Why Dont Women Report Sexual Assaults

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Introduction: Has there ever been a time in your life where you were embarrassed to tell someone something that happened to you? A time where you thought no one would believe you? Did you know that every two minutes in the United States, someone is sexually assaulted (RAINN.org)? One in six women will be assaulted in their lifetime but less than half will report it, and an estimated ninety-four percent will never come to the attention of the criminal justice system (McGregor). A research letter in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, “Why Don’t More Women Report Sexual Assaults to the Police?” written by Margaret J. McGregor, was an interest to me. There are several reasons why sexual assaults are underreported – embarrassment, misconceptions, miscommunication between the victim and the police, no police involvement, re-victimization, fear, blame, and even cultural beliefs. Throughout this paper I will be discussing these reasons and the author’s position, along with my own opinion agreeing with the author of this journal. The title, “Why Don’t More Women Report Sexual Assaults to the Police” written and peer reviewed by Margaret J. McGregor, Ellen Wiebe, Stephen A. Marion, and Cathy Livingstone, was something that grabbed my attention very quickly. It has always been a question in my mind, why don’t they report if they have been sexually assaulted, especially after a rape? This journal was published in the Canadian Medical Association on March 7, 2000, with the help of ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source database. McGregor, Margaret J., Ellen Wiebe, Stephen A. Marion, and Cathy Livingstone. "Why Don't More Women Report Sexual Assaults to the Police?" Canadian Medical Association. Journal 162 (2000): 659-660. ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source Database. Rowan University, Glassboro. 12 Mar. 2008
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