Worrying attitudes to sexual violence among students revealed

Image: www.galwayrcc.org

A report into the opinions of Irish third level students has uncovered worrying trends in the attitudes to sexual violence in society. The report entitled “Attitudes to Sexual Violence” is due to be released in the coming months and explores the misconceptions among students to 8 common rape myths.

The Sexual Violence Centre Cork carried out the survey which comprised of almost 3,000 responses from NUI Galway, University College Cork and 20 other third levels institutions across the country. Those surveyed ranged from first years right up to and including Masters students. However, Mary Crilly, Director of the centre confirmed that in general interest and follow up from students unions around the country was poor.  

The report revealed the shocking figure that between 40% - 50% of the male students surveyed believe that many women “claim rape if they have consented to sexual relationships but have changed their minds afterwards” and that “women often claim rape to protect their reputations”.

A further finding which highlights the importance of protests like the Slut walk held by the students union and the feminist society is that 1 in 3 students believe that if a woman goes out at night alone or wears provocative clothing puts herself in a position to be raped. This is a misconception which movements such as the Slut walk are working to dispel from Irish society.

Beyond this report, recent figures from Galway Rape Crisis Centre revealed that in 2010 621 people contacted the center. This is an increase of almost 20% on 2009 figures. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) reports an average of 2000 rapes/sexual assaults each year yet this figure does not take into account the reality that much of the figures are hidden due to a lack of reporting of sexual violence and abuse to the Gardaí.

One positive indication from this survey is that this trend of under reporting of abuse may be slowly changing. Up to 60% of students surveyed indicated that they would report abuse to the Gardaí.

Although the survey found that overall there is a “non-acceptance” of rape myths among Irish students the findings nonetheless are a source of deep concern. The misconceptions around sexual violence among the college students surveyed, indicates a lack of education among young Irish people surrounding the issue of sexual violence.

On the 15^th of October the fund raiser “A night for Manuela” will be held in memory of 17 year old Swiss student Manuela Riedo, who was brutally raped and murdered in Galway in 2007. The event will take place in The Salthill Hotel and tickets are €20. Frances Black, Niamh Kavangah, Don Stiffe and Crystal Swing are among the line-up for the night. See www.anightformauela.com for more details and tickets.

Galway Rape Crisis Ceter www.galwayrcc.org