Rape is one of the forms of sexual assaults that may happen to either women or men of any age. Usually, it is an unwanted and forced act. This is a crime that may be committed by different people: strangers, relatives, dates, etc. No matter where and how rape takes place, it is rather traumatizing to women, men, boys, and girls who have been raped.
This is why they need care, support, help, and necessary treatment. Date rape is one of the kinds of rape that happens between people who know each other and have either sexual or platonic relations. This sexual assault usually happens at dates this is why it is called date rape. The rapist can be a victim’s friend, boy/girlfriend, or acquaintance.
It can be either planned or spontaneous. This is why it is not that easy to know for sure who can be a rape victim and when and where the sexual assault may happen. Date rape cannot be called an act of sex. It is mostly an act of violence where sex serves as a weapon in order to gain power over another person, the victim. To help and prevent people against date rapes, the problem of date rape may be examined by means of the SARA model, which is Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment.
The SARA model is one of the problem-solving models that have been successfully applied by numerous police departments. However, people can also use this approach in order to strength their own training and solve different problems. Date rape is a domestic crime, it is a huge problem to lots of people (boys, girls, men, and women), and it needs to be solved somehow.
The SARA model is a problem-solving approach that helps to reduce the impact of domestic crime and other problems appeared as a result of date rapes. This model consists of several components: scanning, analysis, response, and assessment. Date rapes may be analyzed from these four perspectives in order to help victims to understand that it is not their fault and show what measures need to be taken to overcome the stress and other difficulties after a person has been raped.
The first element of the SARA model is scanning. At this stage, there is nothing extra-difficult. During the scanning of date rape, it is necessary to identify the problem, its consequences, urgency, and frequency. “For a secular-liberal philosopher of sexuality, rape is the paradigmatically morally wrong sexual act, in which one person forces himself or herself on another or uses threats to coerce another to engage in sexual activity” (Power & Soble, 2007).
Lots of date rape victims think that it is their fault, that this date rape happens because they have said or done something wrong. Due to this misunderstanding or just because of a simple fear to betray and lose a friend or a boy/girlfriend, about “60% of rapes/sexual assaults are not reported to the police.” (Denim Day, 2008). It is crucially important to understand that the blame lies only with the rapist. No one has such a right to have sex and, even more, force to have sex with a person without a will.
Date rape is usually a kind of domestic crime. It has been stated that “15% of sexual assault and rape victims are under age 12” (Denim Day, 2008). Children cannot understand what is really happening and what needs to be done. They trust someone who is older, and become rape victims without even guessing what it is.
This is what the second component of the SARA model, analysis, is all about. The analysis of date rapes helps to understand why the crime happens and what the conditions are. As a rule, the reasons for date rapes are alcohol, drugs, personal disbalance, or life discontent. Usually, at dates, men/boys prefer to use some alcohol to relax a bit. Drunk men/boys may simply rape their own wives/dates, and children against the will.
Sometimes, men think that women’s NO seems like YES but a bit later or MAYBE. However, if a woman says NO and repeats it for several times, it cannot be interpreted any other way. It is also important to add that children and women are not the only date rape victims. “Males are the least likely to report a sexual assault, though they make up about 10% of all victims”. (Denim Day, 2008)
“After a problem has been clearly defined and analyzed, police officers confront the challenge of developing a plausibly effective response. The development of appropriate responses is closely linked with the analysis that is performed.” (Braga, 2008) According to this scheme, it is also possible to solve the problem of date rape. The purposes of the third element of the SARA model, response, are to choose an alternative method, to outline a response plan, and to search for the communities with the similar problems.
One of the first things that any person, who has been raped, should do is to visit a medical expert. There are many medical centers, which provide rape victims with the necessary help, support, and care. First, it is necessary to check the victim for possible sexuality transmitted diseases. It is very easy to catch some venereal disease or internal injures.
This is why it is better to visit a doctor without changing clothes and washing. For many women and girls, it is not that easy not to clean up and change clothes, however, such activity will help medical experts provide the victim with the better treatment and pay attention to every injured place. Young people are afraid to visit doctors and share their problems with someone else, as they do not want their parents and friends get to know about the accident.
However, it is better to chase all fears and be ready to get the necessary help and treatment. Second, medical experts will help to not only identify and treat the possible venereal diseases but also prevent unwanted and early pregnancy. This is a plan that should be used after the sexual assault. Now, it is necessary to talk about the measures that should be taken to prevent another date rape and be ready to defend.
To avoid date rapes, it is possible not to stay alone with the person whom you do not really trust, have various means of protection (for example, a spray can), and a phone at hand. It is also possible to visit some training courses to be ready to fight against the rapist.
People should not deny themselves dates, new meetings, and acquaintance with new people. It is just necessary to remember about the means of protections and be ready to use them.
The last component of the SARA model is assessment. “Assessment is the culmination of the evaluation process and represents the final stage where it is determined whether the targeted problem changed as a result of the implemented responses and decisions are made about continuing the response.” (Braga, 2008) Every rape victim copes with after-rape stress in different ways.
Some people prefer to talk to social therapists one-on-one. The other people prefer to join a support group in order to discuss the problems together – this allows not only getting help but also providing the others with the necessary support and sharing personal experience. Any way, these methods help to get life power back and move on further. At such meetings, it is possible to check the effectiveness of possible protection methods, check the readiness for another date rape, and be protected.
“Rape is a crime of entitlement not evolution, of opportunity not imperatives, of permission not passion.” (Travis, 2003) This is a huge problem of modern society. Scientists and medical experts try to find the best solution day by day. The SARA model is one of the solving-problem approaches that help to understand the reasons and the urgency of rapes, date rapes in particular.
The major components of this method are scanning, analysis, response, and assessment. They describe exactly what steps should be taken in order not only to survive after the rape but also prevent another similar sexual assault. The SARA model is rather simple and effective. With the help of this model, date rape victims, who do not want to share their troubles with other people, can find the answers to lots of questions.
Reference List
Braga, A. A. (2008). Problem-Oriented Policing and Crime Prevention. Criminal Justice Press.
Denim Day 2008: Rape and Sexual Assault Fact Sheet (2008) Web.
Power, N., Soble, A. (2007). The Philosophy of Sex. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.
Travis, C. B. (2003). Evolution, Gender, and Rape. Massachusetts: MIT Press.