strategies that institutions can implement to curb sexual assault incidents in colleges

strategies that institutions can implement to curb sexual assault incidents in colleges

Overview

The issue of sexual assault incidents in colleges has become prevalent in the United States. According to Cantor (2017), respondents in his research indicated that they had experienced different forms of sexual victimization. In spite of the escalation of the problem, knowledge of the available resource to victims is limited. Similarly, based on Senn et al. (2019), a case study with the female leading, both men and women are sex assault victims. All the same, implementation of various policies such as the Clery Act can play a vital part in responding to the problem. The study also aims at bringing out strategies that institutions can implement to curb this problem.

Theoretical Framework

The study is based on the Narcissistic Theory of Sexual Coercion. This theory gives articulate details of how the personality of rapists connects with the situational aspects to result in reactance. An essential component of this theory is reactance, which entails the psychological intention to affirm one’s sense of liberty in situations where it has been denied. In respect to sexual harassment, some men get interested more with sex after they have undergone a sexual rejection. As such, perpetrators of these practices will be encouraged to reaffirm their freedom by violently handling women who have denied them sex. The theory also explains that men who portray narcissistic personality attributes are more likely to engage in aggressive sexual acts towards women.

Reasons for researching sexual violence in institutions of learning

The reason for researching sexual abuse in institutions of learning is to differentiate the prevalence of sexual assaults in universities in rural and suburban localities.

Secondly, the study aims at determining strategies that can address the problem of sexual victimization.

Beneficiaries of the study

Beneficiaries of the survey are the university students since they will understand sexual mistreatment in colleges. Hobden (2019), the case study also outlines related policy and legal questions that revolve around sexual victimization. The Air force will also benefit from the research in the prevention and recruitment efforts. According to Greathouse et al., 79.3% of the respondents in their study reported on male assaults. Lastly, the literature is also beneficial since it will bring out strategies that can reduce the risk of sexual victimization among women. Based on Yung (2015), the research sexual act resistance program and creation of awareness can play an essential role in addressing the problem.

Research questions

1. To capture the policy implications and avenues in the discussion on sexual assault.
2. The Proposal for suppressed cases that discourage survivors from coming forward.
3. To develop a model for male programs as a recommendation.

Review of the Literature

The literature review section centers on incidents of campus sexual assaults, perpetrator characteristics and behaviors, and role of geographic location on college campus sexual victimization rates. First, conflicts of campus assault are on the rise due to the lack of awareness. On the other hand, the location of the campus is a significant factor when it comes to sexual victimization rates.

Incidents of Campus Assault

Incidents of campus assault have become common in the United States. Surprisingly, members of the faculty are also involved in these harassments. According to Cantalupo & Kidder (2018), 57 enforcements actions in the case study involved faculty members. Nevertheless, a gap still exists in the knowledge of sexual victimization. Keener & Michaud notes that in spite creation of awareness on assaults, there is still a gap in the sexual abuse. As a result, there is a disparity between the rate of harassment between universities in the rural and suburb is not significant. Due to the status of the problem, these institutions can implement various strategies to address them. According to Yung (2015), approaches such as sexual act resistance programs, enhanced access, and knowledge can reduce incidents of sexual assaults.

Sexual Harassment of Students by University Faculty

According to Cantalupo & Kidder (2018), incidents of members of faculty involvement in sexual harassment are common. In their research, these scholars carried out a study on 57 cases of members’ of the faculty harassing students. Based on statistics, most of the case faculty assaults are not about academic freedom, but rather serial harassers.

The gap in Sexual Harassment Knowledge

According to Keener & Michaud (2016), In spite of the increase in the campaign about campus sexual victimization, a significant gap still exists in the knowledge of the sexual assault. Similarly, the introduction of the Clergy Act influences institutions to report on assaults, which is no longer the case after the audits. In other words, even though various bodies advocate against sexual harassment, the number of victims is high due to the lack of information.

