Why Women are Still Reluctant to Seek Justice for Rape

The USA has one of the worst rape crime rates in the world. In the US, 83% of females aged between 12 and 16 have experienced some kind of sexual assault and one in three women will suffer sexual abuse during their lifetime. Only Sweden and South Africa have a bigger problem with sexual violence.

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In Sweden, reported rapes have risen by 1,472% since 1975 and one in three women have been sexually assaulted by the age of 20. In South Africa, it is far worse, as it isn’t only women who are victims of rape; children and men are just as likely to be attacked and 41% of all rape victims are children.

The Tip of the Iceberg

You might be surprised at these figures. Most people assume that rape is a far bigger problem in countries like India, where sexual violence against women is endemic. Whilst it is true that India has a problem – and with a 277% increase in reported rapes between 2011 and 2016, nobody is arguing that point – the fact remains that civilized nations such as the US, Sweden, and the UK do not protect women enough. And, what is even worse, these harrowing statistics are only the tip of the iceberg.

Victims Stay Quiet

Rapes are not always reported and when compared to other serious crimes, rape reports are much lower. In fact, statistics from the National Crime Victimization Survey back this up: it is estimated that 35% of victims don’t report rape or sexual assault. So why are women so reluctant to report a rape?

High Profile Rape Cases

When you look at some of the most high-profile rape cases in recent years, it isn’t difficult to work out why. For a lot of women, reporting a rape and fighting for justice is far worse than the original crime. Their reputations are dragged through the media and in many cases, they end up feeling as if they are the ones on trial.

The Steubenville high school rape case is a good example of how the victim often ends up suffering in the aftermath of reporting a rape. The victim’s name was leaked to the media very early on in the investigation. In the months after the rape, many members of her local community blamed the victim for her plight and for bringing the school’s football team (and town) into disrepute. Amazingly, some elements of the media even appeared to sympathize with the plight of the rapists. Several people were indicted for trying to obstruct the investigation.

Bullying and Harassment

In other high-profile rape cases, the trauma of the bullying and harassment after the initial rape was so great that the victims committed suicide. Perpetrators often post photos and videos online, which is often more traumatic than the original crime.

Thanks to people like criminal lawyer Vikas Bajaj, there is far more help available now compared to twenty or thirty years ago, but the difficulties faced by victims in the aftermath of a rape make reporting the crime an act of great courage.

What victims need to understand is that it is never too late to report a rape. Justice can, and will, be done.