...Carolina rape victims, Annie Clark and Andrea Pino, join forces to seek proper justice for the treatment and neglect of rape cases on college campuses nationwide in the United States of America. Clark and Pino, instead of giving up on their rape cases that were handled improperly by the executive board of UNC continued to fight the way colleges dealt with rape victims and rape suspects by becoming advocates and educating themselves and others of their institutional rights. The Hunting Grounds tracks the start of Clark and Pino’s on-going journey to make college students aware of the issues of institutions protecting the name and reputation of the institution rather than...
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...survivors in the United States. Sources for this paper were found through peer-reviewed academic papers and articles, websites for organizations that advocate for victims of sexual assault and rape, and legislative bills from the state of Idaho. This paper also seeks to define the social justice issues, legal and political issues, and advocation for these victims on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of society. Keywords: rape, rape victims, and advocating Social Justice for Rape Survivors, an “At Risk Population” and Ways of Advocating for Them Definition of the “at risk population”: The definition of rape and survivors of rape varies around the world and especially differs from state to state within the United States of America. In the advocacy community, victims of sexual assault are generally referred to as survivors because they have survived a horrible event. (Cazier, 2013) For the purpose of this paper and in keeping with that belief, I will also refer to these individuals as survivors. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) the general definition of rape in the United States is, “forced sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Penetration may be by a body part or object.” In order for the term rape is apply to all persons, male or female, RAINN defines it as, “forced sexual intercourse including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Penetration may be by a body part or object.” In the state of Idaho, the state government...
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...they do not appear to be a main focus point. Society seems to minimalizes rape to the point of not caring, in some cases making the victims seem to be at fault. Because it seems that the repercussions of the rapist are not as tough as they should be, rapists repeat their actions without fear of severe punishment. The average sentence for convicted rapists was 11.8 years, while the actual time served was 5.4 years. In the US because of our rape culture, rape in the military became a major problem in recent years, even up until this problem was publicized. When first brought into the public’s eye the military didn’t seem to be taking rape seriously. Rape is not just a nightmare for military women but for men as well. Rape seems to be more main stream than some might think. Society more often than not are blaming the victims, the proof is in a recent 12-minute video of young men in Steubenville, Ohio, joking about the brutal, extended gang rape of a 16-year-old girl. According to one study of 16,000 Americans, 17.6% of women report having been victims of rape or attempted rape at some time in their lives even suffering multiple rapes in their lives: the average number of rapes per woman during that time period was 2.9. Finally Rape Myths seem to overpower the perception that rape is not okay and not natural, also making it okay to blame the victim and making the rapist seem to have never had a choice in their actions. Keywords: Rape, Political, Sexual...
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...Mother Blaming: How Welfare Systems Reinforce Institutionalized Oppression Critical Response Paper Mother Blaming: How Welfare Systems Reinforce Institutionalized Oppression Introduction States have established several entities to ensure the safety and well being of their citizens; of particular importance is protecting the welfare of vulnerable populations, such as the disabled, minor children, and the elderly. Social welfare policies and programs also serve to afford equal and/or equitable opportunities for vulnerable populations, to level the playing field and minimize the effects that years of oppression tends to have on members of the non-dominant culture. Although welfare systems aim to improve the lives of our nation’s vulnerable populations, institutional oppression has also permeated this system, influencing the research, practices, and policies of professionals in their respective fields. Consequently, a system that was established to protect and assure the well being of vulnerable populations has also served to re/victimize and reinforces the oppression of the lives of those involved with these systems. The manifestation of gender bias and institutional oppression in the welfare systems are social justice issues with vast implications for vulnerable populations; according to the NASW Code of Ethics, as professional social workers, we have an ethical responsibility to challenge social injustice and pursue social change, particularly on behalf of vulnerable...
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...In no way is rape condoned in our culture, being merely accused of this crime can ruin someone’s career and life. In 2013 a student attending Occidental College was accused of rape months after the sexual act occurred. Even after being exonerated by the police, the college still expelled the student for sexual misconduct. An article on FoxNews.com written by Joshua Miller states “a faculty member and anti-rape activist coaxed the alleged victim into making baseless accusations”. In the article Prof. Danielle Dirks, a professor from Occidental was quoted "[John Doe] fits the profile of other rapists on campus in that he had a high GPA in high school, was his class valedictorian, was on [a sports] team, and was from a good family,". Women like this are creating the illusion of a rape culture by broadening their “profiles” of rapists to the point that anyone accused could fit the criteria. Rape culture theorists also insist that rape and sexual assault has increased in recent years. According to the national crime victimization survey (NCVS) “between 1993 and 2008 the rate of rape or sexual assault against females declined by 70%”. If men are being...
