Title: Sexual Assault Remains Dramatically Underreported | Brennan Center for Justice
Headings: Sexual Assault Remains Dramatically Underreported
Sexual Assault Remains Dramatically Underreported
Content: Twenty percent, according to the DOJ report, worry about retaliation — not just from the perpetrator, but from society at large. Thirteen percent said they think the police would not do anything to help. Tragically, 8 percent said they didn’t think the rape or sexual assault was important enough to report. Sexual assault survivors struggle with a wide range of emotions that make coming forward difficult: fear of revictimization, distortion of allegations, and generally not being believed. As psychotherapist Beverly Engel puts it, “victims are often too ashamed to come forward. Sexual assault is a very humiliating and dehumanizing act against someone.” Why do victims often blame themselves? Engel continues: “ [ A]ttached to that shame is a lot of self-blame [. . .]