LETTER: Women more likely to become victims of sexual assault, acquaintance rape

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by Amy Hemphill

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To the editor:

In the March 22 issue of the Thresher , Jason Ciarochi and Michael Gomez wrote in to express their concern regarding the fliers for Sexual Assault Awareness Week ("Sexual assault fliers offensive, single out males as perpetrators").

I can only imagine that there are several other responses to this letter on their way and that some of them might be angry.

However, I am not angered by this letter. I am concerned.

Yes, the fliers concentrate on the scenario of male rapist, female victim. And, yes, separate advice is offered to men and women.

However, this choice is not about discrimination or bias.

The fact is that most acquaintance rapes on campus are male rapist, female victim.

This is not a bias. It is a reality.

Yes, sirs, you are correct in mentioning that males are rape victims.

However, the majority of male-victim rapes are not date rapes.

The statistics for male victims lie more in the areas of child molestation, prison rapes and violent crime.

The vast majority of date rapes happen just as the fliers indicate.

The separate advice offered to men and women has a very important intent.

The fact is that, in general, men are bigger and stronger than women.

The fact also exists that adolescents in this country are socialized, through the entertainment industry and their peers, to accept the roles of males as aggressors and females as submissives.

There are far too many cases of women submitting to a sexual experience that makes them uncomfortable, and men being aggressive or pressuring in sexual situations.

The advice in the fliers is an attempt to combat these problems.

I certainly don't mean to imply that all men are guilty of this, or that men can not be victims of this.

The other reason that Ciarochi and Gomez might have problems with the fliers is they themselves might know someone who is a male victim of rape.

What they must remember is that groups like SOAR, the Houston Area Women's Center and others can only work with the reported cases.

Far too many rapes occur that are never reported.

The very facts I discuss about prevalance of female-victim rape is based on the information I've heard over the years that is based on reported cases.

Lastly, I'd like to address the statement, "It is necessary that we recognize that men can be victims of rape as well and that not all men are potential rapists."

When it comes to acquaintance rape, anyone is a potential rapist if they fail to listen to their partners, dates or friends and hear whatever signals are being conveyed.

No one is immune. The point of Sexual Assault Awareness Week is to help us all be more aware of our own actions and to help us learn how to be more attentive to those with whom we share relationships.

Without this level of awareness, Ciarochi and Gomez are as easily potential rapists as I am, or anyone else who reads this letter.

Amy Leland Hemphill

Brown '96

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the March 29, 1996 issue.

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