Rape Is Rape How Denial, Distortion, and Victim Blaming Are Fueling a Hidden Acquaintance Rape Crisis

摘要

The Department of Defense reported that from October 2011 to September 2012, approximately 26,000 servicemembers experienced unwanted sexual contact. While these statistics have left some doubtful about the prevalence of unwanted sexual contact in the military, they have also motivated our President and some members of our Congress to demand accountability and reform. The debate over what should or should not be done to counter sexual assault in society is not a new issue. On one side, there are those who would conduct surveys, create taskforces, and pass new laws in hopes that less sexual assaults would occur, more victims would come forward when they do occur, and more allegations of sexual assault would result in conviction. On the other side, we have those who view sexual assault as a crime much like any other, which can be adequately addressed by current laws, standard police enforcement, and the normal judicial process. This latter group would view surveys, taskforces, and new laws as superfluous. What is this debate really about? Certainly, it is not that some are against rape while others are in favor of it. Are we not all in favor of fewer occurrences of sexual assault?