NCJ Number
72995
Journal
Victimology Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (1979) Pages: 140-150
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study characterized the experience of being victimized by reported or unreported, and completed or uncompleted, sexual assault among urban female hospital personnel.
Abstract
A total of 6,807 women, employees of 8 different hospitals, were surveyed by means of a standardized questionnaire, and their responses were studied to determine their characteristics and that of the social environment that related to the sexual assault. A total of 2,329 women completed the survey. Each reported the following background information with respect to sexual assault: risk exposure, anxiety or apathy, anticipated aggressive or passive reactions to assault, and anticipated reporting behavior. Subjects experiencing either reported or unreported sexual assault at any time also completed a section labeled the 'Sexual Assault Inventory' which sought to ascertain the prevalence of a wide variety of background and situational factors which predispose toward sexual assault and reporting the event. Patterns of emotional reaction to this experience were also examined. Findings indicate that victimization by sexual assault among female hospital personnel was not infrequent; a number of victims had been assaulted more than once. Moreover, the majority of sexual assaults were not reported to the police. Attitudes toward and anticipated reactive behavior in response to sexual assault were related to certain background variables, current risk of exposure to sexual assault, and previous victimization experience. The majority of victims' assailants were not apprehended by the police. Although many women expressed intentions of resisting assault, few were trained in self-defense or carried a weapon. Effective forms of resistance to an attacker were struggling and running. Tabular data and six references are included.