COMPLICATING FACTORS IN RAPE - ADOLESCENT CASE ILLUSTRATIONS (FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, 1978 BY A W BURGESS, A N GROTH, L L HOLMSTROM, AND S M SGROI - SEE NCJ-45153)

• NCJ Number: 45157
• Author(s): A W BURGESS; L L HOLMSTROM
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 23 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CASE STUDIES OF ADOLESCENT VICTIMS OF RAPE ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE COMPLICATING FACTORS IN THE RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME.

Abstract

OFTEN THE RAPE SITUATION IS COMPLICATED FOR ADOLESCENT VICTIMS IN THAT THEY ARE RAPED BY THEIR PEERS, OFTEN BY SOMEONE FROM THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. MANY ADOLESCENT VICTIMS ALSO FACE MULTIPLE ASSAILANTS, EITHER A PAIR OR A GROUP OF ADOLESCENT MALES. SOMETIMES ADOLESCENT OFFENDERS HAVE A SPECIFIC LOCATION WHERE THEY RAPE THEIR VICTIMS, E.G., AN EMPTY APARTMENT IN A HOUSING PROJECT. OTHER COMPLICATING FACTORS COME INTO PLAY WHEN THE VICTIM SUFFERS FROM A PHYSICAL OR SOCIAL HANDICAP. THE NEWS THAT AN ADOLESCENT FAMILY MEMBER HAS BEEN RAPED USUALLY TRIGGERS AN EMOTIONAL REACTION IN OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, WHOSE RESPONSE MAY BE EITHER A CONSISTENTLY OR INTERMITTENTLY SUPPORTIVE STANCE OR AN UNSUPPORTIVE STANCE. CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATING VARIATIONS OF THE MULTIPLE-ASSAILANT RAPE, THE 'NEIGHBORHOOD' RAPE, AND THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF HANDICAPPED VICTIMS ARE PRESENTED, TOGETHER WITH ILLUSTRATIONS OF VARIOUS FAMILY RESPONSES TO THE RAPE OF AN ADOLESCENT FAMILY MEMBER. COUNSELING APPROACHES THAT HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH COMPLICATING FACTORS IN ADOLESCENT RAPE CASES ARE NOTED. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE PROBLEMS POSED BY ADOLESCENT VICTIMS FROM MINORITY ETHNIC GROUPS. HERE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER MAY PLACE THE VICTIM AT A DISADVANTAGE IN THAT SHE CANNOT RELATE THE DETAILS OF THE RAPE. IN ADDITION, THE CULTURAL MEANING OF THE RAPE MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY UNDERSTOOD BY THE COUNSELOR.