A survey released yesterday confirms anew that sexual assault on college campuses is a problem for a staggeringly huge number of women.
The survey, conducted by the Association of American Universities, polled 150,000 students at 27 colleges across the country, where 23.1 percent of female undergrads and 5.4 percent of male undergrads said they were victims of nonconsensual sexual contact due to physical force, threats, or incapacitation through drugs or alcohol.
Rates of sexual assault and misconduct were the highest among undergraduate cisgender women, and also among transgender and gender non-conforming students. And the risk of nonconsensual contact due to physical force was highest among freshmen and declined from there.
Only a small fraction—28 percent—of these incidents are reported, either to the school or to police. More than half of victims say they didn't report because it wasn't "serious enough," and many students said they were too embarrassed or ashamed to speak up, or didn't think anything would be done to help them.
Just yesterday, Harvard University released a report revealing a "troubling" climate of sexual assault on their own campus—16 percent of senior undergraduate females reported experiencing assault during their years there.
Enough already. Let's hope being stared in the face by such infuriating statistics will finally make it stop.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Megan Friedman is the former managing editor of the Newsroom at Hearst. She's worked at NBC and Time, and is a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.
-
All the Easter Eggs and Name Drops on Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department,' Explained
Digging through the fan theories so you don't have to.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
This Week's Best On-Sale Picks Include a Tory Burch Bag and Pretty Silver Ballet Flats
Warm weather is finally here—it's time to dress like it.
By Brooke Knappenberger Published
-
A Sporty It-Sneaker Era Is About to Begin
Nike's next Air models are designed for Olympic athletes, but they'll soon be all over street style.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
The Best Bollywood Movies of 2023 (So Far)
Including one that just might fill the Riverdale-shaped hole in your heart.
By Andrea Park Published
-
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ 2023: Everything We Know
Cue up Mike Reno and Ann Wilson’s “Almost Paradise."
By Andrea Park Last updated
-
Who Is Gerry Turner, the ‘Golden Bachelor’?
The Indiana native is the first senior citizen to join Bachelor Nation.
By Andrea Park Last updated
-
‘Virgin River’ Season 6: Everything We Know
Here's everything we know on the upcoming episodes.
By Andrea Park Last updated
-
The 60 Best Musical Movies of All Time
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
By Amanda Mitchell Last updated
-
'Ginny & Georgia' Season 2: Everything We Know
Netflix owes us answers after that ending.
By Zoe Guy Last updated
-
35 Nude Movies With Porn-Level Nudity
Lots of steamy nudity ahead.
By Kayleigh Roberts Last updated
-
The Cast of 'The Crown' Season 5: Your Guide
The Mountbatten-Windsors have been recast—again.
By Andrea Park Published