The Issues of Sexual Assault
Why are we so used to hearing stories about young girls or teens getting raped yet we are doing nothing to stop it? 90% of the adult rape victims in the world are females and many females who get raped are scared to share their stories. Many men call women liars for sharing their experience with sexual assault or rape. This is the reason many women keep quiet about their experiences.
1 in 4 women in America have been a victim of sexual assault. While men say the accusations women make about rape are fake only 2-10% of the accusations are actually fake. Along with that only 30% of rape cases are reported and only 10% face trial. Out of that 10% only 2% are jailed. This shows that there are a ton of rapists out in the world that aren't even accused or in jail because the courts and judges take men's words over females.
Along with that around 18.3% of women have been apart of a complete rape and 25.5 million women have reported completed rape or attempted rape at some point in their lives. Along with these facts many teenage girls are scared to walk down the street or even school hallways without being catcalled or touched inappropriately. Many sexual assault cases happen when the person is drunk or was drugged.
Along with rape and touching innapropratly many women face the idea and the fear of being assaluted in places such as their homes or workplaces. 25-85% of women around the world experience sexual harassment in the work place. Along with that many teens are found in relationships or friendships where sexual assault happens. It can be as simple as someone trying to touch you without consent or evening trying to do something they know you aren’t comfortable with.
Though many teens do not speak out, many may feel uncomfortable in settings such as school. Some teachers may act or speak in ways that make students uncomfortable. Along with that some teachers may touch a student or even force them into doing something they do not want to do. At least 5.2% of students in a 2017-18 survey reported at least one incident of sexual assault at school between the grades of k-12.
Though women are the higher majority of people that get raped that does not mean that men sometimes don’t go through the same thing as women. 1.4% of men in the United States have been raped at some point. Along with that 1 out of 10 victims are men. Men usually don’t get as much support or have their stories shared because usually men or people who want to tear down women who are standing up for themselves use the come back “men get raped too” and if you are only using the trauma and issue of men getting raped as a comeback to women survivors you are a terrible person.
Though many rape cases get closed down that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. To anyone who has been apart of any type of sexual assault I would like to say you are strong and brave. To add onto this if anyone makes jokes about sexual assault or rape please stop. You never know what someone has been too scared to share with the world. We must try and stop the issue and start reporting and showing the courts around America that this happens and it's true. If you are in need of support after a experience with sexual abuse please use the hotline 1-800-656-4673.
