Combatting Sexual Violence
Social Systems
Often survivors do not seek help in formal social systems as a means to self-protect (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
Rape survivors' frequently self-blame and do not want to tell others what has happened to them. These feelings, while understandable, can dissuade survivors from accessing help in formal social systems, such as, community services that will provide them resources and support during the post- trauma experience (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
In the effort to move on, seeking assistance in formal social systems may be viewed by survivors' as detracting from the healing process in that they fear the system processes and personnel will cause them further harm through probing questions or in outright disbelief (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
These fears are warranted as formal agencies have indeed caused further harm to survivors' historically. This is in part due to common misperceptions regarding the rape trauma and sexual violence. Through a social marketing approach, however, new messages about rape can be promoted to help formal systems adopt new policies which target the concerns of survivors' to increase help seeking (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
It is of great importance to understand that the rape has no stereotypical scenario- the act is variant and multidimensional. Sexual victimization takes many forms. In fact, 70% of the time rape is committed by someone the victim knows (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009). Therefore to address survivors' concerns and apprehension toward using formal social systems for help, common misperceptions or rape myths must be deconstructed (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
A social marketing strategy seeks to communicate that the services provided by these systems are available to all survivors, regardless of type or severity of rape(Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
Rape survivors' frequently self-blame and do not want to tell others what has happened to them. These feelings, while understandable, can dissuade survivors from accessing help in formal social systems, such as, community services that will provide them resources and support during the post- trauma experience (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
In the effort to move on, seeking assistance in formal social systems may be viewed by survivors' as detracting from the healing process in that they fear the system processes and personnel will cause them further harm through probing questions or in outright disbelief (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
These fears are warranted as formal agencies have indeed caused further harm to survivors' historically. This is in part due to common misperceptions regarding the rape trauma and sexual violence. Through a social marketing approach, however, new messages about rape can be promoted to help formal systems adopt new policies which target the concerns of survivors' to increase help seeking (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
It is of great importance to understand that the rape has no stereotypical scenario- the act is variant and multidimensional. Sexual victimization takes many forms. In fact, 70% of the time rape is committed by someone the victim knows (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009). Therefore to address survivors' concerns and apprehension toward using formal social systems for help, common misperceptions or rape myths must be deconstructed (Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
A social marketing strategy seeks to communicate that the services provided by these systems are available to all survivors, regardless of type or severity of rape(Patterson, Greeson, & Campbell, 2009).
Programs
Programs help to facilitate communication among people not usually in part of your normal social systems. Many women who are too embarassed to talk to family and friends have the opportunity to enroll in a program. They range from aftercare to counseling and do not turn victims of sexual violence away.
One major issue when determining how to move forward from an incident is being able to identify it. Women who are not able to identify their experience as a sexual assault are more likely to experience non-vaginal assaults. “It is possible that young women might now acknowledge a behavior as rape if they do not even define it as sex” (Hertzog & Yeilding, 2009).
Being involved in programs including education of sexual violence can increase awareness about the issue. Advocating for the cause helps to create systems of support and raise confidence among women, and any other victims. It is important for women to be involved in programs because they are more likely to intervene when faced with an emergency situation (Foubert, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Brasfield, & Hill, 2010). Being educated properly about techniques to diffuse certain volitile situations can help victims get out of a bad environment which could escalate to sexual violence. Some “programs significantly increase both women’s confidence in their ability to intervene as a bystander and their perceived willingness to help a potential abuse victim” (Foubert, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Brasfield, & Hill, 2010).
It is just as important for men to join programs as well and become knowledgeable about the issues surrounding sexual violence. Culturally, it is normative for women to find interest from men to be a source of self esteem (Foubert, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Brasfield, & Hill, 2010). Men could learn how to better communicate their anger before it leads to a violent act, and help uplift their female counterparts.
There are several organizations and hotlines listed in the "Resources" tab on this page. Enroll today or reach out for help.
One major issue when determining how to move forward from an incident is being able to identify it. Women who are not able to identify their experience as a sexual assault are more likely to experience non-vaginal assaults. “It is possible that young women might now acknowledge a behavior as rape if they do not even define it as sex” (Hertzog & Yeilding, 2009).
Being involved in programs including education of sexual violence can increase awareness about the issue. Advocating for the cause helps to create systems of support and raise confidence among women, and any other victims. It is important for women to be involved in programs because they are more likely to intervene when faced with an emergency situation (Foubert, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Brasfield, & Hill, 2010). Being educated properly about techniques to diffuse certain volitile situations can help victims get out of a bad environment which could escalate to sexual violence. Some “programs significantly increase both women’s confidence in their ability to intervene as a bystander and their perceived willingness to help a potential abuse victim” (Foubert, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Brasfield, & Hill, 2010).
It is just as important for men to join programs as well and become knowledgeable about the issues surrounding sexual violence. Culturally, it is normative for women to find interest from men to be a source of self esteem (Foubert, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Brasfield, & Hill, 2010). Men could learn how to better communicate their anger before it leads to a violent act, and help uplift their female counterparts.
There are several organizations and hotlines listed in the "Resources" tab on this page. Enroll today or reach out for help.