User:Jbuttz1113/sandbox

Article Evaluation
I am evaluating an article about unacknowledged rape. This article is a good start, but it definitely needs improvement. Most of the information is relevant to the topic, but the history included should be better tied to the subject itself. More explanation of the reasoning behind women who deny their rapes would strengthen the article. This article has a slight bias, especially when it comes to reporting rape, and the justice system. There are reputable sources, but I would like to do more research on. the topic to look at legal issues and difficulty persecuting. The tone of this article can be more objective. The historical roots section is subjective and unnecessary. The sections about rape myths, and the mention of the "perfect victim" are unclear, biased, and lacking in citations.

Campus Sexual Violence Notes

 * College campuses often rely on bystander intervention programs regarding sexual assault- these programs are often heteronormative, excluding the fact that LGBT people can be victims or perpetrators as well
 * Research regarding campus sexual assault is often about prevalence and risk factors, rather than the role of leadership or strategies to prevent
 * the reporting rate is very low when compared to the prevalence
 * one policy making idea is policy as discourse

Unacknowledged Rape Notes

 * Unacknowledged rape occurs when an event meets the criteria to be considered a rape, but the victim does not label the event as rape
 * Rate of rapes considered unacknowledged has been found to be 60.4%
 * Victims often minimize event, report less stress than women who consider themselves to have been raped, can be a coping mechanism.
 * acknowledgement can increase the likelihood of reporting
 * it is likely that FBI and other statistics on criminal behavior underestimate prevalence of rape, as many victims do not typically report their sexual assaults
 * this brings to light issues within the nature of investigating reported assaults, a victim is less likely to be responsive to the question, "Were you raped?" but more likely to answer to behaviorally descriptive questions i.e.: "did the perp do (action) without your consent?"
 * there are some potential explanations for why one might not acknowledge or report rape such as substance use before act, or a prior relationship between vicim and perp
 * individual factors such as self-blame, prior beliefs about rape, or romantic beliefs also play in
 * societal factors such as support in circle of friends
 * research suggests that beliefs about sexual relationships/sexual scripts play in... many hold belief that sex is male initiated and dominant and males use persuasion factors
 * many women conceptualize rape as and act of physical violence and force perpetuated by a stranger, if their assault does not fit this script, they often do not acknowledge it as assault
 * it is important to look at where these scripts come from
 * for some women these scripts can come from adverse childhood experiences
 * Childhood abuse is linked to many long term issues in many ways of functioning
 * CSA is linked to sexual permissiveness, guilt, and self perception of being promiscuous
 * one can also look towards personality traits as a factor
 * unacknowledgment may be attributed to PTSD
 * In the last 30 years we have broadened the definition of rape and categorized it- date rape, acquaintance rape, marital rape, grey rape. "Unacknowledged" is another qualifier
 * Women who acknowledge their rape were more likely to have been raped by a stranger, family member, or friend whereas women who did not acknowledge were more often raped by somebody they were romantically involved with
 * 76% of cases with physical force were reported where only 36% with drugs and alcohol were reported
 * in cases of date rape, it is common for women to continue a relationship with the perp after the assault
 * self-held narrow definitions of rape are also a factor... only 13% of non-vaginal rapes are acknowledged
 * rape is most likely acknowledged when it is a vaginal assault by a non romantic partner. It is least likely when it is a non vaginal assault by a romantic partner and the victim is intoxicated
 * inconclusive research w/ ptsd.... some say unacknowledged victims have higher instances, some say lower
 * similar symptoms of those who have acknowledged their rape
 * unacknowledged victims are at higher risk for re-victimization, esp if they continue a relationship with the perpetrator
 * some have lower risk detection capacities and report higher levels of alcohol consumption
 * evidence suggests that the more time that passes, the more likely a woman is to acknowledge her assault
 * misogyny/rape culture is at the root of this issue... society has strict "rape scripts" (stranger wielding knife, sober virgin victim) that alienate victims and enable assault
 * male sex drive discourse- men have a biological need for sex that is difficult if not impossible to control, they cannot be held responsible for this, women must satiate this appetite
 * have-hold discourse- women have no sexual need of their own, they satisfy men's for security or respect
 * permissiveness discourse- women want sex as much as men and engage in it freely
 * these false beliefs question the credibility of a woman's "No"
 * delayed reporting leads to difficulties prosecuting
 * jurors can view delayed reporting in a critical light, if a report is delayed, there is more than likely no rape kit, which adds another difficulty

Unacknowledged Rape Article
Unacknowledged rape is an instance in which an event fits all of the criteria of rape. However, the victim does not categorize the occurrence of rape. Unacknowledged rape may remain indefinitely unacknowledged or acknowledged at a later time. In the past 30 years, criminologists, sociologists, and lawyers have analyzed the definition of rape and categorized it by definitions such as date rape, marital rape, or gray rape. Unacknowledged rape is another qualifier.

