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Ysabelle Halemano
Mr. Smith
Writing for College
11 November 2016
It Happens Every Day: Whats Being Done to Prevent Sexual Assaults Aimed at Women
Introduction
By the time you finish reading this paper, about five women will have been raped
somewhere in America. Whether we are aware of it or not, we all know someone who has been
raped or sexually assaulted. Every one in five women will be raped at some point in their life.
So, what should be done and is being done to protect women from rape and sexual violence? The
answer is clear, people can work to help victims get the justice they deserve, help keep women
safe with innovative inventions, making the event of rape easier to report, and create educational
programs based on consent.
Sexual violence and rape are a hot topic in which I feel strongly about. I believe that
women deserve to have protection and should be treated with respect. Women should be able to
walk around and not have to worry when a man is walking in the same direction. This topic is
very important to me because I, myself, know people who have been sexually assaulted, raped,
and even Roofied. All people need to be educated about consent and rape in order for rape cases
to diminish; no means no. Women who are in the state of unconsciousness or are drugged/drunk,
are in no right mind to offer consent. Through research, I will be showing you what has been

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done, what is being done, and what needs to be done in order to keep women safe, educate the
uneducated, and give victims the justice that they deserve.
Justice
Throughout all the protest and rallies, most victims still do not get the justice they
deserve. Statistics show that one in five women in college are raped, and only ten percent of
those rapes are reported. Of that ten percent, only six percent of rapists will be convicted, which
means that most rapists have about a 99% chance of getting away with it. We must do more to
give victims the justice they deserve.
If youve heard of the University of Stanfords ex-student Brock Turner, then you know
of at least one of many cases in which the rape victim does not get the justice they deserve, and
the rapist gets off easy. In his case, Brock Turner was found guilty of raping and sexually
assaulting an unconscious woman, assault with the intent to commit rape, and even penetrating
the victim with foreign objects. Turner was convicted of three felonies which usually end up with
at least one year jail-time for each conviction in which he was found guilty of. He was on trial
for a fourteen-year prison sentence, which was then dropped to six year sentence and finally
concluded to only six months of which he served only half. Assemblyman Evan Low emphasizes
that, Rape is Rape, and rapists like Brock Turner shouldnt be let off with a slap on the wrist
(D-Silicon Valley). Although this is true, Brock Turners judge, Judge Persky, made a judgment
based off of his discretion that was legal. Due to the Turners controversial case, a bill is being
passed in California which ensures that anyone convicted of sexual assault cannot be sentenced
to probation. Sexually assaulting an unconscious or intoxicated victim is a terrible crime and
our laws need to reflect that, said Bill Dodd, who helped introduce the bill. Letting felons
convicted of such crimes get off with probation discourages other survivors from coming

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forward and sends the message that raping incapacitated victims is no big deal. The bill isnt all
about sentencing, its about supporting the victims and showing them that they are safe and
believed in. If we portray this and help victims, more will come out about their story and not hide
it away. The problem is, this bill was on passed in the state of California, but what about the
other 49 states? If other states can not do this, then victims will not want to come out about their
rape experience because theyre afraid it wont give them any justice. In term, this means that
more rapist will continue to live amongst us and we wont even be aware of it.
Some rape victims dont get the same amount of justice as other victims because they
may have been intoxicated or unconscious. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen
spoke about the justice unconscious victims do not receive, using rhetorical questions: Why
under the law is the sexual assault of an unconscious woman less terrible than that of a conscious
woman? Is it less degrading? Less traumatic? Lets say someone has a dog. The dog dies while
they are sleeping and they wake up to a dead dog. Is this any less traumatic or tragic than if they
were awake and their dog suddenly fell into a sleep and wouldnt wake up? The same goes for
rape. The victim of Brock Turner wrote a twelve-page letter about her horrifying experience,
how she didnt know what happened to her, how she found out about her story at the same time
the whole world did, and how Turner's attorney tried to pin everything on her. My damage was
internal, unseen, I carry it with me. You took away my worth, my privacy, my energy, my time,
my safety, my intimacy, my confidence, my own voice, until now, the victim spoke about her
unconscious violation side effects and how her life has changed a year later. All victims deserve
justice.
Many people arent aware of the laws and cases that prevent women from getting the
justice they deserve. Current law actually incentivizes rapists to get their victims intoxicated

