College Women And Rape

College Women and Rape

By Dana Erickson

College women are one of the most targeted groups for rape. Rapists see the college campus as a place for easy access to young women.

Three percent of college women experienced a completed rape and/or attempted rape during a college year. According to a study by Bonnie Fisher, Francis Cullen, and Michael Turner, college women experience these acts mostly in living quarters but also in bars, dance clubs, nightclubs, and work settings.

People Commonly Known To Be Rapists

Women that become victims of an assault usually know the person that tried to rape them. “Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” the authors of “The Sexual Victimization of College Women” wrote. “For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known…. Most often, a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend, acquaintance, or coworker…. College professors were not identified…, but they were cited [in] cases involving unwanted sexual contact.

Colleges: Common Place for Rape

Colleges are now hot spots for criminal activity including rape. College women are at greater risk compared to women in the general population or in a comparable age group. Colleges should start finding ways to protect their female population.

Stats

• 3 % of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a college year
• 1.7 % female college students are victims of attempts
• 1.7% college women report being coerced to have sex
• 13% college women get stalked since the beginning of school year
• Vast majority of rapes occurred after 6 pm
• Completed rapes: 60% in victim’s residence, 31% in other living quarters, 10% at fraternities

Why Women Don’t Tell

Women have a problem of telling people about their victimization. They may be embarrassed about letting themselves into the situation. There is the possibility of not fully understanding what rape is. They also might have the problem of not wanting to ruin the reputation of the person that did rape them.

Who Was Surveyed

• 4446 women attending a 2-or4-year college or university
• Schools that had at least 1000 students


External Links


More Stats On Rape
Graph
Office Of Justice
NIJ