Every April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, represented by a teal ribbon and expressed by wearing teal and participating in Denim Day.
Sexual assault is one term under the umbrella of sexual violence, and although the month is ‘sexual assault’ awareness month, I think all sexual violence is brought to attention. Sexual violence is everything from sexual harassment and assault, rape, and other sex crimes.
According to RIANN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network), every 92 seconds an American is sexually assaulted, totalling 321,500 victims each year. These numbers are in the United States alone. Globally, 70% of women have experienced either physical or sexual violence.
These numbers are completely frightening and heartbreaking. They raise the question, ‘Why is nothing being done to stop this?’ The answer: there is, but global patriarchy refuses to punish itself.
Most instances of sexual violence are committed by men toward women. This, of course, is not to invalidate any instance of sexual violence that does not fit that description, but it is that way across the globe.
Women in many countries and communities expect that they will experience sexual violence within their lifetime, because it is so ingrained into their traditions. The men in charge often so deeply believe what they are doing is the only way, or the right way, that they refuse to stop certain actions.
For example, genital mutilation of women is sexual violence, and is only done so women cannot experience pleasure from sex. In some places, genital mutilation, or removal of the clitoris, is performed to every girl. Genital mutilation leads to lifelong health issues and pain, but this is not important enough to the men in charge to stop these practices.
While this is just one example, we can find cases of genital mutilation across the globe. In addition, there are many other ways the patriarchy needs to hold power over societies worldwide, such as child marriage, forced sex, trafficking, and sex work.
The patriarchy and the men who uphold the structures of patriarchy around the world want to maintain the power they have, and one way of holding that power is through acts of sexual and physical violence. Putting an end to these acts, and prosecuting those who commit them, would mean giving up power.
To this point, of 100 rapes committed in the United States, less than 20 are reported to the police, and of those, less than 5 are prosecuted. Only about 2 cases come to trial, and of those two cases, less than 1 will result in incarceration.
The reason to not report rape and all acts of sexual violence can vary, but the most common reasons are that the individual fears retaliation, that the police would not do anything to help, or that it was not important enough to report to police.
In the United States, the fear of not being trusted or being ostracized is completely rational, and unfortunately, we can find examples all around. In the past fall, during Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings to become a Supreme Court Justice, multiple women came out to say that he had sexually assaulted them.
Christine Blasey Ford testified that Kavanaugh had assaulted her. She faced backlash from millions of people, was threatened in real life and through the internet, and still has to live with the truth that her abuser holds one of the highest positions in the United States government.
Kavanaugh was still appointed, because whatever qualities some people saw in him were somehow more important than the fact that he is a perpetrator of sexual violence.
This is not something that is new or totally uncommon. Abusers will still get money, roles, jobs, and power even after people have spoken against them. The victims are often shunned, forgotten about, and sometimes even fired or turned down for jobs in the future.
This dynamic is entirely unfair and unacceptable. So often, I feel completely defeated with all of this knowledge. I feel there is nothing to do and no way to change these statistics. But that is wrong.
On the whole, sexual violence has fallen by half in the last 20 years in the US. Globally, we have seen a decrease as well. With more attention being brought to inequalities and violence, more victims are able to be liberated, and less abusers are continued to have power. Less people are growing up to be abusers, meaning there are less victims created, because of education and access to resources.
There is no quick and fast solution, but being educated, using your voice and money, and supporting victims are all great ways to start.
Resources are always available:
SXU Counseling Center: (773) 298-4045
SXU Health Center: (773) 298- 3712
SXU Public Safety: (773) 298-4400
SXU Emergency Public Safety: (773) 298- 3911
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1 (800) 656-4673
Crisis Hotline: text “HOME” to 741741
Pillars Community Health Sexual Assault Hotline: (708) 482-9600
Emma Farina
Opinions Columnist