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before assaulting them. While we cant go back and change what happened, we can make sure it
never happens again, says Bill Dod. Due to certain laws, many women who were assaulted
while unconscious, will not receive justice and their rapist will be let off with a slap on the wrist
or no jail time at all. The laws could possibly cause men to rape more unconscious women
because they will get away with less jail time. In other cases, the CPS will only take a case to
court if it has a reasonable chance of conviction." This means that those cases that fit the
stereotype - such as stranger rapes - take precedence over the more commonplace ones. Yet often
women say that being raped by a man they love and trust hurts more than being attacked by a
man they will never see again, Julie Bindel makes clear of the harsh conditions. Julie also gives
us an example of this unfair justice system by stating that, almost a third of reported cases
recorded by police as no crime should have been properly investigated as rape and that if a
man rapes a woman then he has, on average, a less than 1% chance of being convicted. Laws
need to be changed in order to help victims get the justice they deserve and help them come out
about their story.
If we do not do something to help victims of sexual assault receive the justice they
deserve, more women will not report their story and more rapist will be let off with no
consequences. Enough is enough. Rape is rape whether the victim is conscious or unconscious,
sober or drunk, and naked or dressed. All sexuall assault victims deserve equal justice. We must
dispose of the laws that allow rapist or sexual assaulters to be let off easily. Police must take in
all cases of any sort of sexual assault in order for there to be any justice for victims. More must
be done to give victims the justice they deserve.

New Protections

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About 45 percent of women feel unsafe walking alone at night. Is this the way we want
women to feel? Because of some people who have noticed that women are unsafe, things like
drug-detecting nail polish has been developed, and apps that send help when it is needed.
Besides justice, inventions that could protect women are exactly what women need.
Imagine being stylish on a night at the club, and being safe. Thanks to three male college
students, thats exactly what we can do. Gail Sullivan, a writer for The Washington Post, informs
us about a nail polish called Undercover Colors that changes color in the presence of common
date rape drugs like Rohypnol, Xanax, and GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid). While being
stylish and safe, this nail polish is an easy to use tool for women who are out drinking having
fun, but who are aware of the things that people do. Sullivan includes details on the nail polish
and why it was created: We wanted to focus on preventive solutions, especially those that could
be integrated into products that women already use. Many women around the world will be
drugged at parties, clubs, casinos, and even dates, which is the focus of Undercover Colors.
The nail polish is quite easy to use as well, just to see if one of the drugs [that can be detected]
has been slipped into her drink, a woman has to stir it with her finger. Its easier than opening a
can of corn. Being able to wear what women already wear and being safer is amazing. Although
there are other tools that can help detect drugs in drinks, none are as well thought out as the nail
polish. Not exactly discreet (or good manners, or very hygienic), but arguably more stylish than
similar inventions, like these coasters, cups and straws, that do the same thing, explains Gail on
why this invention is better. The nail polish is a smart refreshing invention that helps keep
women stylish while keeping them safe.
Now, what about the people that are sexually assaulted without being drugged? Well,
thats where a phone application called Safe Trek comes in. Zach Wrinkler, a man that noticed

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women at his school felt unsafe, rallied three friends to help build a smartphone app that
students could use quickly and quietly to summon help. Most of the downloads are by women
and according to the apps statistics, about half the apps subscribers are 18 to 24 years old, and
20 percent are between 13 and 18. This app called Safe Trek is as easy as 1, 2, 3. To use it, all
you have to do is keep a finger on the screens sensor, a process the company calls hold until
safe. Removing your finger triggers a screen asking for a four-digit code. If you enter the code,
thats your signal to the app that youve made it home safely if you dont [enter the code
within ten seconds], SafeTrek calls the police and sends them to where you are. Some may
argue that carrying a lighten up phone all the way home is suspicious and not appropriate,
considering it is already simple to call the police on your cell phone. But, what about the women
who arent sure if its necessary to call the police? Thats exactly why Safe Trek is great. The app
helps people calm down, it helps when women arent sure if they should call 911 or wait it out.
But yes, it is quite simple to call the police on your mobile device. The problem is, the authorities
will use cell phone towers to try and track the call, but it may not give them your exact location,
or it could take a while. However, apps like Safe Trek can use your phones built-in GPS to find
your exact position and convey that information to police. So, instead of women being worried
that theyll be like the victims in a horror films or the victims of sexual assault, they will feel safe
and the police will know their exact location.
Some people are concerned that these gimmicks and inventions will just lead to more
victim blaming. They say that these inventions are simply distractions from the real causes of
rape and the main problem. I disagree. The creators behind these helpful inventions realize the
injustice that women receive and have created something to help women before something
happens. They work towards ending sexual assault altogether, but until they can reach that, they

