Human Sexuality Dark side of sex PDF

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this course revolves around issues regarding human sexuality...

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The Dark Side of Sex: Assault and Harassment Sexual Assault and Rape  The DSM-5 does not cover rape specifically, but mentions two primary paraphilic disorders of individuals who commit rape: o Frotteuristic disorder - Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving touching and rubbing against a nonconsenting person. o Sexual sadism is the condition of experiencing sexual arousal in response to the extreme pain, suffering or humiliation of others. Several other terms have been used to describe the condition, and the condition may overlap with other conditions that involve inflicting pain.  However, this description does not apply widely and researchers argue that rapists should be defined under the “unspecified paraphilic disorder”  Persons who commit sexual assault and rape do not seem to fit into any clear diagnostic category  It is unclear how many people engage in assault or what can be done in terms of treatment or other interventions  Canadian law emphasizes the violent nature of sexual assault and not specifically its sexual nature  Prior to 1983, rape was confined to a forced sexual act by a man on a woman outside marriage  Now the law includes marital rape, men as victims, and is not limited to sexual penetration Prevalence and Incidence of Sexual Assault  Violence against Women survey 1993, by Statistics Canada, found that 51 per cent of all Canadian women had been sexually or physically assaulted by a man at least once  In 2018, 3 in every 4 females have experienced some kind of physical and/or sexual abuse/assault once  Less than 10 per cent of assaults reported  Surveys of university men found that 25–57 per cent admitted to some form of sexual assault or manipulation to get sex Human Sex Trafficking  A form of slavery that includes buying, selling, and smuggling human beings and forcing them to perform sexual acts  In Canada, victims of sex trafficking can be found in strip clubs, massage parlours, escort agencies, or other avenues of sex work  RCMP report that 800–1200 people are trafficked in and through Canada each year Effects of Sexual Assault  One of the most severe forms of trauma  There is no set time to understand the impact of sexual assault or to recover from sexual assault  Persistent negative effects follow assault from an unknown or known perpetrator  Persistent negative effects follow assault from various forms of physical coercion or drug-assisted rapes  Rape trauma syndrome (RTS)

o Acute phase – immediately after assault and may last for one or two months – victim feels intense fear, anger, depression, disbelief, self-blame o Reorganizational phase – may last from months to years – victims attempt to take control, make positive changes  Some victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder Reasons for Sexual Assault  A wide variety of contextual factors can contribute to the occurrence of sexual assault  Those who commit assault appear to have certain trait characteristics (personality traits that are fixed) and state/dynamic characteristics (situational factors) Rape Myths  Common myths about rape are widely believed among old and young individuals  Some of these myths are used to legitimize rape, or can cause society not to view an assault for what it is  Most are false, but some contain a kernel of truth  Women cause men to assault them because of the way they look or dress  It is not sexual assault if the person is drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time of the assault  Rapists are non-white, lower class, “Criminal Types”  Women often make false reports of sexual assault  You can tell a rapist by how he looks  Sexual assault usually occurs outside at night  Sexual assault usually occurs between strangers  Sexual assault is an impulsive act motivated by lust  If the victim does not fight back, then she/he was not assaulted  A person cannot be assaulted by her, his, their partner Situational Characteristics  Sexual assaults are more likely to occur in private places, such as houses or parties where people are using drugs or alcohol  Sexual assaults are more likely to occur where the perpetrator is known to the victim  Sexual offenders are more likely to offend if they have access to victims, lack social support, and misuse drugs Personal Characteristics  97 per cent of individuals accused of sexual offenses in Canada were male  Five core dynamic risk factors of offenders: o Intimacy deficits o Offence-supportive social influences o Offence-supportive attitudes o Limited sexual self regulation o Limited general self regulation  Preventing sexual victimization against women: o Self-defense training o Assertiveness training o Verbal and physical resistance Practical Advice Following Sexual Assault  Provide support to the victim – rape is a crime  The victim is not to blame

Obtain medical assistance if necessary Forensic examination can provide key evidence and internal forensic samples can be collected within 72 hours  Medications can be taken within 72 hours to prevent pregnancy Legal Sanctions for Sexual Assault  Sexual assault – 18 months to 10 years and/or $5,000 fine  Sexual assault with a weapon – maximum penalty of 14 years  Aggravated sexual assault – maximum sentence of life in prison  In Canada, median sentence for sexual assault is 360 days, and for robbery it is 540 days Sexual Victimization of males  4–20 per cent of men have been sexually victimized  There is serious underreporting of male assault  It is possible for a man to be victimized by other men or by women, and to get a physical erection despite feeling fear or trauma  Effects of assault are very similar to females who have been assaulted Childhood Sexual Abuse  Canadian statutes in the Criminal Code of Canada that relate to sexual abuse of children  Child abuse has been related to higher rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, sexual dysfunction, and interpersonal problems in adulthood  Some abused individuals go on to become abusers themselves Sexual Harassment  Four definitions of harassment o Legal o Psychological or subjective o Behavioural o Sex-based  As an employee: o Canada Labour Code and Canadian Human Rights Code protect employees from harassment o Interferes with ability to do job o Surveys say it is very common to experience on-the-job harassment  As a student: o May involve an instructor proposing to alter a grade in exchange for sexual favours o Making sexually offensive remarks Reasons for Sexual Harassment  Sociocultural theory o Gender inequity and sexism in a society leads to harassment  Organizational theory o Power and status inequalities lead to harassment  Sex-Role Spillover Theory o Gender-based expectations on how males and females should behave in various settings  Natural/Biological Theory o Men have a strong drive to be sexually aggressive and are using their power to gain access to sex and procreation  

Four-Factor Theory o Four conditions must be present for harassment to occur o Better supported by research than other theories  Legal Sanctions o No incarceration o Fines up to $50,000 if found guilty of harassment Stalking  Known as criminal harassment in Canadian Criminal Code  Following, intimidating, or tracking another person against their will  12–16 per cent of women have been stalked during their lifetime, and 4–7 per cent of men  Characteristics of Stalkers o Three-quarters of stalkers are male o Older than other criminals, between 35 and 40 o Many have various psychological problems  Legal sanctions for Stalking o Imprisonment for a time not to exceed 10 years if found guilty of stalking o Peace bond o Restraining orders ...