Rape as a public health issue

Some people may be surprised that I am discussing rape on a bioethics blog because they do not think that sexual violence is a bioethics issue. However, rape is a public health matter that raises serious ethical concerns, especially regarding justice and equality. The goal of public health is to protect and improve the lives of the public. Rape harms many people especially women: 1 out of 6 women and 1 out of 33 men in the United States will experience a rape or attempted rape (Esposito 2006). The act of rape can cause various immediate health concerns such as general body trauma (e.g. bruises, lacerations, broken bones, etc.), STI exposure, and unintentional pregnancy. Rape also has long-term health consequences for survivors both psychologically and physiologically. Rape survivors frequently experience depression, anxiety, PTSD, and negative sexuality issues. Furthermore, sexual violence has been connected to health problems for survivors across almost all body systems (e.g. gastrointestinal, cardiopulmonary, etc.) (Wasco 2003). Rape is not only harmful to its victims, but rape culture has a toxic effect on women as a group. Rape culture perpetuates an oppressive patriarchal system in which women are sexually objectified and devalued. Furthermore, rape culture leads women to live in constant fear about their physical safety because they are worried that they will be victims of sexual assault. Feelings of objectification and devaluation as well as anxiety regarding one...
Source: blog.bioethics.net - Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Tags: Health Care gender Law Enforcement Sex and Sexuality syndicated Source Type: blogs