US: Soaring Rates of Rape and Violence Against Women

[Truth2Tell]

News of a new alaming report by the DOJ, from Human Rights Watch:

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/12/18/us-soaring-rates-rape-and-violence-against-women

December 18, 2008

(New York, December 18, 2008) - A new government report showing huge increases in the incidences of domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault over a two-year period in the United States deserves immediate attention from lawmakers and the incoming administration, Human Rights Watch said today. The statistics show a 42-percent increase in reported domestic violence and a 25-percent increase in the reported incidence of rape and sexual assault.

The National Crime Victimization Survey, based on projections from a national sample survey, says that at least 248,300 individuals were raped or sexually assaulted in 2007, up from 190,600 in 2005, the last year the survey was conducted. The study surveyed 73,600 individuals in 41,500 households. Among all violent crimes, domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault showed the largest increases. Except for simple assault, which increased by 3 percent, the incidence of every other crime surveyed decreased.

"The numbers in this survey show an alarmingly high rate of sexual violence in this country," said Sarah Tofte, researcher for the US Program at Human Rights Watch. "This should serve as a wake-up call that more must be done to address the problem in the US."

The projected number of violent crimes committed by intimate partners against women increased from 389,100 in 2005 to 554,260 in the 2007 report. By comparison, the number of violent crimes against men by intimate partners went down.

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/12/18/us-soaring-rates-rape-and-violence-against-women">More Here...

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cv07.htm">Government Report Here

I wonder if this is the result of a culture of violence on television and in our politics? Or other reasons? Any ideas?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. My guess would be increasing poverty and unemployment.

[glowing]

2. It may be from more women being empowered to tell on their rapist.

Most rapes happen with someone they know, not with a stranger knocking you over.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Very true. nt

[NightWatcher]

10. yep, just more people feeling able to self report instead of feel ashamed or guilty

[Truth2Tell]

11. So you think the incidence of these crimes is not up?

Notice, this is based on responses to an anonymous survey, not reports to authorities. Would that many more victims simply be more comfortable answering the survey truthfully? Or could the problem have actually grown?

[NightWatcher]

12. I really think that the higher numbers are a result of less stigmatization of being a victim

I was trying to find research done into errors in anonymous, self reporting surveys, but I cannot recall where I saw them.

In instances of shame and stimatization, victims and respondents are still less likely to be 100% truthful, even when they are assured that the results are anonymous. I think that steps have been made to educate victims that it is not their fault and because of this, they are feeling more comfortable in reporting. The most underreported crime is still male rape, due to insecurity and masculinity.

I really wish I could find evidence to support my statement, but until then you can just take the somewhat educated word of someone who studied criminal justice and remained awake for most of the classes.

The best way to trace problems in society is still through the number of economic crimes comitted (theft, robbery, et al.

[Truth2Tell]

13. So then the real numbers have always been

this much higher than reported... and possibly much higher yet?

But you think no actual rise?

[seabeyond]

20. all reports i have seen, too large a number are not reported, have not been reported

and won't be reported in the future

as a female that has been raped twice, and not report either, i do not see that is going to change for many many reasons

[seabeyond]

19. nothing significant has happened in the last two years to empower a female

to tell about a rapist. a mere two years has not all of a sudden taken away the embarrassment or shame or feeling they will be believed. it is ludicrous to suggest that in a mere two years females are pushing forth to tell rape they didn't in the recent past.

i told my husband about the 25% increase and got a wow from him. ya... a huge wow. i asked him later why he thought it was. he says increase in females speaking out. i say female, and not women, cause most all rape is to girls. i told hubby that was a wussy cop out addressing these outrageous numbers.

[glowing]

21. Well, think about one factor that happened over the last 2yrs.

We had the first viable female candidate running for office of the President. She empowered many.

