Sexual Abuse Towards Women: A Plague; Will it Ever End?

      Sexual Abuse has plagued women forever. Freudian beliefs portrayed women as "human-like

Sigmund Freud
Photo: Hertruename.com

dolls" put on the Earth to birth children, cook and clean for men, and to pleasure them.  Freud believed that since female sexual pleasure was not required to conceive offspring through reproduction, it was not important to fulfill. Growing up, Freud was pampered by his mother who believed that it was her duty to slave over men. In his eyes, women were almost childlike, as if men had to direct them like children or pets. Due to this influence growing up, Freud created these societal values that explained women as less than human beings that existed solely for the convenience of men. Unfortunately, these beliefs became very popular as others did not believe that Freud could ever be incorrect due to his intelligence and contribution to psychology. It is very possible that sexual abuse stemmed from beliefs as these. Men may feel the power to sexually abuse because of portrayed superiority, while women were there to pleasure men and bear their children anyway. (Hertruename.com) 

Lashing was a threat to slaves who
discussed sexual assault or rape.
Photo: Wikipedia

      Although all ethnicity, cultures, and skin colors have suffered from sexual abuse, African American women may suffer the most from the past in slavery to today in low-income areas. Slavery allowed slaveholders to "own" the slaves, depriving them of all rights. Black females truly faced dualism in discrimination as first they were deprived of independence and freedom, but also the ability to be sexually abused. Since no laws pertained to slave women, being raped was not illegal as they were just considered property. However, if the woman became pregnant, she may have been forced to work for an extra couple years as punishment and care for her child. Masters forced slave women and men to reproduce constantly no matter if they were inbreeding to produce more hands for the plantations. Victims had to act submissive because if they were caught discussing the matter, punishment could include the selling of that individual, lashings, or even death. Today called splitting or disassociation, keeping quiet was and is passed down through generations. Aside from rape and forced sex, slave women were publicly groped and molested while being sold at auctions, with no ability to stop the action. (Blacksurvivors.org) 

      Although slavery is now illegal, sexual abuse is a struggle all women still face today as a

Eye opening movie "Precious" shows lives of lower class
women who face incestuous sex abuse. 

whole. Unfortunately, sex slavery still occurs throughout the world. Sexual abuse is most documented in areas of low income with majority of the population being comprised of African Americans. One in four women report being sexually abused as children, 3.3 million of the victims being black women. Incestuous abuse of African Americans is three times more likely to occur than to white women or other ethnicity, and also includes physical violence and verbal threats. In 2005 alone, 83,810 cases of sexual abuse were reported. (Blacksurvivors.org) 

Photo: wxxinews.org

      College students are also at high risk for sexual abuse. The University of Montana is considered "America's rape capital" after 80 rapes were reported in a three year period and continuous violence attacks occurred on campus. This public outcry began in 2011 during finals when a female student reported being drugged and raped by the school football team. However, this title is misleading because the rates correspond with many other colleges across the United States. According to a recent study that assessed 3,000 women, one in four will be or have been sexually assaulted. According to the Obama administration, 55 United States colleges are under federal scrutiny for poorly handled sexual-assault cases. (Eliza, Grey) Obviously, all types of women are affected, not only in the United States, but also around the world.

Sources:

"African Americans and Sexual Abuse." Black Survivors. Black Sexual Abuse Survivors, n.d. Web.

Gray, Eliza. "The College Town Of Missoula, Mont., Saw At Least 80 Reported Rapes Over Three Years, Earning It The Name America's Rape Capital. But The Nickname Has It Wrong. Missoula Isn't Special; It Is Fairly Average. The Truth Is, For Young Women, America's... (Cover Story)." Time 183.20 (2014): 20-27. Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.

"The Sexual Solipsism of Sigmund Freud." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.