Challenges in Aid to Rape Victims - Literature review Example

Introduction: Rape is a serious problem that affects the community, and it is defined as a sexualcrime which occurs when a person intentionally commits a sexual act without the consent of the victim. In as much as rape is a negative socially phenomenons, victims of rape are always held up in contempt (Davies, Gilston and Rogers, 2012). These people are discriminated, and they face a lot of stigma from the community that they came from. Africa has experienced a variety of civil wars, and on most occasions, military officials fighting these wars have raped women, and also their fellow men (Bonnes, 2011). Soldiers usually use rape as weapon of intimidation, and it is women who suffer the most. Take for instance in the democratic republic of Congo, whereby the country has experienced a variety of civil wars that have led to crimes against humanity, such as rape (Sivakumaran 2007). Women who are raped in these wars are always shunned by their community, and some are even left by their husbands (Suarez and Gadalla, 2010). They are viewed as out casts, and people without honor. These women normally contract deadly diseases, which includes diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, Gornohoea, etc. It is not only in Africa where raped women normally face discrimination and prejudice. In Europe, and the Americas, most people are not sympathetic to women who are raped. This is because they are viewed as immoral, and the trigger factor to the rape under consideration (Messina-Dysert, 2012). These women are shunned by the society, as a result leading to their stigmatization. Due to the negative effects of rape, and the Rwandan genocide, that saw a large scale rape of women, the United Nations Security council passed a resolution that rape is to be included as a crime against humanity (Borsmans, 2007). Due to this resolution by the UN Security council, the UN commission on human rights made a declaration in 1994 to fight against the causes of rape, and eliminate any negative consequences that came with rape. The UNHCR embarked on a massive educational activity to sensitize people on the causes of rape, and its consequences. Despite these efforts by the UNHCR, the society still passes always pass a negative judgment on a woman who is raped, and is believed to have so many partners, or is promiscuous. Due to these negative judgments against rape victims, the victims fear to come forward, for purposes of reporting incidences of the crime of rape (Nowrojee, 2005). This paper takes a stand that the negative perceptions and judgments against the victims of rape compound their sufferings. This paper analyzes the various perceptions of rape victims, and how these perceptions play a role in preventing rape victims from accessing justice. In order to meet the objectives of this paper, the researcher will first identify the reasons as to why some people rape women and the effects of rape against the victims. In order to understand effectively the negative perceptions that some society have against victims of rape, it is essential to understand the causes of rape, and its consequences. The effects of rape that this paper analyzes are the physical and psychological effects. After the identification of these causes and effects, this paper will analyze the various perceptions that the society has towards rape victims, and how they are affected psychologically, and physically. This paper has a recommendation on how to help victims of rape recover from their sufferings, and a conclusion which is a summary of the major points contained in this paper. Causes of Rape and its consequences: It is important to denote that the causes of rape is not about having some sexual satisfaction, but seeking for power and total control. Most rapists are emotionally unstable men, who are insecure and are not able to approach a woman in an open manner (Davies, Gilston and Rogers, 2012). To assert a sense of control, rapists would force a woman into having sexual activity with them, as a result leading to a sense of power and control. It is important to denote that some rapists normally have a wife and they get their sexual satisfaction from their wives. However, these rapists cannot forceful touch their wives and instill fear in them (Goodhart, 2007). Rape has two major effects that are physical, and psychological. Physical effects include urinary infections, painful penile penetrations, acquirance of sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancies (Davies, Gilston and Rogers, 2012). Psychological effects on the other hand includes, self blame, depression, negative flashback, anger, distrust, stress, sleeping disorders, feeling of vulnerability, and withdrawing from friendship associations. It is important to denote that the society has inappropriately placed some of the causes of rape to the victim himself (Ryan, 2011). These causes of rape, that the society denotes are the responsibility of the victim on most occasions lead to the negative perception of rape victims. It is these negative perceptions that normally increase the physical and psychological suffering of rape victims. However, it is important to denote that