymity and confidentiality of the form help encourage survivors to report because the reports are anonymous and often lack proof, the cases are labeled as "alleged," and the survivor's story is not always believed by the public.
As a society, reporting needs to become destigmatized and looked at in a positive light where the survivor is trusted. The fear and agony of reporting an SVSH case has led to an immense lack of legal action taken against perpetrators, making them think they are invincible and allowing them to continue to harass others. Failure to report is not the survivor's fault, but instead, of society as we perpetuate a culture that labels survivors as untrustworthy. It is essential to remember that the decision to report is the survivors' to make. Whether or not an assault is reported, the experience of the survivor is valid and theirs alone to share.
Resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wVJxp0poSQ
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=issues+with+reporting+sexual+assult
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpfEg-5Hczg
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10135558/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvSfeCRxe8
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About the Authors
Phoebe is a second year studying political
science and art history. She chose to get involved with GASA "it is a tradition in my lineage and I am passionate about SVSH awareness!" Rohan is a current freshman studying Molecular and
Cell Biology with hopes of going to med school. Rohan says "The reason I joined GASA is because I felt that Greek life has a stigma backed by a history of SVSH issues. I wanted to be educated on ways to prevent and help people that experience SVSH at parties and create a safer environment in Greek life." |
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