Introductory Chapter: Addressing Sexual Violence Issues

1. Introduction

Sexual violence, typically referred to as sexual abuse, has been recognized as a health and social issue globally. Yet the incidence and prevalence of this devastating crime have yet to decrease in significant numbers [1] and this public health crisis remains in epidemic proportions worldwide.

Sexual violence is defined as the violation of an individual’s physical and sexual boundary without their consent. This violation occurs at any age throughout the lifespan.

Sexual violence can create acute and long-term psychological, physical, and interpersonal negative outcomes. Health difficulties are common, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [2]. Revictimization of this population is also common [3, 4].

Historically, children have always been vulnerable to the risk of sexual violence. For children, sexual violence changes the developmental pathway and challenges resilience structures. The child’s worldview is also altered, creating negative perspectives of power imbalances and sexualized aggression. Acknowledgement of sexual violence, supportive and protective environments, and enhancing resilience skills can assist in dealing with sexual violence.

These issues are well documented across the lifespan as witnessed by over 30 years of research utilizing the adverse childhood experiences survey [5].

Less than 50 years ago, some states in the United States still had laws on the books that maintained that having sex with your wife against her will was not rape, because the woman had to bend to the will of the man. Indeed, over the past 40 years we have seen a proliferation of different forms of sexual violence. Crimes such as campus sexual assault, sex trafficking, revenge pornography, live-streaming sexual violence on the Internet, child pornography and murders of children that are associated with child pornography have entered the mainstream conversation drawing attention to the increase in the numbers of criminal activity.

Coinciding with the outright criminal activity of sexual violence is the well documented sexual violence that is enculturated in organizational systems. From military to religious organizations, sexual violence is part of “organizational culture” and while attempts to address these issues are publicly celebrated, more needs to be done in terms of prevention, criminal liability, and restitution. For instance, the United States military was slow to acknowledge the occurrence of sexual assault within its ranks. When overwhelming evidence of this culture of sexual violence was presented, a “closed ranks” response, was standard. Closed ranks refer to the group, institution, or organization protecting the accused member—no matter the cost—because the member actually represents the group. Another commonly known example of this type of “closed ranks” approach to sexual violence occurred within the Catholic church. Until recently, when sexual violence perpetrated by a priest was detected, he was moved from one diocese to another, generally without criminal liability attached.

The “Me Too” Movement began to change the culture of silence and shame that many victims experienced with many landmark cases entering the public limelight. One case in point is the USA Gymnastics Olympic team doctor, Larry Nadler, arrested in 2016 for sexual abuse of hundreds of team members. While many of these young women reported the abuse, it nonetheless remained uninvestigated for years. More alarming is that Nadler and other perpetrators continued their abuse for years despite complaints from Olympic team members. The common practice at that time was to move predatory coaches from gym to gym.

Prevention should be the first approach in addressing the issue of sexual violence. Despite many good programs that demonstrated the ability of prevention to diminish the numbers of victims for children, not enough funding is provided to institutionalize prevention efforts [6]. Prevention advocates are now calling for programs not only addressed at children, e.g., Good Touch/Bad Touch, but also for prevention programs targeted at perpetrators of sexual violence [5, 7].

Treatment approaches to address the issues of sexual violence are now prominently recognized particularly since trauma informed and responsive care have been universally established as the standard of care for those who have been sexually victimized. The ways in which individuals cope with sexual violence across the lifespan and how society views this traumatization is increasingly a focus of attention.

Getting societies to understand the concept “A hurt against one, is a hurt against all” may be a Herculean task. However, the need to eradicate gender-based violence is long overdue. Policies addressing prevention, treatment for both victims and perpetrators, and clear standards and policies for eradicating sexual violence are still seriously lacking. However, this book addresses the strides that many across the globe have taken to tackle the serious on-going issue of sexual violence. Future directions include changing existing policies to improve prevention programs and policies, responsiveness to victims including treatment efforts, and the long-overdue change in how society views this public health issue and therefore, the eradication of sexual violence.