the society will apportion blame on the rape victim, based on the traditions and culture of the society under consideration (Baaz, 2009). Perceptions of rape victims and its effects on the victims: The attitudinal based characteristics of an observer play a great role in the explanation of the negative perceptions towards victims of rape. These attitudinal characteristics are shaped by the traditional stereotyping of gender roles, and sexual conservatism. Hong (2013) believes that traditional stereotyping is one of the major factors responsible for creating a negative perception against the victims of rape. For example, Hong (2013) denotes that the traditional African society required a woman to be a virgin, and married to only one husband. On this basis, a woman who is raped, before marriage loses her virginity, and on this basis, she does not have any value. On the other hand, a woman is already married, and passes through rape, brings dishonor and shame to her husband (Riccardi, 2010). This traditional stereotyping is one of the major factors that made married men, to leave their women, who suffered from rape (Withey, 2010). Goodhart (2007) further argues that most women who are raped must either be promiscuous, and as a result, they enjoyed the act of rape. On this basis, the claim that they are raped is false, and does not hold any ground. On this basis, Goodhart (2007) argues that the society finds a justification on this aspect, to negative judge a woman who is raped. Based on this argument by Goodhart (2007), the society judges a raped woman, as an individual with lose morals, and social values. However, Hong (2013) argues that promiscuity is not a good reason that can justify any acts of rape. In fact, Hong (2013) argues that rape has even occurred on women who are not promiscuous. Hong (2013) justifies his arguments by denoting that during periods of war, soldiers usually rape the women of their opponents as a sign of control and power. Furthermore, Ayinde (2010) reveals that due to the widespread of rape during periods of warfare and its negative consequences, the 1949 Geneva Convention prohibited the use of rape by any army or soldiers during warfares (Baaz, 2009). This is a clear prove that Goodhart (2007) is wrong in his assertions that rape normally occurs because of the promiscuity of women. The male rape victims are also considered promiscuous, and this is because they were not able to control their sexuality (Goodhart, 2007). Due to these negative perceptions of rape victims, it would be very difficult for these people to report the crimes to law enforcement officers. This is because they would feel guilty of orchestrating the crime, they will also be shameful, and their levels of stress would increase (Gilbert, 1998). Failing to report the crime to police officers, would mean that the suspect is still on the loose, and he would attack again. This is the kind of fear that rape victims will have, leading to an increase in their stress level. This is because they do not know if the rapist would return or not. For fear of victimization, these victims might not seek for medical attention (Dosekun, 2013). This might make them to contract dangerous diseases such as HIV, Syphilis, and other STDs, if not detected early (Withey, 2010). It might also make the patient to suffer from more stress, because of failure to get some psychological treatment. Due to these negative perceptions on rape victims, these victims begin blaming themselves, accelerating further their psychological and physical health (Tavrow, Withers, Obbuyyi, Omollo and Wu, 2013). This is because their stress level will grow, leaving them vulnerable to emotional torture. Homophobia is another reason as to why people have a negative feeling towards male rape victims. Homophobia refers to a range of negative feelings that the society has against the gay people, this includes homosexuals, lesbians, the transgender, and the bi-sexual people (Koshan, 2012). Homophobia can always be expressed in the form of hatred, prejudice, antipathy, contempt, and it is always based on religious and traditional beliefs. Take for example the Buggery Act of 1533 that outlawed home sexuality in England. The consequences of being caught in a homosexuality act was death, however, such kind of laws were repelled by the 2004 civil partnership act that recognizes homosexuality (Vidal, 2011). In Uganda, the president recently signed the anti-homosexuality law that imprisoned any one found engaging in homosexual acts for life (Karimi and Thompson, 2014). This law is very oppressive in all aspects, because an individual can be sentenced for life imprisonment, if he or she is found to be gay. Goodhart (2007) argues that male rape is viewed as homosexuality, and on this basis, a man who is raped can be confused as a homosexual. Due to the negative perceptions about homosexuality, victims of male rape usually suffer from social exclusion. Vidal (2011) denotes that their peers, friends, and relatives will on most occasions shun them, discriminate against these male victims of rape, and even look at them with contempt. These behaviors and attitudes further accelerate the process of socially excluding victims of male rape. It