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...Need More Islamophobia, Not Less,” preaches about how he believes that most people are siding with Muslims. He disagrees with this and explains why he wants more Islamophobia. He states how Obama and the FBI are not being reasonable and need more Islamophobia to stop the massacres that are happening. His goal is to try to help people be more fearful and against Islam. Although many people are afraid of Muslims because of what the news invents about them, Kincaid misjudges Islam in ways that aren’t true by saying Obama is to blame, unreasonably not stating the other side’s opinion, and asking many rhetorical questions as if he is not sure about what he claims. The first part of the article discusses Kincaid criticizes Obama when it comes to foreigners and comforting them. Then he says how Obama doesn’t apologize to the rest of the country for letting...
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...OUR LIPS ARE SEALED Every two minutes in the United States, “someone is raped, and the chances of being that victim are four times greater for a college female student than for any other age group. The phenomenon of date rape is not new, however it has evolved into a communication phenomenon, in which communication about sex and rape, the negotiation of consent, the rape itself, the aftermath of rape and the reaction to date rape, are central to defining a rape culture on campus. Women have been muted in a multitude of ways, including the methods in which women tell stories, through male-controlled media, in ways women’s bodies are portrayed and analyzed, and through censorship of women’s voices. Rape is a horrible experience, so why would women keep quiet about it. Campus cultures perpetuate the `culture of silence` that exists among young men and women by fostering a culture of rape which silences experiences and advocates victim blaming (self blame) that is set ablaze by the social acceptance of rape myths, experiences not being defined as rape, secondary rape, and the absence of deterrence, all of which create an underlying tolerance towards rape. In this paper I will examine how women are affected by the rape supportive culture that exists on campuses and creates an internalization of self blame are muted before, during, and after the experience of date rape. Both male and female students contribute to muting women, thus perpetuating a rape culture in which rape becomes...
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...attacks a victim whether it may be physical or not it can cause harm to the victim in different ways. Many situations can lead to a person becoming a victim of a crime and this paper will discuss some theories of victimization. Also, there researched can be used to obtain data on crimes that were not reported to law enforcement from victims. 1. Introduction Over the past several decades the tendency was to blame the victim when it came to the psychology and the dynamics of victimhood. Although, in past years blaming the victim was common, more recently this has changed. It is politically incorrect to exploit the role of victims in instances of crime cases. No matter what the circumstances or the case the victim does not deserve to be blamed for their own victimization. Many may feel that due to their particular lifestyle or where the victim may live precipitates causes for someone to become victimized. In many instances it has been thought that the victim’s behavior precipitates why they may be victimized. They are said to put these criminal acts in motion by exhibiting provocative or risky behavior. This may include picking arguments or even possibly using other gestures. (Miethe, 1993) Even though victims should not be blames for their own victimization, criminologist have come up with many theories as to why victims may play a role in their own victimization. There are also victimologists who is concerned with who is becoming a crime victim but also...
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...are forced to assume the position of powerless victim, one who has no control over what is happening to her body. The ability to silence its victims also erases evidence of the crime, thus leading to a higher incidence of underreporting. Rape is part of a system of male dominance. This system has lead to opinions that the female body, especially the black female body, is available for men at their leisure, thus leading to a society tolerant of prostitution and sexual violence against low-income black women. Race is one of the predicting factors of sexual violence. Although 80% of all victims are white, minorities are more likely to be attacked (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 2008). Since the black female body is hypersexualized, due to negative media images, black women face injustices when trying to pursue justice for an unjust attack on their bodies. Societal male dominance has created an environment where sexual violence is tolerated; this environment combined with the social position of low-income black women in the United States has lead to disproportionate sexual victimization of black women, which is exacerbated by injustices in the United States legal system. The intersection of oppression due to social position, race and gender results in poor black women being extremely vulnerable to sexual violence. Class and societal inequalities are the underlying forces that cause poverty. Greco and Dawgert (2007) state that society tends to dismiss the problems of...
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...How can we, as bystanders of rape really blame the ones who were raped? How can we possibly say that it is the victim's fault based on what they were wearing, their makeup, attitudes, behaviours or even who they hang out with? How are we ever going to end this inequality if we are too blind to see how disgusting we treat victims of rape. Adding that, close to ALL victims of rape are female. 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of, or attempted rape in her lifetime whereas 1 out of 10 American men have been. In the article discussed in class “Men Going Their Own Way” we view one of the opinions of a young male who feels oppressed because of women. These men believe that the society is biased against them for the benefit of women. It comprises mostly men who believe they have been unfairly treated by some bias against men. In the article the male states that we should be blaming nature and women, as a woman who has sex with many partners is worthless as a mate. He also ends his rant, with “March as you want. But if some men decide to rape your slutty asses, don't expect help from me or (hopefully) the cops. Be strong and fight your own battles.” As a female, this really got to me. It is people like this who can’t see past their own selfish...
