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Show Weber State kJ IM I VE r? S I May 1, 1998- May 7, 1998 Rape Clock Rape victims span all cultures, backgrounds Definitions Rape - The act of obtaining intercourse through coercion, threats, physical force or a foreign substance. By law, minors (under the age of 16), people with mental or emotional impairments and people who are intoxicated are unable to consent to sex. Acquaintance Rape - Intercourse by someone the victim knows. Date Rape - Rape by someone the victim is dating. Soft Rape - Coercion used to engage a victim in intercourse against hisher will. Consensual Sex - Sexual relations with both partners desiring sex. Sexual Assault - A forced sexual act against someone's will. Information and statistics provided by PEER, Services for Women Students, Crime in Utah 1 996 (Utah Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Identification) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. By Angie Welling senior news reporter-thf slgnpost "Is rape and sexual assault blind to race, gender and sexual orientation?" This question was posed by Cathy Martinez, a licensed social worker and consultant for the Rape Recovery Center in Salt Lake City. She addressed rape and its components at Thursday's Honors Issues Forum. According to Martinez, the answer to the above question is yes. Rape is blind to race, gender and sexual orientation. It does not discriminate, nor is it an equal opportunity crime. "No, rape does not discriminate. But we do need to accept the fact that the majority of victims are women," said Georgia Velis, a Weber State University junior. Martinez agreed most rape victims are women. In fact, 38 percent of all college women have been sexually victimized, and one in 12 college men have committed acts that meet the legal definition of rape. According to FBI statistics, a woman is raped every 1 .3 minutes. Rape, as defined by Utah state law, is forced sexual intercourse. If a man is raped by another man, is does not meet the legal definition of rape. "We do not consider male rape as a first-degree felony," Martinez said. "Not even a second or a third." Martinez said one in six of the women in the audience were going to be raped in their lifetime. Of those women who are victimized, only 80 percent are likely to report the crime to police. According to Martinez, victims do not report the crime because they are afraid. Many victims feel they are to blame or they did something to cause the rape. "Rape is the only violent crime where the character of the victim comes into question," Martinez said. She gave audience members the example of a man walking down the street with $4,000 in his wallet. The man is mugged and his wallet stolen. It is unlikely that police will ask the man why he had so much money or why the money wasn't in the bank, Martinez said. They will do what needs to be done to help that man. "So why do we question what a woman is wearing or why she got into that car with four men?" Martinez asked. Men, homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender people are also less likely to report a rape than are heterosexual women. Martinez said that although stranger rape is not an unreal scenario, most See Rape page 6 -TV i I Every 1.3 minutes a rope occurs in the United Stotes. ..1 Every 10.81 hours a rope occurs in Utah. Statistics 7 in 4 women will be raped or sexually assaulted in their lifetime. J in 10 men will be raped or sexually assaulted in ; their lifetime. 7 in 10 women will report their assault to police. 7 in 100 men will report their assault to police. 80 percent of those raped know their attacker. 36 percent of all rapes occur in the survivor's home. The second most common place is the assailant's u. .... s home. 80 percent of all rapes oh college campuses are alcohol related.- ... 1 in 5 rape survivors attempt suicide, Twice as many seriously consider it. Total rapes in Utah 1979 384 , 1988- 1 980-140J 1 989-191428 1990-1982 3661991-9fi3399l992- 1984 331 1993- 1985 378 1994- 1986 421 1995- 1987 369 1996- -392 -478 -649 -788 -06 -806 -786 -803 -810 |
