Researchers at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) say that the vast majority of unwanted sexual experiences suffered by students are perpetrated by someone the victim knows, in direct contrast to the stereotype of the perpetrator being a stranger. The research paper, "Unwanted Sexual Experiences at UNH", is the third wave of ongoing research at UNH about unwanted sexual experiences of students. More than 2,400 undergraduate students were surveyed for the report. "The college experience is a time of excitement and exploration for our undergraduates, most of whom are living away from home for the first time. This latest report demonstrates that we need, however, to continue to educate our students and the university community about the potential dangers that they may face," UNH President Mark Huddleston said.
The researchers found that overall, unwanted sexual contact occurs where the students live, in the context of social events, and that alcohol is frequently involved. But the most worrying aspect of the report is that the vast majority of incidents occur between students and a perpetrator who is an acquaintance. Of the female victims surveyed, 85 percent reported that someone they know committed the unwanted sexual intercourse.
"Colleges and universities around the country find this same percentage, yet the stereotype remains that the perpetrator is a stranger. We need to continue to educate the campus community that acquaintances are most likely to be the perpetrators against women," the report noted. Of the women surveyed, the researchers estimated that about half of the incidents involved force or the threat of force.
"Unwanted sexual experiences are not solely the result of lack of knowledge of consent or problems with miscommunication," according to report co-author Sally Ward. "Unwanted sexual experiences occur in a variety of contexts across campus, so efforts to continue to address the problem must be directed at this variety of contexts. There is no simple answer."
While the report noted that there were similarities in the unwanted sexual experiences for men and women, there were also contrasts:
- The association of alcohol to an unwanted sexual experience is higher for women.
- Women tend to be victimized by an acquaintance or friend while men are victimized by a date or romantic partner.
- Male victims are more likely than females to be victimized by a same-sex perpetrator.
Although incidents of unwanted contact and intercourse declined from 1988 to 2000, since 2000 there has been little change in the percentage of students reporting these experiences, prompting the researchers to call for new and creative solutions to the problem.
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Source: University of New Hampshire
