Socially sexual assault

This reflection highlights some of the thoughts about the wide spread social issue of sexual assault, in the contemporary Australia, through the feminism paradigm and Christian Worldview. I had, before examining the data about sexual assault, thought that sexual assault although appalling, was few and far in between. Examining the issue through sociological research illuminated the severity of the issue and its impact on the society. Through the process of the research, I realised that feminism has done much for the society, especially in the area of criminal rape law reformation. However, I am not sure if Christianity has done anything as significant in this area.

According to the Crime Victimisation Survey, Australia 2010-2011, about 54,900 Australians over age 18 years had been the victims of sexual assault in the 12 months previous to interview (Tarczon & Quadara, 2012, p. 6). The Recorded Crime – Victims data (2011) demonstrated that “85% of victims who reported sexual assault to police were female”. This information along with other data challenged my perception that sexual assault was few and far in between. Data reports on sexual assault frequently pointed out that sexual assault was under reported. My unrealistic view of the extent of sexual assault incidences likely demonstrates the feminist view that there continues to be stigma over women who have been sexually assaulted.

Professor of Law, University of Iowa, Aya Gruber in her thesis about rape and feminism presented the shift of the criminal rape laws through feminist intervention. She suggested that rape law, historically was not to protect women but to protect chastity of white woman. Women who reported rape had to prove that they put up a death fight to protect their chastity (2009, pp. 581 - 658). However, in contemporary Australia with reformed rape law, where resistance requirement have been removed, women no longer have to prove their chastity to get their cases heard.

Personally, I have not heard any messages about prevention or solution for sexual assault from the pulpit. The only message I have heard, in the five years a Christian, was a message preached by Joyce Meyer during Hillsong Conference 2012. Her message was about her process of forgiving and loving her father the perpetrator. Although there is tremendous healing power in receiving unconditional love, I wonder if the Church can develop more proactive strategies towards sexual assault.

             

References:

Gruber, A. (2009) Rape, feminism, and the war on crime from Washington Law Review, 84(581), pp. 581-658. Retrieved 7 October 2013, from http://digital.law.washington.edu/ dspace-law/bitstream/handle/1773.1/175/ Gruber_Author%20Copy.pdf?sequence=1. USA : Washington Law Review Association.

Meyer, J. (2012) Sermons [conference recordings]. Sydney : Hillsong.

Tarczon, C. & Quadara, A. (2012) The nature and extent of sexual assault and abuse in Australia from ACSSA Resource Sheet. Retrieved 7 October 2013, from http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/sheets/rs5/index.html. Australia : Australian Institute of Family Studies.

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