[Gwendolyn]

25. The people conducting the study say it's due to improved data collecting methodology.

"Due to criticism from experts in the subject, the survey's methodology was adjusted in 2007 to capture more accurately the incidence of gender-based violence. The authors say in the report that the higher numbers may reflect the new, more accurate methodology rather than an actual increase. Two major shifts were to describe types of sexual assault to those being interviewed, and to replace "computer-assisted telephone interviews conducted from two telephone centers" nationwide with interviews "by field representatives either by telephone or in person."

I'd rather talk to a human being as well. The numbers are not reflective so much of increased crime, just more accurate reporting.

[rucky]

26. my first thought, as well.

I think with the introduction of the Jane Doe Rape Kit in 2009 we'll see the numbers go up even more.

http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/18960354.html

This could actually be encouraging news as a step to reduce violence against women.

[charlie]

4. Hard times

When everything goes sour, women take the brunt of male frustration.

[mnhtnbb]

5. Eight years of hating on women from Bushies and fundies.

[Ilsa]

6. Anger goes up when times are bad. Is it true that there is

more violence against women in hard economic times? I bet there is.

[Truth2Tell]

7. I might have to turn this into a poll. nt

[leftofthedial]

8. standards are set at the top

we've been ruled by criminal thugs.

This shit has to stop!

Males who are violent toward women are cowardly pieces of shit. I want to go all Charles Bronson on their ass.

[Truth2Tell]

9. I agree. Nothing makes me more angry, except

maybe abuse of children.

[Mari333]

22. and non human animals. I have a feeling the pets and animals

are being hurt more also.

[seabeyond]

18. thank you. n/t

[usregimechange]

14. HRW lists some very good recommendations about where to go from here, we should...

write our legislators and the office of the President Elect.

[CitizenPatriot]

15. I've seen this first hand

working at a domestic violence shelter, on top of having a few friends go through it.

It doesn't surprise me that the rates have gone up, and while some of that may be attributed to less shame, I don't think most of it can be. Most women feel shame about it, even if society's views have changed...and I don't think they have very much. I could detail experiences with the police and community that would make you sick...but it's Friday night and I don't have the stomach for it right now.

The first questions people usually ask is

"Why didn't she leave?"

Asking that reveals an utter lack of comprehension of the issues and danger involved. It is when she leaves that most murders occur. It can be a form of terrorism in the whole sense of that word- having their friends and families threatened and hurt, being humiliated and finally fired from their place of employment, etc.

This country has a palpable disrespect for women, as compared to many other democracies. We don't see a lot of that in the liberal community, but it's out there and thriving. And yes, I believe some of it comes from the fundy type beliefs where a woman is supposed to be subservient. One of the most dangerous things a woman can do is get married. That's sad, isn't it?

I hope Obama and Biden address this issue, along with a host of other civil rights issues. I've seen way too much suffering and death come from it. Just earlier this year, an acquaintance of mine was murdered by her husband and then tossed onto the road from a moving vehicle in the rain, where her body was found much later.

Glad you posted this-- this subject gets very little attention and women are dying from it everyday.

[progressive_realist]

16. It says in the sixth paragraph that the methodology changed.

So the increase from the last survey to this one is meaningless.

[Gwendolyn]

17. Half the rapes are perpetrated by ex-boyfriends, ex-partners, ex-husbands...

so is it possible that more women are leaving, and thereby invoking that rage? Most rapes, I think, happen to women between the ages of 12-25, when women are maybe at their most vulnerable?

I wonder if our increasingly sexualized society is contributing in some way. We're also pretty much saturated in porn, which gets more and more extreme by the hour, much of it depicting women performing in a servile role. (Not that I have anything against porn, it's fine)

There may be more of a sense of rage and powerlessness amongst males, which often finds its outlet directed toward women. I noticed on my other forum just how much underlying anger there is out there.

[Mari333]

24. women have always been easy targets

and violence is a form of control . susan brownmiller, I will never forget, said women should kill, if they can, the man who attacks them.
I remember she stirred up quite a controversy when she said that. why, i dont know. makes perfect sense.

[ensho]

23. and with tons of men out of work abuse and rape is bound to go up

and we are in for a baby boom.