Strategies to address Sexual Assaults

Based on Yung (2015) case study, institutions may implement policies such as sexual acts resistance programs, enhanced access, and knowledge on the actions to take in case of harassment. Introduction of such measure might play an essential role in curbing the problem since 43% of respondents in a particular case study claims to have been victims of sexual harassments (Koi, Auka, & Kilaha, 2018). On the contrary, it is apparent in Keener & Michaud’s research that, in spite of the creation of awareness, there is still a disparity in the knowledge.

Sexual Assault Perpetrator Characteristics and Behaviors

The following section is based on the characteristics of harassers and behavior. Even though most of the perpetrators are male, a certain percentage of the female also victimize people. All the same, there is disparity when it comes to harassing females and males. The latter group is more vulnerable, while the former requires a strong reinforcement. Lastly, victims almost have the same characteristics and behaviors.

Male Assault Perpetrators

According to Budd, Rocque & Bierie, (2017), crooks targeting the female offender are approximately 23 years old. Whereas offenders attacking male victims are 29 years, and they are a multitude. In connection, based on Greahouse et al. (2015), case study, sexual harassment by male perpetrators is 79.3%, and male victimizers involved strangers and multitude of offenders. Additionally, unlike female victims, males are not injured very much by their victimizers.

Female Assault Perpetrators

According to Budd, Rocque & Bierie (2017), females also victimize men since women carried out 17% of the cases reported to police on male harassment. Still, in this perspective, 92% of male victimization cases were recorded in the police station. Correspondingly, Cantor (2017) also notes that a large section of victimization is associated with touching; it leads by 12.8%.

Victim Characteristics

Students are the majority of sexually offended individuals since incidents of faculty members being mistreated are rare (Cantalupo & Kidder, 2018). Still, from this perspective, most females are the most vulnerable individuals in society since 25% of respondents claimed to have had a personal experience of unwanted touch (Senn et al., 2019). Additionally, studies also show that female victims in these cases are on an average of 19 years (Budd, Rocque, & Bierie, 2017).

Role of Geographic Location on College Campus Sexual Victimization Rates

The following section centers on the role of geographic location on college campus sexual victimization rates. It is divided into the suburb, urban localities, and students with access to facilities and knowledge on sexual harassment. A case study on the role of availability of information in curbing sexual assault is carried out in Canada in three universities.

Suburban

Keener & Michaud (2016), notes that different geographical location has different rates of sexual victimization due to disparities in cultural forces and socioeconomic. In other words, the most privileged individuals in society are not vulnerable. Correspondingly, unlike men, most sexual victims are in female students. In the case of harassment, only a single offender is involved, whereas, in men incidents, perpetrators are multiple. Based on Keener & Michaud (2016) findings, despite the increased attention of campus sexual assault, a wide gap still exists in terms of sexual victimization knowledge.

Rural Localities

Individuals in rural universities are the most disadvantaged when it comes to accessing sexual victimization information. As noted earlier, according to Keener & Michaud (2016), there is a disparity in sexual assault knowledge according to socioeconomic status and cultural forces. According to Oni, Tshitangano, & Akinsola (2019), under the Clery Act, the number of sexual assault incidents in the universities increased by 44%. The increase implies that most sexual harassments case is unreported, which connects the lack of knowledge. Similarly, according to Wade (2017), Senate Bill 967 had an impact on the violence reports in colleges in California.

Informed

Yung (2015), enhanced access, sexual acts resistance program decreases the rate of sexual assault. On the other hand, the involvement of the government, such as Bill 967, also influences individuals to report on sexual violence (Wade, 2017). Similarly, under Clery Acts, students reports for sexual victimization, which implies that lack of information is a primary contributor to the rise in these crimes (Oni, Tshitangano, & Akinsola, 2019).

Summary

In summary, the incidents of sexual assaults are rising in universities since there is minimal effort to create awareness of the problem. Individuals in marginalized areas are the most vulnerable due to a lack of information. The involvement of the government through the introduction of policies such as Bill 967 plays a significant role in curbing the problem.