Raygan Rensing

David Turley
English I Honors
16 November 2016
Sexual Assault in the United States
Sexual assault is a very important issue in the United States because every year, men and
women alike go through tough situations that have been forced upon them. Sadly, what the
victims go through after is often worse than their actual assault. On average, 288,820 cases of
rape are reported per year. (Victims of Sexual Violence) Of this number, fifty-four percent of
people sexually assaulted were between the ages of eighteen to thirty-four. (Victims of Sexual
Violence) Children and young adults make up fifteen percent of the 288,820 people who have
been forced into sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and
attempted rape.(Sexual Assault)
The reason that sexual assault against women between the ages of eighteen to thirty-four is so
high is due to the numbers that occur while women are in college. For every five robberies in the
U.S., four sexual assaults occur for all women. For every robbery, two sexual assaults occur for
women in college. (Victims of Sexual Violence). The sad part about women who get raped is that
only 20% of female student victims, age 18-24, report to law enforcement. (Campus Sexual
Violence) The reasoning behind this is that colleges try to cover up these cases which allow the
college to look good.

Women are not the only people susceptible to rape. Males and TGQNs (transgender,
genderqueer, and non-conforming) are also vulnerable to become victims. The chance for a male
to be victimized due to rape is one in ten. Men who are also between the ages of eighteen to
twenty-four and attend college are more likely to be sexually assaulted than men who dont.
(Campus Sexual Violence) Statistics show that for every man who is sexually assaulted, five
males in college are. For TGQNs in college, twenty-one percent of the total population have
reported being raped, compared to 18% of non-TGQN females, and 4% of non-TGQN males
(Victims of Sexual Violence)
For many people, the issue does not stop there. Many people experience post-traumatic stress
disorder or PTSD, severe distress, and some contemplate and/or attempt suicide. It doesnt stop
there. People who have been sexually assaulted are more likely to use drugs than the general
public. (Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics) Depending on the drug, the useage can range
anywhere from three to ten times more likely to be taken. Most victims also experience a lack of
trust, emotional/professional issues, increased problems at work/school, or a feeling of distress at
any level.
Due to the reasons above, this is why sexual assault in the United States is such an important
issue. Sexual assault impacts the lives of many, whether man or woman, old or young. Not only
is it an experience that no one should every go through, but it is something that has created
unnecessary issues that many people will live with the rest of their lives. Between PTSD, a lack
of trust and communication, and overall mental/emotional/physical scarring, many people will
never be the person they were before. No one should be forced to go through this, yet every year
about 288,000 people do.

Works Cited
"Campus Sexual Violence: Statistics | RAINN." Campus Sexual Violence: Statistics | RAINN.
RAINN, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.
"Sexual Assault." U.S. Department of Justice. U.S. Department of Justice, 01 Apr. 2016. Web. 10
Nov. 2016.
"Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics | RAINN." Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics |
RAINN. RAINN, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.