Prevalence
60.4% of rapes are found to be unacknowledged. Different situations warrant different likelihoods of acknowledged rape. A victim is much more likely to acknowledge a rape if the perpetrator was a stranger or somebody with whom they have a platonic relationship. If the perpetrator is somebody that the victim was once or currently romantically involved with, the rate of acknowledgement is lower. Statistics demonstrate that a lack of vaginal penetration also decrease likelihood of acknowledgement. Only 13% of non-vaginal assaults are acknowledged. Intoxication also decreases the probability of acknowledgement. College-aged women raped by a schoolmate are the demographic in which unacknowledged rape is the most prevalent. Overall, a victim is more likely to acknowledge the rape if it was a vaginal assault including physical force committed by somebody with no romantic connections and the victim was sober at the time. A victim is the least likely to acknowledge the rape if it was a non-vaginal act committed in the context of a date rape and the victim was intoxicated.

Sexual Scripts and Rape Scripts
Research suggests that women have a difficult time acknowledging date or partner rape due to previously learned sexual or rape scripts. Sexual scripts are mental layouts of how one is supposed to act in a sexual situation. These scripts are held in the cultural level, interpersonal level, and interpersonal level. The script that sex is male initiated and dominated and that men use methods of persuasion to get a woman to participate in sexual activities is a common script. This script is often used by victims to invalidate their own experiences and write them off as "bad sex" or a "miscommunication". Rape scripts also narrow down one's idea of what sexual assault is, prompting one to not acknowledge what happened to her. Many people still hold the belief that a rape is a violent vaginal penetration committed by a stranger in which physical force or threats are enacted. If one's experience does not fall into this narrow category, they might once again label it as a "miscommunication" or "bad sex" rather than rape. The word "rape" is a very loaded word. Many people are hesitant about using it to describe their experience unless it fits the rape script.

Previous Sexual Abuse
Some research suggests that there is correlation between unacknowledged rape and childhood sexual abuse. Childhood sexual abuse is linked to many long-term issues in many areas of life. Some believe that sexual scripts begin to develop during adverse childhood experiences. CSA is often linked to guilt, sexual permissiveness, and the self-perception of being promiscuous. Although there are no conclusive case studies, this is a factor that can be taken into account.

Rape Myths
Rape myths are generalized or false beliefs held about rape, rapists, or rape victims that breed conditions unwelcome to rape victims. Such myths include "some women are asking for it" to "women only claim they are raped as an act of retaliation or to cover something up". Many of these risks are widely held by society and taught to young women whether directly or indirectly. Many of these myths put the burden of responsibility onto a woman if there is alcohol involved or there was a prior sexual relationship with the perpetrator. None of these myths keep the perpetrator accountable for his actions. Due to the fear of public reaction, or believing these myths themselves, a victim may be hesitant to label their situation as rape. Most of these myths are rooted in three forms of discourse. The first is the male sex drive discourse. This belief states that men have a biological need for sex that is difficult, if not impossible to control. They are not entirely responsible if they do not control this need, and it is a woman's duty to make sure this drive is satisfied. The second is the have-hold discourse. This implies that women have no sex drive and simply satisfy men for security or social standing. The third form of discourse is the permissiveness discourse, which claims that women enjoy sex as much as men and go after it freely with no impulse control. These three fallacies prompt society and often the woman her self to question the credibility of her use of the word "no".

After Effects
There is inconclusive evidence regarding the effects of a rape that remains unacknowledged. Women who do not acknowledge their assaults often face similar issues to women who do acknowledge their assaults. Unacknowledged rape victims face a higher likelihood of re-victimization, especially in the case of a date rape where the victim holds a continued relationship with the assailant. Lower risk detection capacities and higher alcohol consumption are associated with unaddressed rapes. It has been found that the more time that passes, the more likely a victim is to acknowledge her rape. The prevalence of PTSD is where evidence is rendered inconclusive. Some studies report lower PTSD levels in comparison to victims who have acknowledged their rape, while others report the same or higher levels.

Legal and Other Issues
Unacknowledged rapes can skew the validity of statistics regarding criminal behavior. Reputable reports such as the FBI violent crime report rely upon crimes reported to law enforcement to construct their statistics. The most recent study estimated that 135,755 women were raped in the year of 2017. However, the crime must be reported to be included in this report. Only 230 out of every 1,000 rapes are reported to law enforcement officials. If a victim does not acknowledge the assault, they do not acknowledge that a crime has been committed against them. If there is no crime, there is nothing to report to the police. For this reason, it is understood that such reports underestimate the prevalence of sex crimes. Studies regarding unacknowledged rape also call into question whether or not the current line of communication between victim and law enforcement officer yields the most success. When investigating reported assaults, the protocol is for the officer to ask, "Were you raped?" However, it has been found that people reporting rapes respond better to behaviorally descriptive questions such as "Did the perp (insert action) without your consent?". Unfortunately, not acknowledging a rape makes it much harder to prosecute. If a rape eventually becomes acknowledged and a report is made, the report is considered delayed. A delayed report makes conducting an examination for a rape kit impossible. Because jurors can also hold rape myths, a delayed report is often viewed in a negative light.

