Threats to Girlhood
Threats to Girlhood
47% of all rapes are committed by dates and romantic acquaintances.264
86% percent said they would confide in a friend, while only 7% said they would talk to police.270
84% of women who are date raped know their attacker.265
83% of 10th graders surveyed at the 4th Annual Teen Dating Abuse Summit reported that they would sooner turn to a friend for help with dating abuse than to a teacher, counselor, parent, or other caring adult.271
Women aged 16-24 are more than four times as likely to be date raped.266 90% of date rapes occur when either the victim or attacker has been drinking.267
25% of college women have been victims of rape.260 33% of men said they would date rape someone if they knew they wouldn’t be caught or punished for the offense.268 45% of girls know a friend or peer who has been pressured into either intercourse or oral sex.269 When female high school students were asked whom they would talk to if someone they date is attempting to control them, insults them, or physically harms them, Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. Of Justice 264 RAINN, University of South Florida, Federal Bureau of Investigation (Uniform Crime Statistics, 1996), U.S. Department of Justice, Violence against Women (Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. Of Justice 265 RAINN, University of South Florida, Federal Bureau of Investigation (Uniform Crime Statistics, 1996), U.S. Department of Justice, Violence against Women (Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. Of Justice
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267 RAINN, University of South Florida, Federal Bureau of Investigation (Uniform Crime Statistics, 1996), U.S. Department of Justice, Violence against Women (Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. Of Justice 268 RAINN, University of South Florida, Federal Bureau of Investigation (Uniform Crime Statistics, 1996), U.S. Department of Justice, Violence against Women (Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. Of Justice 269 Liz Claiborne Inc., Conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, (February 2005). 67
Only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship told anyone about the abuse.272 Nearly one-half of adult sex offenders report committing their first sexual offenses prior to the age of 18.273 A study of 1,600 juvenile sexual assault offenders nationwide indicated that only around 33% of the juveniles perceived sex as a way to demonstrate love or caring for another person. 23.5% percent perceived sex as a way to feel power and control; 9.4% as a way to dissipate anger; 8.4% percent as a way to punish.274 Over 20% of rape victims have experienced more than one type of forced sexual act. Vaginal penetration has been reported to occur in approximately one-half and anal penetration in one-third of female victims of sexual abuse.275 270 Zwicker, Tiffany J. Education Policy Brief, “The Imperative of Developing Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Intervention Programs in Secondary Schools.” 12 Southern California Review of Law and Women’s Studies, 131, (2002). 271 The Northern Westchester Shelter, with Pace Women’s Justice Center, (April 2003). 272 Liz Claiborne Inc., Conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, (February 2005). 273 Snipe, Ron et Al, “Recidivism in Young Adulthood, Adolescent Sexual Offenders Grown Up,” 25 Criminal Justice & Behavior, 109, 117, (1998). 274 California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA). “2002 Report: Research on Rape and Violence.”http://www.uasasonoma.org/teensite/statistics.htm#Child/Teen%20 Vicitmization, (Last visited 10/1/04). 275 ERIC Identifier: ED430069, Publication Date: 1999-05-00, Author: Weiler, Jeanne, Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education New York NY. Girls and Violence. ERIC Digest Number 143; National Criminal Justice Reference Service. “Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Child Sexual Abuse.” December 2002. http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/portable_guides/csa_02/key.html 68