is important to denote that these people will suffer from severe psychological trauma, which would include depression, anxiety, fear, or even stress (Withey, 2010). Delisi (2013) denotes that male victims of rape normally suffer more than their female counterparts. This is because female rape is widespread, and more common as compared to the male rape. However, in reality, male rape also exists, but the degree of its existence is what is not known (Suarez and Gadalla, 2010). Suarez and Gadalla (2010) further denote that victims of male rape would find it difficult to report such incidence to the authority for fear of victimization. Delisi (2013) denotes that that these people find it difficult to report their cases to medical practitioners and police officers because they are ashamed of the act committed against them, practically because the society expects them to have the capability to protecting themselves against an attack. Delisi (2013) goes on to denote that because they failed to protect themselves against an attack, they suffer from a concept referred to as self-blame, leading to psychological trauma, and stress. Schroeder (2010) denotes that self-blame is not a positive effect, as it will have a psychological effect on the victim leading to an increase in their stress levels, and creating emotional imbalances. It will be very difficult for these people to access medical and psychological services because of self-blame, and fear of victimization from medical personnel (Egan and Wilson, 2011). This might make their health system to fail, and they may even be tempted to commit suicide because of high levels of stress. Male victims on the other will not report such kind of an incidence to the police, or any other authority. This is because of the homophobia that exists because of such an attack. For instance in Uganda, it will be difficult for a male rape victim to report to the police, for fear of being mistaken as a homosexual. Recommendation on how to change the negative perceptions against rape victims: In order to help these victims, the society needs to appreciate the various character traits of people. For example, one of the contributing factors of a negative perception against rape victims is the demonization of women who are promiscuous (Delisi, 2013). The society has a negative attitude towards women viewed as promiscuous, and as a result, when they are raped, the society does not feel any pity towards them. Delisi (2013) denotes that it is important to educate the society on the causes of rape, and they should not apportion it on promiscuous women. This is because even women who are not promiscuous normally suffer from rape and its consequences. Hong (2013) denotes that for purposes of carrying out a civic education on the causes of rape, it is important for the government and non-governmental organization to identify communities and locations where rape is on an increase, and form focus group discussions for purposes of educating these people on the causes of rape, its consequences, and how to avoid being raped. Kavaler-Adler (2013) believes that this will play a great role in changing the attitudes of the society towards supporting rape victims. Klippenstine and Schuller (2012) further argue that to effectively change the negative attitude of the society towards supporting victims of rape, it is important for the government to target small children, and introduce a curriculum under social sciences aimed at teaching these children the various aspects of rape, why it is negative phenomenon, and the reasons as to why there is a need of supporting victims of rape. Klippenstine and Schuller (2012) further argue that children are young, and most of them are not under the influence of traditional stereotyping of women and rape. On this basis, when they grow up, they would not victimize any person who suffered from rape. On this basis, trying to change the attitudes of the society through educating young children is a long term process, and an efficient one, to be precise (Klippenstine and Schuller, 2012). Conclusion: In conclusion, rape is a very serious offence that normally has some negative impact on the victims. Victims of rape usually suffer from physical and physiological effects. These physical effects include body injuries, unwanted pregnancies, and diseases. Physiological effects include stigma, depression and stress. Rape also causes social isolation, and this normally occurs because of the discrimination and stigma that victims of rape normally suffer from. In as much as rape is a negative thing, victims of rape usually suffer from stigma and discrimination. This is because they are always blamed for the attack against them. This promotes an issue of self-blame amongst the victims of rape, leading to an increase in depression or stress. To help these people, there is a need of changing the attitudes of people against rape victims. This change in attitude will only come through education, and initiating laws that criminalizes discrimination and stigmatization. Bibliography: Ayinde, O. (2010). Psychological Techniques In Helping Rape Victims. Edo Journal of Counselling, 1(1), 15-26. 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