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Descriptive terms for types of rape and sexual assault reconstructing rape descriptions
The Pain of rape is often invisible. The purpose of this page is to help build up the vocabulary of sexual trauma in order to help victims communicate better. See also: Vocabulary of trauma Part of the politically correct movement was to create a vocabulary so that people could discuss issues around discrimination more easily. This discussion by and large left rape survivors out of the fold. It is still considered a gray area of which the public knows little. The purpose of an agreed on vocabulary is to make sure that everyone knows what you mean when you use a certain word. This makes sure everyone is on the same page. It is very useful to some survivors in the sense that giving a name to pain can be empowering. It can also help survivors communicate with providers if both have the common language to understand concepts like self injury and self blame. Otherwise nothing will be communicated and no one will be helped. If there is not a word for it- how can you say it?
Studies have found that people who dissociate also have communication disorders. "Grounding techniques and specific language interventions can assist ... in acquiring the vocabulary needed for communicating both their daily experiences and traumatic histories."(Yehuda, 2005) Part of this is due to the fact that PTSD shuts off communication with the part of the brain that controls/operates language and logic functions.
The pain of rape is invisible. It's not the physical scars or stitches that need to heal. Rape actually damages the brain when the victim develops PTSD from the trauma and the stigma. This is what needs to heal. Therefore the description of the rape-type needs to include it's psychological impact rather than solely the physical interaction. "Though a rape victim may not sustain substantial physical tissue damage, rapists may inflict significant psychological trauma by asserting uninvited domination, control, and power over the unwilling other" (Brownsmiller, 1975). This is called victim impact.
In reconstructing the description of rape the victim's perspective is essential. There is a dichotomy between how rape survivors think about rape and how spectators think of it. A group discussion within the survivor community produced the following format for communicating a description of the victim's experience: 1) Category of physical contact/ 2) Type of rapist (percieved intent of rapist) / 3) Effects of rape: psychological and-or physical results and aftermath (victim impact) The description would follow this format:
1/Types of rape (category of physical contact): [This category mostly appeals to non-survivors. Survivors know that the psychological pain is pretty much the same regardless of what level of violence was used. If someone beat you up in a bar that might be extremely violent-but not give you PTSD. If someone you thought cared about you violated you personally that probably would cause you alot of greif.]
2/Type of rapist - victim's perception of the intent of the rapist/motive - These are based on rapist's profiles: power-assertive rapist, power-reassurance rapist, anger-retaliatory rapist, anger-excitation rapist. (Groth) [This category is important to include because most rapes are not about lust or sex. They are about power, control and at times violence. While not relevent to a court of law- percieved intent is important for the victim to be able to voice their feelings about what type of interaction the sexual assault was.] Perceived...
3/ Victim impact / Effects of the rape - To most victims the effects of the rape are the most important thing of all. It addresses the changes in self image, thinking, functioning and major life changes suffered as a direct result of the rape. This is something the victim often has to deal with for their entire life. It's not usually temporary. "Victim impact statements usually describe the harm the offense has had on the victim, including descriptions of the financial, physical, psychological or emotional impact, harm to familial relationships, descriptions of any medical treatments or psychological services required by the victim or the victim's family as a result of the victimization, and the need for any restitution. " Rape has certain consistent effects which many survivors suffer regardless of the type of interaction with the perpetrator. This also includes somatic (body) symptoms "Sexual assault was also a significant statistical predictor of having multiple sick days in the prior 6 months and of being a high utilizer of primary care visits in the prior 6 months. These data confirm a strong association between sexual trauma exposure and somatic symptoms, illness attitudes and healthcare utilization in women." ( Stein et. al., 2004) a/ Psychological brain changes---Invisible damage / psychological damage - PTSD brain altering damage Undeserved shame or guilt as part of self blame PSYCHIC trauma
b/ Pain and suffering ---Long term life-altering changes/effects of rape - loss of ability to work, having to drop out of school, ostracism due to the stigma of rape such as secondary victimization (reactions of others). c/ Physical--- Scars or injuries. d/ Advocates also list the four injuries all crime victims suffer: physical, financial, social and emotional.
Example sentence: Type of rape/Type of rapist or percieved intent of rapist/Effects of rape: psychological or the four injuries It might sound like this: Drug facilitated fraternity gang rape with perceived intent to humiliate, control and degrade. The effects being life long PTSD, a life threatening eating disorder, temporary self injury and permanent OCD as well as social injuries of stigma of shame.
Books on defining rape Defining Rape by Bourque, Linda Brookover "Defining Rape consists of four sections. The first illustrates the variability of rape definitions used in court cases and by professionals, victims, perpetrators, and laypeople. The second reviews in detail existing research on women victims and male assailants, social-psychological findings based on attribution theory, changing legal definitions of the crime of rape, and studies of community attitudes toward rape. The third section reports the design, findings, and conclusions of the Los Angeles County survey. In the final section survey results are compared with previous research, showing the implications for theory and practice."
Bibliographies on defining rape Research resources on defining rape http://www.questia.com/search/rape-defining
References: Yehuda, Na'ama (2005). The Language of Dissociation. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, Vol 6(1), pp. 9-29. Jerome, Richard; Comander, Lauren (2006). FACES OF RAPE. People, 3/20/2006, Vol. 65 Issue 11, p199-202, 3p. Esposito, Noreen (2006). Women with a History of Sexual Assault. American Journal of Nursing, Vol. 106 Issue 3, p69-73, 4p Stein, Murray B.; Lang, Ariel J.; Laffaye, Charlene; Satz, Leslie E.; Lenox, Rebecca J.; Dresselhaus, Timothy R. (2004). Relationship of sexual assault history to somatic symptoms and health anxiety in women. General Hospital Psychiatry, May2004, Vol. 26 Issue 3, p178 Adams-Curtis, Leah E.; Forbes, Gordon B. (2004). COLLEGE WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES OF SEXUAL COERCION. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, Vol. 5 Issue 2, p91-122
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