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have created helpful tools for women. Women and girls can use these inventions to their
advantages but are not mandatory. They can make use of it, or dispose of it. Therefore, we cannot
blame victims for not using something that is not mandatory. Many cases include someone the
victim knows and is comfortable with, which means these inventions are simply trying to help
some women feel safe, aware, and to help them stay protected in a sense.
Inventions to help keep women safe are genius. Although there are some questionable
inventions like the coaster that changes color when you place the alcohol on the testing area, they
are all helpful. Undercover Colors and Safe Trek are just some of the efforts that people are
putting into inventions to help keep women safe. Although some argue that these will simply
cause more victim shaming/blaming, we cannot blame victims for not using these. Thats like
blaming someone for getting murdered because they didnt have a gun on them to protect
themselves. Simply irrational. Inventions like these are effective,smart, and can help many
women across the country.
Easier to Report
Comfort, safety, belief, and knowing youre not alone is some of the keys to helping
women talk about their sexual assault. Nowadays, with all of the victim shaming, women are
afraid to talk about their story. Being asked, what were you wearing, were you flirting,or
are you sure you didnt like it, does not help women. People ask these questions in a way of
blaming the victim for something that happened to her. But put someone those people love in the
same situation, would they be asking the same questions? It is not fair to blame someone because
another person could not control themselves and decided to do the unthinkable. But women need
to be believed from the beginning, comforted, and a place to feel like they are not alone.

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A new website called Callisto was developed in order to make it simpler for women to
report their story. Jessica Ladd, founder and CEO of Callisto, explains why this website is useful
and helpful:With the ability to electronically report their assault rather than going first to talk to
someone who may or may not believe you. Many women will not talk about their story in worry
they will not be believed or may be blamed. But with Callisto, you can jot down your story, and
not report it. The only way that it can be reported is if someone else reports the same person.
The verified contact information of both survivors would have been sent to the authorities at the
same time for investigation and follow-up, states Jessica Ladd. So, if victims feel like they
wont be believed, now they will, and they will not be alone. Callisto is just a website that will
help women come out about their story, stop predators, and stop repeat offenders from hurting
other women.
Police at some colleges are even in on helping the cause. UI police have remolded an
interrogation room, in hopes of making it more comfortable for sexual assault victims: The new
room, which officially opened on Nov. 20, has been remodeled to include more welcoming
features like carpeting, soft lighting, blank journals, and soft rocking chairs. By making the
changes, UI police are trying to make the interview process less of an interrogation and more of a
conversation with victims. This whole setup is to help women feel safe and comfortable. This
room is when women will be supported and believed in. Dave Visin, the interim director of the
University of Iowa Department of Public Safety gives the example of someone who has had
their camera stolen a police interview with that victim would start from the assumption that
they are telling the truth about the camera. A sexual assault case should be no different. This is
exactly what women need. Too many times, women will walk into a room, not being believed at
all, but instead, judged. That is not the case at the University of Florida. Many women will be

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interrogated into thinking that what happened to them was their fault, but it is the exact opposite
for this college. Tom Rocklin, school vice president for student life at Iowa school expresses
their goal by saying, "We work to prevent sexual assault, we work to support survivors and we
work to hold perpetrators responsible. More colleges should be doing this for their students.
Give their students a safe place. Many college sexual assault reports will go unheard or not
reported to at all. Pushed to the side. Sure they have blue light poles that you use when you feel
unsafe, but how often are those really used? Besides, how is a woman going to use that if she is
being raped in a room by someone she knows? This is exactly why more colleges, and even high
schools, need more types of rooms like this. Because it is hard for someone to come out when
they have had their soul stabbed, their worth taken, and their energy gone. Its even harder when
people will not believe them.
Education
There are some cases in which the rapist/assaulter does not even realize they are doing
something wrong. Some say, but she told me yes earlier or but she said yes and then fell
asleep. Because of the lack of educational programs for people, many do not know they are in
fault. For these reasons, many things have been done to try and educate people, but more must be
done because there is never too much effort to keep women safe.
In London, rape cases are very high. In efforts to educate people about consent and help
women, London police have created an educational video. The police compare many different
scenarios, replacing sex with tea. In this video, the policeman is talking about if someone is
unsure if they want a cup of tea(sex), then you can make them a cup of tea, but if they dont want
it, and this is the important bit, dont make them drink it. Just because you made it, doesnt
mean youre entitled to watch them drink it. Its as simple as that. Just because someone has

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gotten everything set up to have sex with a woman, or just wants to have sex, it doesnt mean the
woman has to have sex. They cant force the woman. The police also describe that if someone
says yes to tea (sex), and you bring it to them and they say no then, they remain under no
obligation to drink the tea. They did want tea, and now they dont. Hence the under no
obligation. Just because someone says yes, and the other person goes through everything to get
ready for the sex, does not mean they cannot change their mind. Even if in the middle of sex and
the woman asks the person to stop, the other person must stop. It is rape if someone continues a
woman to have sex when they have said no. It doesnt matter when and where they say no, it just
matters whether the other person stops or not. And if they are unconscious, dont make them
tea. Unconscious people dont want tea. And they cant answer the question do you want tea,
because theyre unconscious, states the policeman. Another plain and simple example. If
someone is unconscious, or maybe even too intoxicated to give consent, then do not touch them.
Help them. If its not yes, its no. The policeman also gives another example; Okay maybe they
were conscious when you asked them if they wanted tea, and they said yes, but in the time it
took to get everything ready, theyre now unconscious, you should just put the tea down. Make
sure the unconscious person is safe, and this is the important part again, dont make them drink
the tea. Again, just because the woman says yes and the other person has gone through
everything to get the sex ready and when they return the woman is unconscious, does not, by any
means, put the woman at obligation to have sex. Short viral videos like these can reach millions,
and save women from people who could have become a future rapist.
No means no. Dancing body parts show exactly that. In an article written about these
happy body parts, the author, Hatch, explains that Consent is simple. If its not yes, its no. The
author also gives us a detailed spot on description of the video: The videos include an entirely

