The Stigma of Rape: Gendered Victimization

Abstract

The problem of rape is as old as civilization and it is a universal concern of great magnitude. Rape is classified as a violent crime in all nations and attracts strong penal action. This
however has not deterred sexual offenders, and statistics related to rape indicate that it continues to traumatize not only women but men and children also. In India, rape is more common
against girls and women. The proportion of crime committed against women against all types
of crime in 2012 was 9.40% according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).1
Of this,
1% was rape and in 98.20% of cases, the offenders were known to the victims. It is likely that
the figures may be much higher as many victims do not report the crime to the police due to fear
of stigma and its consequences.