By Cora Dunnwald, News Crew Member
Sexual assault is the most underreported crime in the United States year after year. Several professionals point the finger at society for this problem, citing rape culture.
Rape culture is defined by the Women’s Center at Marshal University as “an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture.” This can be seen in the numerous cases of rape and sexual assault getting nothing more than a slap on the wrist for the crime. It can also be seen in movies and social media. It is everywhere, it is culture.
Kimberly Mẻnard is a professor at Penn State University, but before teaching she was both a criminologist and a police officer. Mẻnard’s current research focuses on interpersonal crime placing emphasis on crime reporting pertaining to sexual assault. Mẻnard points to several studies claiming fewer than 5% of victims report sexual assault.
In terms of college, Mẻnard explains that many times victims don’t report if there are other illegal actions involved in the incident. “Folks are less likely to report if, for instance, they’re doing something bad like drinking underage or using illegal drugs,” Mẻnard said. She cites one of her own studies that found that approximately 85% of college sexual assaults involve alcohol. Mẻnard believes this in turn causes the blame to shift onto the victims. “Mainly they feel they shouldn’t report because their friends, or society as a whole, would blame them. Then they end up blaming themselves.”
In a recent interview on The Daily podcast, Donna Rotunno, Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer, was asked if she had ever been assaulted. Her response was, “I have not because I would never put myself in that position.” Mẻnard points to statements like these that perpetuate ‘rape culture.’ “Nobody asks to be raped,” Mẻnard argues against Rotunno’s comment.
Peggy Reeves Sanday is an anthropologist at the University of Pennsivania, and is commonly known for her book, ‘Fraternity Gang Rape: Sex, Brotherhood, and Privilege on Campus.’ This book takes a close look at the idea of rape culture and what it means in terms of college life. “No rape free campuses have been identified by research,” Sanday pointed out.
Sanday raised several questions to how individuals learn about sex. “If they get their information on sex and women from pornography, some don’t see a problem with forcing a woman,” Sanday said. She urges that misinformation on sex life can aid the problem of ‘rape culture.’
Mẻnard believes that the aspect of rape culture is a huge factor in the underreporting of sexual assaults. She repeated over and over how nobody asked for this to happen to them. Mẻnard said society has created a dull sense of sexual assault. “We equate sex to rape, and that couldn’t be farther from the truth.” Mẻnard said this leads others to lessen the severity of the situation, thus playing into rape culture even more. “We are acting as aiding and embedding by letting them walk free,” she said.
Both Sanday and Mẻnard agree that change has to come both in law and society. Mẻnard points to Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART) and other organizations that are implemented nationwide to help aid in this problem. “ SART teams and sexual assault nurses should be implemented everywhere,” Mẻnard said. “They are wonderful when they are created,”
Iowa State University is among the colleges that offer sexual assault response services. Several programs have been out in places not only to prevent, but help after the incident takes place. Anthony Greiter is an ISU police officer and member of the SART. “We will help you with whatever resources we have,” he said. Greiter admits there is nothing the university can do when it comes to lawyers or trials, but the ISU police force will try their best to help.
“You start by believing, it’s really that easy.” Greiter said. Greiter suggested saying a simple, “I’m sorry that happened to you,” can be the best response. Mẻnard backed this sentiment. “Some cops don’t believe, and that adds to the problem.” she said. Mẻnard was easily angered by the myth that sexual assault is falsely reported on a massive level. “Rape is no more falsely reported than any other crime,” Mẻnard said. “We need to get past all these myths.” Mẻnard feels that if these fundamental myths are dissolved, it could be a huge part of fixing this problem.