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safe-for-work cast of illustrated vaginas and penises, bottoms and breasts, and even a cheeky
hand. All of the oddly adorable body parts participate in wholesome activities such as dancing,
whistling and laughing [and understanding that no means no]. If cartoons can respect women,
then we all can too. This video just helps provide short clips of women not wanting sex, and men
being okay with that and respecting them. This is exactly the example that the world needs:
something happy and fun, but respectful and understanding. Yep, it really is that simple.
Whether a person is naked or clothed, dancing or laughing, drinking or sober, no means no,
Hatch explains. Whether someone says yes and then no, is straight or gay, no is no. People must
respect womens decision to have or to not have sex. Consent is simple. Before having sex, or
even while having sex, if the woman says no then the answer is no.
Conclusion
Although we cannot stop people from raping women, we can do many things in order to
help them, protect them, make it easier for them to report, educate about consent, and give
victims the justice they deserve. With the efforts of many, we can work to stop sexual assault and
maybe one day conquer it completely. Women deserve respect. We can give that to them by
educating people, giving justice where it is needed, helping victims, and comforting them.
If we continue to interrogate women about their assault, fewer women will want to come
forward, and even less will be believed. There is already a less than one percent chance that the
man behind the rape will be convicted. The statistics should be the exact opposite. Women
deserve to be believed in and comforted when telling their story. Educating the uneducated will
also reduce the amounts of rapes and sexual assaults. By teaching people the basis of consent, we
can prevent some cases from happening. Lastly, by simply giving women technology at their

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disposal, we can help women before the assault gets too far, or from even getting drugged. Just
remember; no means no.

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Works Cited
Bever, Lindsey, and Amy B. Wang. "Brock Turner Freed after Serving Half of His Six-month
Jail Sentence for Sexual Assault." Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 06
Sept. 2016.
Thestaronline. "British Police Use Tea as Analogy for Sexual Consent." YouTube. YouTube, 10
Nov. 2015. Web. 16 Sept. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp6alIALDHA>.
Sullivan, Gail. "Students Develop Nail Polish to Detect Date-rape Drugs." Washington Post. The
Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2015. Web. 2 Oct. 2016.
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/26/students-developnail-polish-to-detect-date-rape-drugs/>.
TEDtalksDirector. "The Reporting System That Sexual Assault Survivors Want | Jessica Ladd."
YouTube. YouTube, 07 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Sept. 2016.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orumugzJpt0>.
Hatch, Jenavieve. "Let This Cheerful Dancing Vagina Teach You About Consent." N.p., 3 Jan.
2016. Web. 15 Sept. 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/let-this-cheerfuldancing-vagina-teach-you-about-consent_us_56d5afc5e4b03260bf78185e?
slideshow=true>.
By STEPHEN GRUBER-MILLER - Iowa City, Press-Citizen. "Iowa School Creates Interview
Room For Sex Assault Victims." AP Regional State Report - Iowa (2015): Newspaper
Source Plus. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.

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Bindel, Julie. "Why Is Rape so Easy to Get Away With?" The Guardian. The Guardian, 1 Feb.
2007. Web. 2 Oct. 2016.
<https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/feb/01/penal.genderissues>.
Gallup, Inc. "In U.S., 37% Do Not Feel Safe Walking at Night Near Home." Gallup.com. N.p.,
24 Nov. 2014. Web. 15 Nov. 2016. <http://www.gallup.com/poll/179558/not-feel-safewalking-night-near-home.aspx>.
Fitts, Alexis S. "This App Will Call The Police If You Let Go Of Your Phone." The Huffington
Post, 6 Sept. 2015. Web. 15 Nov. 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/safetrekapp-call-police_us_55e5ab80e4b0b7a9633a2a2a>.
"You Took Away My Worth': A Sexual Assault Victims Powerful Message to Her Stanford
Attacker." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 4 June 2016. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/06/04/you-took-away-myworth-a-rape-victim-delivers-powerful-message-to-a-former-stanford-swimmer/>.
"How Often Does It Happen?" How Often Does It Happen? | Washington Coalition of Sexual
Assault Programs. WCSAP, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016. <http://www.wcsap.org/how-oftendoes-it-happen>.