Gender Based Violence on Campus

Why must Educational Institutes strive to create

safer campuses?

Why Campus assaults are a universities worst nightmare?

Students become victims and secondary victims

Threat to reputation and ranking Academic performance decreases Expensive lawsuits Downfall in admissions due to perceived

unsafe campus environment

What is this presentation about?

1. What is gender based violence2. The realities of GBV & crime3. Impacts of GBV on students & campus4. Vulnerability of students & under

reporting of GBV5. How to create a safer campus?6. How can I help?

What is gender based violence

1

What is gender based violence?

Gender-based violence (GBV) is any form of deliberate physical, psychological or sexual harm or threat of harm directed against a person on the basis of their gender.

GBV that involves physical violence could lead to a physical injury, from a simple wound to loss of body parts and even death.

Resource: Open Learn Lap Space http://labspace.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=450519&section=1.4

General crimes that we come across in everyday life

Assault

Sexual assault

Theft

Auto theft

Cyber crime

Identity theft / financial exploitation

Other crime

The realities of GBV & crime

2

The realities of crime

Men are more likely to be a victim of a violent crime than women.

Women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence.

College students experience high rates of violent victimization – approximately 5% of college women experience a sexual victimization each year.

Unlike many other crimes, “new” crimes like cybercrime are on the rise.

2010 Gallup Poll; Truman & Planty, 2012; Baum & Klaus, 2005; Fisher, Cullen, & Turner 2000

Impacts of GBV on students & the campus

Impacts & Effects

National Crime Victimization Resource Center, www.ncvc.org

Impacts in depth

1. The Personal Impact on Victimsa. Financial and

Physicalb. Psychological

and Emotionalc. Secondary

Victimization of a Victim

2. The Impact of Crime on Societya. Financial Costs(not discussed because it differs from place to

place)

a. Secondary Victims

Over 26 million people ages 12 and older were victims of crime:6.8 million in violent crimes

Over 19.6 million in property crimesConsequences can be immediate

and long term.

NCVS, 2008

Physical ConsequencesDeath – 2008: More than 14,000 people were victims of homicide

Injury– 36% of robbery and 23% of assault victims were injured

Illness– Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Psychosomatic illness

Injury: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2007

Financial Consequences• Healthcare– Medical and psychological treatment

• Lost Wages– Attendance and productivity can suffer

• Other Related Costs– Attorney fees, child care costs, moving expenses, changing

phone numbers, the loss or need to change employmentBureau of Justice Statistics, 2007

Emotional ConsequencesCommon reactions among victims:– Shock/Disbelief– Numbness– Changes in appetite or sleeping patterns– Difficulty concentrating– Confusion– Anger– Fear– Anxiety

Psychological ConsequencesPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)– Is a medical diagnosis (DSM V)– Re-experiencing of the traumatic event– Avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma – Increased arousal or anxiety– Stress and fearPTSD symptoms seem to be worse if they were triggered deliberately by

another person, as in a mugging or rape.

PTSD rates are higher with victims of violent crimes than other crimes.

• Possible clinical diagnoses of victims post-crime.• Fear can cause victims to make major lifestyle

changes. Examples: relocating, not working, or seeking new employment.

• Agoraphobia: intense fear of crowds and being alone in public places.

Self-isolation Refusal to leave their home or travel far from home Avoid crowded places

Depression &

Anxiety

Cognitive and

Behavioral Impact

Self-Blame and Attributions = Negative Self-Esteem

Carry weapons

Substance use and abuse

Antisocial behavior

Low work productivity

Nature of relationships with others

Negative response from family, friends or law enforcement.

♦ Were they made to feel blamed, at fault, responsible or that they used poor judgment or unnecessary risks?

Criminal justice process experience. Can influence a victim’s future willingness to report a

crime.

Secondary Victimization

Witnesses and those close to the victim may experience: Shock Anger Thoughts about the event Fear for the victim’s safety Be reminded of their own past traumas Having to help the victim with expenses related to

the crime

Secondary Victimization

Community fear due to awareness of crime in their neighborhood or region.

– People who live in the same neighborhood as the victim are just as likely to relocate as the victim.

– Victimization also can force victims to relocate or become homeless, increasing the need for society to provide services.

Impact on Communities

Victimization has immediate and long-term consequences.

Victims of crime can experience physical, financial, emotional, psychological, and spiritual consequences.

Victims can be re-victimized by the response of others and the criminal justice system.

Witnesses and those close to the victim can experience similar symptoms as “secondary victims”.

Crime is both financially and psychologically costly to society.

Points to Note

Did you know?

Crime victims are at a significantly

increased risk of missing substantial time from work and

school.

Crime victims struggle with unexpected financial burdens related to missed work time,

medical bills, lost or damaged property, and

legal fees.

Vulnerability of Students & Under

Reporting

Under- reporting of

crime

Over 50% of crimes are never reported to the police.

Thefts, assaults (without a weapon), and sexual assaults are among the most under-reported crimes.

These are among the crimes that happen the most to college-aged students.

Fisher, Cullen, & Turner, 2000

Why college students are vulnerable?

College students

are in one of

the highest risk

age groups for

violent

victimization.

They also are among the

least likely of any age

group to report their

victimization to authorities.

How to create a safer campus?

Creating a Safer Campus

As members of the campus community, we all play a part in making our campus and our community

safe.

One way to make our presence known and to make our community

safer is by learning some skills that will

help us in responding to victims of crime.

The Importance of Crime Reporting

A supportive response to a crime victim increases the likelihood that she or he will:

Report the crime to the authorities.

Seek legal and other types of help required.

Begin the emotional and psychological process of recovery.

Ahrens, Campbell, Ternier-Thames, Wasco, & Sefl 2007; Campbell 1999; Coyne & DeLongis 1986;

and Walsh, Banyard, Moynihan, Ward, & Cohn 2010

How can I help?

I

Few of my workshop activities include

Taking the Message Home

YOU can make a difference by caring for gender based crime victims by:

Being an ally for crime victims on campus.

Speaking out against crime victimization.

Being aware of and providing resources and information for crime victims on your campus.

Next Step…

If you would like to know more about my workshops or my availability for

speaking engagements, please get in touch

Acknowledgment

These materials were largely excerpted from materials prepared by the University of Massachusetts/Lowell under grant number 2009-VF-GX-K006, awarded by the

Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice and are used here by (insert name of person, company, agency or University)

with acknowledgement to the University of Massachusetts/Lowell and the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in the materials are those of the

University of Massachusetts/Lowell and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.