Campus rape is the rape of students attending an institute of higher learning such as a college or university. The term references the campus on which these institutes are situated, although not all reported incidents occur on campus property.
Koss, Gidyczi, and Wisniewski found in a study that almost 54% of American college women had experienced some form of sexual assault. Twenty-five percent of American college males admitted to sexual coercion in some form.[1] Another study done by the National Institute of Justice estimated that one-fifth to one-fourth of women in college are victims of sexual assault.[2] The differences of statistics maybe due to reporting and research techniques. Alcohol plays a large role in date, acquaintance, party, and gang rape.
White women in American colleges are more likely to be victims of rape,[2] but regardless of race, the majority of victims know the assailant. Black women in America are more likely to report sexual assault that has been perpetrated by a stranger.[1] Teenage girls are more likely to think that stranger rape is more serious than other forms of rape.[3] Victims of rape are mostly between 10 and 29 years old, while perpetrators are generally between 15 and 29 years old.[4]
The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that American women are "twice as likely to be raped by a stranger as someone she is familiar with."[4] Stranger rape is more likely to be reported, and the victims often garner more sympathy than victims of other forms of rape. The FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System found that two-thirds of rape victims between 18 and 29 years old had a previous relationship with the perpetrator.[4]
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Acquaintance rape is the most common form of rape. One study showed that although only 17% of rape cases were committed by strangers, 55% of reported rapes involved strangers. This study provides overwhelming evidence that although stranger rape is more likely to be reported, it is not the most prevalent form. Victims between 18 and 29 years old are the highest risk group for acquaintance rape. In half of acquaintance rape cases the victim and rapist are somewhat familiar with one another, while 40% accounts for casual acquaintances. Acquaintance rape which includes date rape, may also include party and gang rape.[4]
Date rape, a form of acquaintance rape, is a non-domestic rape committed by someone who knows the victim.[5] This constitutes the vast majority of rapes reported. It can occur between two people who know one another usually in social situations, between people who are dating as a couple and have had consensual sex in the past, between two people who are starting to date, between people who are just friends, and between acquaintances. It includes rape of co-workers, schoolmates, friends, and other acquaintances, providing they are dating.[6] Date rape is considered the most unreported crime on college campuses.[7] The term date rape is often referred to as ‘acquaintance rape’ or ‘hidden rape’ and has been identified as a growing problem in western society.[8] College and university campuses are prime locations for date rape to occur due to the high volume of students’ interest in romantic relationships. A college survey conducted by the National Victim Center reported that one in four college women have been raped or experienced attempted rape.[9] This report indicates that young women are at considerable risk of becoming victims of date rape while in college.
Statistics (relating to American colleges):
Gang rape is a rape perpetrated by multiple offenders at once. The Bureau of Justice Statistics report that 15% of all rape cases involve more than one offender.[4] Between one and two percent of college women are victims of rape. "Overall on college campuses, 16 percent of all rapes and 10 percent of all attempted rapes engage multiple perpetrators" (Neaumann,398).[11] Fifty-five to seventy percent of gang rape perpetrators belong to fraternities. Eighty-six percent of off-campus attempted rape or sexual assaults are at fraternity houses.[11] College gang rape tends to be perpetrated by middle- to upper-class men.[12]
There are higher incidents of gang rape within fraternities for many reasons: peer acceptance, alcohol use, the acceptance of rape myths and viewing women as sexualized objects, as well as the highly masculinized environment. The Neumann study found that fraternity members are more likely than other college students to engage in rape.[11] Part of the prevalence of fraternity rape may be due to the fact that some colleges do not have complete control over the privately-owned fraternity houses.[2] Although gang rape on college campuses is an issue, however, date, acquaintance, and party rape are more likely to happen.[12]
Rape on college campuses is under-reported to the university authorities, and even less to the police. There are three general attitudes that colleges have regarding rape: first is to not condone rape, but not to punish it either, second response is to keep the issue low-key while handling it, and third is to criminalize rape. Colleges deal with campus rape in ways such as advocating for the victim as well as being concerned and ethical; while others ignore the issue and may blame the victim. Colleges may react leniently in order to avoid bad publicity or any kind of financial loss.[11] College campuses are also generally either "rape-free" or "rape-prone". Rape-free campuses seriously deal with incidents of rape, and do not condone alcohol use, while rape-prone campuses do neither.[12]
In February 2011, a group of 16 current and former Yale University students filed a Title IX case against the school, claiming the administration did not respond decisively to misogyny on campus, such as fraternity members chanting sexist slogans.[13]
Alcohol consumption is known to have effects on sexual behavior and aggression. During social interactions, alcohol consumption also encourages biased appraisal of a partner’s sexual motives, impairs communication about sexual intentions, and enhances misperception of sexual intent, effects which are exacerbated by peer influence about how to act when drinking.[14] The effects of alcohol at point of forced sex are likely to impair ability to rectify misperceptions, diminish ability to resist sexual advancements, and justifies aggressive behavior.[14] Alcohol provides justification for engaging in behaviors that are usually considered inappropriate. Studies have shown consistent alcohol use in reported cases of sexual and non-sexual violence.[15] The increase of assaults on college campuses can be attributed to the social expectation that students participate in alcohol consumption.[15] The peer norms on American college campuses are to drink heavily, to act in an uninhibited manner and to engage in casual sex.[15]
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