Culture of Silence

Article: 
http://womensissues.about.com/od/rapesexualassault/a/rapeoncampus.htm

It is becoming increasingly more aware that only 60% of rapes that occur are actually reported. This number is startling to me, because the number of rapes that happen annually is larger than we can believe. Women have a much higher chance of being sexually assaulted on college campuses than men. In fact, only 95% of rapes that occur on college campuses are never reported.

From the article: "Many victims don't report at all, because they blame themselves, or don't identify what happened as sexual assault.... Local criminal justice authorities regularly shy away from such cases, because they are "he said, she said" disputes sometimes clouded by drugs or alcohol."

At first, I was confused why this number was so large. Why would anyone choose not to tell their story and get the justice they deserve? Well, there are so many reasons as to why someone would not want to report their sexual abuser to the police. For one, there is the social factor of it all. There can be scrutiny, intense questioning, and even doubtfulness from your peers.

There is also a phenomenon called, "blaming the victim". Often times, especially in the media it is depicted that the victim was essentially "asking for it". Whether the victim had been drinking, under the influence, or even wearing provocative clothing. That basically means, if a young women was drinking than it is her fault for putting herself in that vulnerable position.

There is also something called slut shaming. Basically, by the humiliation and scrutiny a person can undergo, the victim it will essentially dissuade to come forth.