General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why your childhood memories may not actually have happened. [View all]rgbecker
(4,890 posts)A study conducted in 1986 found that 63% of women who had suffered sexual abuse by a family member also reported a rape or attempted rape after the age of 14. Recent studies in 2000, 2002, and 2005 have all concluded similar results (page 8).
Children who had an experience of rape or attempted rape in their adolescent years were 13.7 times more likely to experience rape or attempted rape in their first year of college (page 9).
Why would a victim of sexual abuse by a family member report rape or attempted rape at such a higher portion than the population in general? And what is it about people who have experienced a rape as an adolescent that attracts rapists at college? Is there something about these people that attract rapists that the rapists pick up on? Is there some observable characteristic that could be isolated about these early childhood victims that could be used to identify them and get them protection or skills which would help them deal with their high level of attraction to rapists?
These statistics are frightening and there must be a way to use them to better society.