THIS BOOK IS BASED ON THE PHILADELPHIA SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVEY OF 1,401 WOMEN OF ALL AGES WHO REPORTED A RAPE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT TO PHILADELPHIA AUTHORITIES BETWEEN APRIL 1, 1973, AND JUNE 30, 1974.
ATTEMPTED AND STATUTORY RAPE CASES WERE INCLUDED IN THIS STUDY DESIGNED FOR RAPE VICTIMS AND THEIR COUNSELORS, INCLUDING SOCIAL WORKERS, RAPE CRISIS CENTER STAFF, AND PSYCHIATRISTS. FEMALE SOCIAL WORKERS CONDUCTED INITIAL AND FOLLOWUP INTERVIEWS WITH 790 WOMEN, AND PSYCHIATRISTS CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS WITH 331 WOMEN OR 41.9 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE. OTHER DATA WERE DRAWN FROM POLICE FILES, EYEWITNESS ACOUNTS OF 25 RAPE CASES, AND A COMPARISON OF THE STUDY'S FINDINGS WITH THOSE OF NATIONAL STUDIES AND OTHER RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. AMONG THE FINDINGS WERE THE AGE, MARRIAGE, EMPLOYMENT, VICTIM HISTORY, AND KIND OF RAPE AFFECTED POSTRAPE ADJUSTMENT; THAT POLICE SUPPORT WAS INFLUENCED BY THE PRESENCE OF A POLICEWOMAN, VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONSHIP, VICTIM HISTORY AND APPEARANCE, AND RACE; AND THAT CASE OUTCOME WAS RELATED TO VICTIM HISTORY, RACE OF JUDGE AND VICTIM, KIND OF TRIAL AND RAPE, AND TYPE OF REPORTING. POSTRAPE ADJUSTMENT PATTERNS IN EATING, SLEEPING, AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR ARE DESCRIBED AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF RAPE ON THE VICTIM'S HOME LIFE AND MARITAL RELATIONSHIP. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE TO RAPE IS REVIEWED, AND THE SURVEY'S MAJOR FINDINGS ARE REITERATED. CHAPTER NOTES AND 39 TABLES ARE ATTACHED. (AOP)