Correlation Between Sexual Assault and Fraternities on College Campuses
An estimated between 20% and 25% of college women in the United States are sexually assaulted during their time in college. Researchers have argued the social climate on college campuses creates and maintains rape culture. As students who attend college, we hear about sexual assault, we do small modules through the Cal State system and we watch a video about offering someone tea. Are these measures effective? No. Sexual assault still occurs on campuses, but specifically in fraternity houses.
On college campuses, fraternity houses are claimed to be dangerous places for women. During the first couple of weeks at college when students are living in the dorms and most of them are away from home on their own for the first time. This is when the “Red Zone” time period of the semester begins and usually doesn’t until Thanksgiving break. The Red Zone is the time period during a college semester when women are at high risk for sexual assault (mostly freshman and sophomores). During the Red Zone, the time period is also the rushing process for fraternities and sororities, therefore, there are a lot of parties taking place hosted by fraternities.
Fraternities have a culture of privilege on campus since there is a culture of protection made to serve as shelter from fraternity members from being held responsible for their actions and sexual assault allegations. Fraternities hold a place of privilege on college campuses since they have access to and control party spaces. They host the parties at their houses that way they can control what everyone is drinking, who is coming in, and the vibe of the party. The members of the house also control the access to alcohol everyone has so they are continuously refilling girls’ drinks. Now once alcohol or drugs are consumed at one of these fraternity parties, if a female student is sexually assaulted, she is the one held responsible rather than the fraternity members who held the party.
As college students, we claim we aren’t as likely to victim blame as others may since we have a different perspective. However, victim blame occurs on campuses more than we think. Compared to victims who didn’t consume alcohol in the time period of their assault, victims who did consume alcohol were held responsible for their own sexual assault. That’s when the saying, “She knew how much she was drinking, what did she think was going to happen?” or “Why did she drink so much if she didn’t want it?” are made by acquaintances and/ or participants to help shift the focus from the perpetrator to the victim.
Now let’s examine both participants in a sexual assault scenario where drugs and alcohol are both incapacitating factors. If the perpetrator has consumed drugs or alcohol, society is quick to excuse him because he “was not in the right mindset” therefore he is excused since he could not control his actions. However, if the victim had consumed drugs or alcohol, victims are blamed for putting themselves in harm’s way.
References:
Seabrook, Rita C, & Ward, L Monique. (2019). Bros Will Be Bros? The Effect of Fraternity Membership on Perceived Culpability for Sexual Assault. Violence Against Women, 25(12), 1471–1490. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801218820196
Flack, William F, Caron, Marcia L, Leinen, Sarah J, Breitenbach, Katherine G, Barber, Ann M, Brown, Elaine N, Gilbert, Caitlin T, Harchak, Taylor F, Hendricks, Melissa M, Rector, Catherine E, Schatten, Heather T, & Stein, Heather C. (2008). “The Red Zone” Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23(9), 1177–1196. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260508314308