Edits
Unacknowledged rapeis defined as a sexual experience that meets the legal requirements of rape, but is not labeled as rape by the victim. Instead, the victim may label the experience as "bad sex", a "miscommunication", or a regrettable "hook up." This response is more frequently recognized amongst victims of acquaintance rape or date rape. (Replace with my intro)

The definition of rape has varied across time and cultures, often representing the social undercurrents of society. As women gained equal rights and the separation of church and state increased, what constituted rape slowly changed.

Under the patriarchal doctrine of coverture, women were "legally considered the chattel of her husband, his possession." Relegating women to the position of object or property was ingrained in most cultures. During Colonial times, sexual activity was still regulated by the church. As a result, rape was considered a crime against the man who "owned" the victimized female, as opposed to the female herself. Up until the 20th Century, women were viewed as morally impure if they had any non-marital sex, whether consensual or not.

The 1970s brought about the women's liberation movement, characterized by female bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and sexual expression. A strong belief in feminism defined the movement. Due to this, the conceptualization of rape changed. Feminist writers suggested that rape was simply a tool used by men to keep control over women. They argued that rape did not just occur by strangers, but also involved acquaintances, partners, friends, and potentially even family members. They also began to challenge the notion that rape was solely the fault of the victim. Despite this social evolution, many victims exh still fail to acknowledge their experience as an assault. (Edited some sentences that seemed too subjective or lacked adequate citations).

It has been found that the majority of unacknowledged rape victims are college aged females. Additionally, of rape victims in this population at least 1/4 are unacknowledged victims. Some studies report that, out of all individuals who meet the requirements for rape, nearly 60% are unacknowledged victims. The percentage of individuals who are unacknowledged rape victims increases exponentially when several factors are considered: If the victim knows her assailant (i.e. date/acquaintance rape) she is less likely to acknowledge herself as a rape victim. She is also less likely if the incident occurred while she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the incident involved oral sex or non-penetrative sex, the individual is less likely to acknowledge themselves as a rape victim. (replace with my paragraph about prevalence)

(adding a section about explanations)


 * added my paragraphs about sexual scripts and previous abuse
 * replaced rape myth paragraph with my rape myth paragraph
 * Rape myths are defined by Martha Burt as "prejudicial, stereotyped, or false beliefs about rape, rape victims, and rapists." Frequently, these rape myths are perpetuated by rape scripts: an individual's cognitive schema about what typically happens during a rape. Most women have a stranger rape script as opposed to an acquaintance rape script−if asked to picture a sexual assault, most women picture a violent attack that occurs outdoors by a stranger who is wielding some sort of weapon. If there is a discrepancy between a woman's internalized rape script and her rape experience, she is less likely to acknowledge herself as a rape victim. This discrepancy is one of the main reasons why women do not acknowledge their sexual assault experience. (Replacing with my paragraph)


 * erased paragraph about nature of assault

Replaced Reporting paragraph with my paragraph about legal and other issues.

Some individuals believe that changes in the conceptualization of rape, such as the consideration of acknowledgment status, blurs the line between rape and consensual sex. Determining if a rape has occurred is difficult for many victims. This distinction becomes even less clear when considering the fact that every state has differing laws pertaining to what constitutes rape and sexual assault. However, it should be noted that institutions like WHO, the FBI, the CDC, etc use equivalent definitions of rape.

Like their acknowledged counterparts, unacknowledged victims experience similar amounts of trauma and psychological harm. Despite this, research is unclear as to whether these difficulties are more, less, or the same as those of acknowledged victims. There has been significant controversy amongst clinical professionals regarding the helpfulness versus harmfulness of acknowledgment status. Therapists are divided on whether unacknowledged victims fare better or worse with time than acknowledged victims. Women who seek professional help after a traumatic sexual assault or rape typically exhibit PTSD symptomology and frequently label themselves as rape victims. Conversely, unacknowledged rape victims frequently report less negative emotional affect post experience and many experience less feelings of victimization. This troubles many clinicians- it is unclear whether unacknowledged victims are healthier and cope better or are simply in denial. (Too subjective and information is not aligned with what sources say- will replace with my paragraph about after effects, but put top paragraph in another section after editing it)

Some individuals believe that changes in the conceptualization of rape, such as the consideration of acknowledgment status, blurs the line between rape and consensual sex. This comes into question when considering the fact that every state has differing laws pertaining to what constitutes rape and sexual assault. However, it should be noted that institutions like WHO, the FBI, the CDC, etc use equivalent definitions of rape. (editing for objectivity)