Victim stereotype - Admission/Application Essay Example

Victim Stereotype by Alice Sebold describes her personal experience of becoming a victim of rape and the horrible consequences she had to deal with. It turned out that apart from rape the victim had to face with ignorance of the surrounding and the society. In her story the author mentions numerous cases of ignorance from the side of her family, friends, authorities which the author wants to overcome.First she understood that people were absolutely unaware of how to deal with victims of rape just after the horrible incident.

She was put in the glass walled room until the police arrived. The students who were at the dorm heard the news and came to stare at the victim. The people who first learned about rape did not know how to behave and only make worse by staring and paying excessive attention. Alice Sebold says that not only a victim of rape feels shame and wants to forget about it as soon as possible but her family as well. These are the first feeling which the victim and her close people face and that is why the majority of rapes remain unreported.

The ignorance in this question leads to the fact that women keep silence about rape for long years unable to cope with shame and social attitude that follow after revelation.Another example of ignorance is inability to understand how victims could be raped if they did not want to. Even Alice`s family was affected by this outrageous stereotype. However the author explains in details how the incident happened and how it involved serious physical force and threats. Many people do not understand that victims are forced to choose between death and rape.

According to Perry, the stereotype which claims that rapes rarely cause pregnancy is still widely supported in society. Even politicians still have this bogus idea insisting on abortions ban after first trimester. This stereotype is either hold by people who are not familiar with women biology or serves to justify antiabortion movement. However, according to research data, more than 5 % of rape cases result in pregnancies for women of reproductive age (Perry, 2013).There also exists a stereotype that the case when boys or men become victims of rape is hilarious.

Many people uphold the idea that men cannot become rape victims because they are able to resist the oppressor. Ignorance in this case is extremely harmful and destructive for men vitims who have to hide the truth for a long time (McDonough, 2012).Another common stereotype supported in society is that victims are able to control the situation so the part of guilt lies on them as well. Some people think that victims behave in such way so that to attract the potential rapist. Moreover, they are unaware of what rape is and claim that “the victim wanted it as well”.

This stereotype leads to the feeling of guilt for victims and shifting blame from real aggressors to victims (Baranauckas, 2013).Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is America`s biggest organization that worked with victims of sexual violence. The organization has more than 1000 rape crisis centers .The organization conducts a program to promote rapes and other forms of sexual abuse. Via their site it is possible to find a rape crisis center and get all necessary information about rape.

https://www.rainn.orgThe Office For Victims of Crime gives all information regarding rape victims fund. With the help of this fund it is possible to get urgent hospital reimbursement, psychological consultation, medical help, and financial aid with relocation. This resource gives victims direct steps to follow in crucial situation. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/help/progdir.htm ReferencesBaranauckas, C. (2013). Montana judge’s comments show ignorance about rape. The Washington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.

washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/08/30/montana-judges-comments-show-ignorance-about-rape/McDonough, K. (2014). Fox News’ “destructive” ignorance: Network gets schooled by male rape survivor. Salon. Retrieved from: http://www.salon.com/2014/06/19/fox_news_destructive_ignorance_network_gets_schooled_by_male_rape_survivor/Perry, S. (2013). Rape, pregnancy, statistics and the ignorance of some politicians. MINN Post. Retrieved from: http://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2013/06/rape-pregnancy-statistics-and-ignorance-some-politicians