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...Sexual Harassment In The Military Specialist Edward J. Nofe Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Military Police Brigade Grafenwoehr, Germany January 5, 2015 Joni Ernst is a well-respected United State Senator from Iowa. She has served more than 20 years in uniform. She is the first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate. She along with countless men and women in the military has been a victim of sexual harassment. The truth is nobody is immune from this problem certainly not when you still have reports ranging from inappropriate advances to sexual bribery. Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature between the same or opposite genders. Harassment differentiates from assault in the sense that harassment can be directly associated with your work setting. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination that erodes morale and negatively impacts unit cohesion. All individuals in the unit must be treated fairly and with mutual respect .The consequences of sexual harassment affects the individual in the workplace through stress, physical fitness, and reenlistment intentions. Sexual harassment affects the unit’s effectiveness, cohesion and goal realization. Sexual harassment is not limited to the workplace, but can also occur in the work related environment. That’s why the importance of maintaining a secure and sound command climate...
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...<<your name>> September 13, 2014 SWK207 “White Privilege: American Reality“ America is the land of the free and the land of opportunity. All men are created equal and can achieve the “American Dream”. These are the kinds of phrases one hears throughout life. Unfortunately, these words are misleading because not everyone has the same opportunity. Court documents from the Dred Scott decision state: “… people of African-American descent are a subordinate and inferior class that, whether slave or free, remains subject to the authority of the dominant and superior white race.” (Day & Schiele, 2013) The concept that we live in a land where all people are equal and success is achieved through hard work alone is nothing more than a myth. White Privilege provides a distinct advantage to white Americans over all non-whites simply by virtue of birth. White Privilege is like gravity, everyone feels the effects but you don’t see it. According to Eduardo Bonilla-Silva most whites believe that racism is less relevant in today’s society. Focus is placed on cultural differences as the reason why some people achieve more success than others. A closer look reveals that this idea still supports the status quo of White Privilege (Bonilla-Silva, 2001). White Privilege is so ingrained in American society that it is virtually invisible (O'Malley Halley, Eshleman, & Vjaya, 2011). The dominant American social values (Day & Schiele, 2013) while separate are still to some...
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...Reagan’s Exhortation to Continue Exploration in the United States On January 28th, 1596, a world renowned explorer by the name of Sir Francis Drake died while exploring the oceans. Similarly 390 years later to the day, seven NASA astronauts lost their lives shortly after their shuttle, Challenger, took off. Both Drake and the shuttle crew dedicated their lives to exploring the unknown all in the name of discovery. Some of Ronald Reagan’s rhetoric in this speech was influenced by tensions in the wake of The Cold War. This expedition was groundbreaking, and many school children and citizens watched the take-off and then explosion live. Reagan uses juxtaposition, allusion, and diction that connects the audience to the words being uttered,...
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...The issue of mass incarceration sparked conversation about racial disparities within the prison system. Following the abolishment of Jim Crow, legal racial segregation in the United States appeared dead. According to civil rights advocate, Michelle Alexander this is not the case; racial segregation appears dead, but mass incarceration perpetuates a racial caste system that preserves this outdated practice. In Alexander’s book, The New Jim Crow, she points to the cause, enforcement, and victims of this system, but her arguments lack the depth to stand against counterarguments. Primarily, Alexander links mass incarceration’s cause of the War on Drugs. Her secondary cause for this phenomenon appears after this war begins; many defendants cannot obtain “meaningful legal representation” (Alexander 17), a claim which widely goes undisputed. Meanwhile, the argument that “convictions for drug offenses —not violent crime—are the single most important cause of the prison boom in the United States” (Alexander 102), a repetitive argument in her book, sparks controversy. Scholars, such as Pfaff, believe that writers distort the role of drug convictions due to focusing on only...
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...specific services. While not everyone believes that those who are in need should be helped, there are opposing positions which feel that reform is a way to retract and counteract the situation the for the person in need. In order to get a better understanding of what is needed in the present time, we must first learn and understand how and why people of the western culture helped others through human services. As provided in The Introduction to Human Services: Policy and Practice, tracing back through history it shows how the western culture went through a difficult route of providing help for people in need. It shows how people in need were provided help from their families and the church or a benevolent feudal lord, later leading to receive help from the government, then eventually receive help from volunteers or trained professionals (Mandell & Schram, 2012). In the United States there are several helpful services which are no longer being made available due to the government’s decisions to strip away the programs or services for those in need and putting much of the burden on the volunteer and charity groups or churches. With the limited amount of resources and services available, these groups and churches are limited on what they can do to help. According to Garrow (2010), “nonprofit human service organizations located in a munificent environment can pursue multiple funding opportunities such as donations, fees for services, and other revenue-generating activities” (pg. 447)...
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