Whilst many rape myths are still with us, in some regards the general public are somewhat better informed about rape and sexual assault than they were in previous decades e.g., many more people recognize that rapes and sexual assaults are committed by those the victim knows, rather than just by strangers etc. However, it is worth considering two types of institutions/organizations that did start to make progress in addressing components of Rape Culture. The early 2000’s also saw the rise of the “incel”, a new type of misogynist who was part of the “manosphere” (a network of online communities/forums that discuss issues of masculinity and are often misogynistic, including PUA’s (pick up artists), that teach men manipulative pick up techniques to attract women, and Men Going Their Own Way – MGTOW – a movement that advocates for men to avoid relationships with women, which sees women as manipulative, deceitful and harmful etc.).
Policing & Sexual Assaults
The early 2000’s saw the introduction of Trauma-Informed Practices. Research into the psychological aspects of being sexually victimized started to result in trauma-informed approaches for dealing with those that reported being raped/assaulted. Attitudes such as skepticism and disbelief over claims of rape and sexual assault were replaced with responses that confirmed that law enforcement believed the allegation was true rather than false. The police and criminal justice system also looked at how the Rape Crisis Centers, which had started to emerge in the 1970’s and 1980’s supported those who had been sexually victimized. These centers and organizations also reached out to law enforcement to help them change some of their processes and practices etc. By 2000 it was beginning to be understood that many women were being re-traumatized by the way that law enforcement had historically interacted with victims of sexual assaults, and officers started to be trained in how trauma affects memory and behaviors, and that not everyone victimized would handle the trauma of their experiences the same way e.g., just because someone when interviewed appeared “emotionless” or responded inconsistently about events their account shouldn’t be viewed with skepticism. During this period, law enforcement started to work with support groups who advocated for the legal rights of those assaulted, allowing representatives to accompany victims in interviews to ensure that they had their psychological and emotional needs prioritized.
This is not to say that law enforcement and the criminal justice system has addressed all of its issues concerning sexual violence e.g., a 2013 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, in the US, entitled "Capitol Offense: Police Mishandling of Sexual Assault Cases in the District of Columbia," revealed a widespread mishandling of many rape cases, showing that many sexual assaults that were reported weren’t properly recorded and/or investigated, and that in some cases, law enforcement failed to even fill out an incident report. Also, there were victims that reported various officers had discouraged them from filing complaints or pursuing cases etc. Even though a victim’s past sexual history was no longer admissible in court, some officers still enquired about it during interviews. The report also found that there was an inconsistent use of rape kits, with delays in them being sent off in some cases, and some not being sent at all. Whilst the report focused on Washington D.C., it highlighted that many police departments in the U.S., still had a long way to go in treating those who’d been sexually victimized in a respectful and dignified manner that didn’t involve inadvertent re-victimization.
Universities & Sexual Assaults
Many universities introduced programs to educate students about affirmative consent ("yes means yes") and dispel myths surrounding sexual violence, along with mandatory workshops and orientation sessions for new students to undertake etc. These built on the Clery Act (1990), which makes campus police disclose information about campus crimes, including rapes/sexual assaults, and Title IX, which was passed in 1972 (updated, addressing sex discrimination in education. Many campuses, recognizing the reluctance of victims to come forward have started to implement confidential reporting methods such as online forms and hotlines to make initial reporting easier and less intimidating, without having to talk directly to a person. On many campuses there is now access to professional counseling. Some institutions have created Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs), that sees a coordinated response to incidents of rape and sexual assault e.g., counsellors, law enforcement and medical staff have processes in place that allow them to work together in a way that puts the victim’s needs first. One of the issues that many institutions face when dealing with allegations of rape and sexual assault is balancing the needs of the victim, whilst making sure that their policies and procedures are also fair to the alleged perpetrators, who may face disciplinary actions such as being suspended and/or expelled.
N.B. The Clery Act (1990) requires any college or university that receives federal funding to disclose data on crimes committed on campus to existing and prospective students. It also requires university authorities to inform students of any ongoing crimes that may threaten student safety e.g., such as a serial rapist targeting students. Institutions must publish an annual report (Annual Security Report – ASR) that includes crime statistics for the past three years and provides details about campus security policies, prevention programs that they may have, and their procedures for responding to crimes. Whilst when considering a university to attend, safety is often not considered or is a low priority, it is worth requesting these reports, to get an idea of which universities may have issues with particular crimes. Whilst this may not affect your selection of a particular school/institution it may heighten your awareness of the various and different threats a particular campus may have e.g., if a particular university has an unusually high number of thefts then you know you must address your vulnerabilities concerning such offenses.
Despite increased the increased awareness around rape and sexual assaults on campus, many victims remain hesitant to report assaults due to fear of stigma, retaliation, or doubts about the effectiveness of the university in handling an investigation and case. The investigative journalist, Jon Krakauer, also found in his investigation of rapes and sexual assaults at the University of Montana’s campus in the small college town of Missoula, that often friends – including female friends – were unsupportive and even critical of those who made claims of rape against common friends and/or members of the university football team who were looked on as celebrities. In one incident where a victim confided with a female friend about her assault, she was accused of attention seeking. Some of those victimized who reported their assaults involving members of the football team also received a backlash from fans of the team . The accounts of those victimized and the issues they faced by reporting their assaults are not restricted to the university of Montana, reflecting a nationwide issue concerning rape and sexual assaults on college/university campuses. Data from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, suggests that one in five female students experience sexual assault during their time at U.S. colleges/universities (reflecting the national average ), with Campus Sexual Assaults (CSA) making up 43% of all reported crimes on campus (the greatest proportion of all incidents of crime on campus) .