The Stigma of Rape: Gendered Victimization

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Authors

  • L. N. Suman, MPhil Department of Clinical Psychology, Consultant, Trauma Recovery Clinic, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560 029, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17140/WHOJ-2-e005

Keywords:

forgivable, defilement

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.

References

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Crime in India Compendium 2012. New Delhi, India: Ministry of Home Affairs, Gov-ernment of India; 2012: 2-3. Web site. http://ncrb.nic.in/StatPublications/CII/CII2012/Compendium2012.pdf. Accessed August 10, 2016

Times of India. Ten bizarre comments on rape. Times News Network. June 8, 2014. Web site. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ india/10-bizarre-comments-on-rape/articleshow/36249990.cms. Accessed August 10, 2016

Pandey S. Cops refuse to register complaint of rape victim. Deccan Herald. Bangalore ed. 2016; 9. Web site. http://www.deccan-herald.com/content/562799/cops-refuse-register-complaint-rape.html. Accessed August 10, 2016

Shridhar P. The aftermath of rape. Femina. September 3, 2012. Web site. http://www.femina.in/women/the-aftermath-of-rape-435. html. Accessed August 10, 2016

Karat B. When a judge suggests a woman marry her rapist. Opinion, NDTV. July 1, 2015. Web site. http://www.ndtv.com/opin-ion/jayalalithaa-this-rape-victim-needs-your-attention-777041. Accessed August 10, 2016

Suman LN, Sesha BV. Loss, trauma and suicidal ideation among women living in a shelter. Indian J Clin Psychol. 2013; 40(1): 34-40. Web site. http://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:ijcp&volume=40&issue=1&article=006. Accessed August 10, 2016 Women Health Open J Page e5

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Published

2016-08-12

How to Cite

L. N. Suman, MPhil. (2016). The Stigma of Rape: Gendered Victimization. Women’s Health, e4 - e5. https://doi.org/10.17140/WHOJ-2-e005

Issue

Volume 2 Issue 1 2016

Section

Articles

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