Sexual Victimization of College Women

1. Sexual Victimization of College Women Prepared by the University of Vermont Department of Police Services In cooperation with The National Center for Crime Victim Services

2. What We Know (statistically) about Sexual Assault… Sexual Victimization of College Women (2000) • 2.8% experienced a rape or attempted rape • 1 in 36 college women experienced a completed or attempted rape in about 6 mos. • Data suggests nearly 5% of college women are victimized in a calendar year. • Over course of college career, 20 to 25% will experience rape or attempted rape.

3. The Sexual Victimization of College Women • The 13% of female college students surveyed reported being stalked since the school year began • Defined as: “Experiencing repeated, obsessive, and frightening behavior that made the victim afraid or concerned for her safety”

4. The Sexual Victimization of College Women • 80% of victims knew or had seen the stalker before • 42.5% Boyfriend/ex-boyfriend • 24.5% Classmate • 10% Acquaintance • 6% Friend • 6% Coworker

5. The Sexual Victimization of College Women • Stalking incidents lasted an average of 60 days • 30% of victims were stalked only off campus • 66% of victims reported being stalked at least 2 – 6 times per week

6. The Sexual Victimization of College Women • Most common reported behaviors • 78% Telephoned • 48% offender waiting for victim • 42% being followed • 31% being sent letters • 25% being emailed

7. The Sexual Victimization of College Women • Effects • Almost 30% of victims said they were injured emotionally or psychologically • 15% reported being threatened or attempted harm • 10% reported forced or attempted sexual contact

8. The Sexual Victimization of College Women • 83.1% of the stalking incidents were NOT reported to police or campus authorities • 93.4% of stalking victims did confide in someone (usually a friend) about the stalking

9. Reasons for Not Reporting

10. Stalking on Campus: The Prevalence and Strategies for Coping with Stalking • WVU psychology students Spring 1995 • 31% of female respondents were victimized • 17% of males were victims of stalking • Relationship to the Stalker (Female Victim) • 16% Stranger • 16% Friend • 26% Casual Date • 40% Serious Date

11. Stalking on Campus: The Prevalence and Strategies for Coping with Stalking • Relationship to the Stalker (Male Victim) • Stranger 17% • Friend 22% • Casual Date 37% • Serious Date 24%

12. Stalking on Campus: The Prevalence and Strategies for Coping with Stalking Strategies (Female Victims) • Ignored/hung up phone calls • Confronted the stalker • Changed scheduled to avoid stalker • Carried a repellent spray • Arranged to have a personal escort • Had someone warn the stalker • Reconciled with the stalker • Called the police • Had a restraint/warrant issued against the stalker • Carried a whistle or other type of alarm

13. Stalking on Campus: The Prevalence and Strategies for Coping with Stalking Strategies (Male Victims) • Confronted the stalker • Ignored/hung up on phone calls from stalker • Reconciled with stalker • Changed schedule in order to avoid stalker • Had someone warn the stalker • Changed phone number • Moved to a different address • Had someone beat the stalker up • Carried a gun or knife • Called the police • Had a restraint/warrant issued against the stalker

14. Dr. David Lisak’s Research • The Rape Paradox • Millions of victims… • Relatively few rapists incarcerated… • Only about 5% of all rapists are incarcerated or in treatment programs to be able to be studied. • Where are all the rapists?

15. Dr. Lisak’s Research 3. Money offer 2. Follow-up call 1. Survey 4. Interview & testing

16. Survey Question “Have you ever had sexual intercourse with an adult when they didn’t want to because you used physical force (twisting their arm, holding them down, etc.) if they didn’t cooperate?”

17. Dr. Lisak’s Research • Summary of studies of 1,882 men: • Duke University & University of Massachusetts 1986-2000 • Men were interviewed as part of the study… they were volunteer participants ____________________________________________ Research Published in Violence and Victims, Volume 17, Number 1 (February 2002)

18. Dr. Lisak’s Research • Of the 1,882 men… • 120 (6.4%) met criteria for rape or attempted rape • 76 reported committing multiple rapes • 120 committed a total of 483 rapes, but the 76 repeat rapists committed 439 of them (average of 5.8 each).

19. Dr. Lisak’s Research • 70 of the 120 admitted to other acts of interpersonal violence, including: • Battery • Physical/sexual abuse of kids • Sexual assault short of rape/attempted rape.

20. Dr. Lisak’s Research • Interviews with the men revealed: • Rapist feels anger not empathy when a victim resists. • Rapist minimizes and sanitizes his violence. • Women are “targets” & “prey” • Women are “staked out” • Is this non-stranger sexual assault a form of stalking?

21. The Undetected Rapist • 76 Serial Rapists Identified • 439 Rapes of Adults • 49 Sexual Assaults on Adults • 277 Acts of Sexual Abuse of Children • 66 Acts of Physical Abuse of Children • 214 Acts of Battery 1,045 TOTAL Self Disclosed Offenses

22. The Undetected Rapist Depersonalizing victims Victims referred to as “targets”, “prey” Victims were “staked out” Premeditation and Planning Choosing vulnerable victims Preparation of “rape rooms” Serving them a separate punch at parties

23. The Undetected Rapist • Increasing violence only as needed • Using multiple strategies to make victim vulnerable • Rapes were preceded by stalking activities: • Surveillance • Information gathering • Following • Voyeurism

24. Research • Stalking on Campus:The Prevalence and Strategies for Coping with Stalking, Fremouw, Westrup and Pennypacker 1996 • The Sexual Victimization of College Women, Fisher, Cullen and Turner 2000 • Repeat Rape and Multiple Offending Among Undetected Rapists, Lisak 2002