Carrie's Hypertext Proposal

The social issue of sexual assault against women is a prominent for college-aged women; it is often an issue that is uncomfortable or perhaps even not understood. This issue is close to me because it connects a personal experience with the standpoints that others may have about sexual assault. Rape is often a difficult topic because even victims of rape do not understand that it has happened to them or perhaps they feel guilty or that they brought it on themselves. Because of this, sexual assault is the most underreported crime in the nation. This issue is socially induced by the ideas that men are “entitled” to sex and that women “ask” to be raped by their behavior. Victims that have spoken out, like myself, take the standpoint that a woman’s body is her own personal space and that no one has the right to invade that space without the proper consent. Other people with these views include women that haven’t been raped, but support this cause. These supporters are found in the Take Back the Night organization, the WYMCA, and Every Two Minutes groups found on college campuses.

Within this issue, there are two standpoints taken from a gender and ethics class that have followers and conflict with my own views on sexual assault. The first is the victim-blaming corollary in which people hold the idea that “it’s a woman’s fault” if she is raped. Women begin to believe that this is true about sexual assault and the result is underreporting. The second standpoint is referred to as the Potentially Lethal Lie. Here, the idea is that women are responsible for preventing rape and that their actions will either cause them to be raped or not raped. The idea that rape is avoidable if the right action is taken is a very common misconception, especially with young girls.

A conflict that occurs between a victim’s point of view and the assaulter’s point of view could take place in a judicial hearing on campus. Witnesses would be involved and there would be supporters of both present. These standpoints are in a sense similar because neither party wants to feel wrong, guilty, or at fault for what has taken place. The main reason for having the hearing is to justify the actions of both parties. Major conflict will come about with the questions: Who was at fault? What actually happened? Was either party intoxicated? Would this even matter? What does ‘no’ mean? Does silence mean ‘no’?

This paper will allow me to explore the several sides of sexual assault. These perspectives are perhaps the reason why it is so misunderstood among college-aged teens. The two general standpoints that have been introduced by gender and ethics studies are also major factors why women are not compelled to report these crimes. I would like to take my personal experience and translate it to a way for others to see how sexual assault affects woman and why so many stay silent.