Victimization of girls and women is an ongoing problem in our society. Despite the advances women have made in the workplace, in education and in economic development, there is a growing sector of girls and women who are isolated from these successes and who have difficulty accessing necessary information and services. Without these services, the children they bear and raise are likely to perpetuate the cycle of abuse and victimization.
iolence and harassment are continuous problems in schools and in the community, yet adults often view it as a rite of passage, and harmless, or they feel helpless to intervene. Most girls who are involved with juvenile justice report ongoing assault, domestic violence or abuse in their home and community. Some girls even choose to be arrested, finding the juvenile justice system a safe haven away from the abuse. Violence against women can often be subtle and covert, as when a partner prevents a girl from having access to the phone or isolates her from friends. The following are quotes from girls about their experiences with harassment and dating violence.
Long-term effects of victimization
We live in a society rife with beliefs and images that degrade and brutalize women. A popular video game awards extra points to players who rape and then beat a prostitute. Music videos feature fully dressed men surrounded by numerous highly sexualized and nearly nude women. Popular media offers limited and formulaic images of women and girls that look remarkably doll-like—straight long hair (preferably blond), full pouty lips, big eyes and a busty chest atop a remarkably otherwise boyish figure. Is it any wonder, then, that 76 percent of boys and 56 percent of girls surveyed believed that forced sex was acceptable under some conditions?
Need to reduce prevalence or seriousness of victimization
There is an urgent need for intervention to reduce the prevalence and seriousness of victimization and violence. Victimization experiences often have profoundly negative mental and physical health outcomes, including substance abuse, early sexual activity and pregnancy, long-lasting mental health issues and reliance on government social service programs. Prevention and early intervention activities have the potential to reduce long-term use of mental health treatment, substance abuse intervention and social service programs, to improve the lives of females and to move the culture toward a more peaceful model of interaction and relationships. Substantial service gaps exist, and programs are inadequately evaluated.
iolence and harassment are continuous problems in schools and in the community, yet adults often view it as a rite of passage, and harmless, or they feel helpless to intervene. Most girls who are involved with juvenile justice report ongoing assault, domestic violence or abuse in their home and community. Some girls even choose to be arrested, finding the juvenile justice system a safe haven away from the abuse. Violence against women can often be subtle and covert, as when a partner prevents a girl from having access to the phone or isolates her from friends. The following are quotes from girls about their experiences with harassment and dating violence.
Long-term effects of victimization
We live in a society rife with beliefs and images that degrade and brutalize women. A popular video game awards extra points to players who rape and then beat a prostitute. Music videos feature fully dressed men surrounded by numerous highly sexualized and nearly nude women. Popular media offers limited and formulaic images of women and girls that look remarkably doll-like—straight long hair (preferably blond), full pouty lips, big eyes and a busty chest atop a remarkably otherwise boyish figure. Is it any wonder, then, that 76 percent of boys and 56 percent of girls surveyed believed that forced sex was acceptable under some conditions?
Need to reduce prevalence or seriousness of victimization
There is an urgent need for intervention to reduce the prevalence and seriousness of victimization and violence. Victimization experiences often have profoundly negative mental and physical health outcomes, including substance abuse, early sexual activity and pregnancy, long-lasting mental health issues and reliance on government social service programs. Prevention and early intervention activities have the potential to reduce long-term use of mental health treatment, substance abuse intervention and social service programs, to improve the lives of females and to move the culture toward a more peaceful model of interaction and relationships. Substantial service gaps exist, and programs are inadequately evaluated.
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