Medias role: Bringing out the science in a social issue.

Case Study: Rape

Medias role: Bringing out the science in a social issue.

To create mass awareness and understanding amongst the audience about social issue and the impact they have on the lives of the victims. Many people don't pay much attention to such issues because they don't understand how the

problem would affect them or their lifestyle. Media with its global reach has the power to
popularise and promote these issues, directly relating them to the audiences life. To put moral pressures on the government and authorities to address these issues and take

bound decisive steps to help .

Media is an unparalleled platform for elaborating on such issues and delving in to the depths of these issues and simplifying them for the public.

Media and Rape

Rape in media generally deals with what happened to whom

Where
when.

Thats the story media is interested in. However, rarely ever mainstream media covers the aftermath of a rape

or sexual assault.

Media and Rape

In cases of rape , theres a lot of
physical trauma and psychological trauma, affecting the victims

reproductive health, mental health,

and social wellbeing. Theres a need to create awareness among the people about such issues and heres where Media comes in.

Rape
The Effects and Aftermath

Rape: The Effects and Aftermath

Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's

consent. The act may be carried out by

physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid

consent, such as one who is unconscious,

incapacitated, or below the legal age of consent.

Effects and aftermath of rape: Physical

Common Physical consequences experienced by rape victims include.

Vaginal or Anal bleeding or infection Hypoactive sexual desire disorder Vaginitis

Chronic Pelvic pain

Urinary infections Pregnancy Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Psychological response: Rape Trauma Syndrome

Self blame and Lack of motivation to seek care

Cutting themselves off from other people

Anger and aggression Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) feelings of severe anxiety and stress Depression Flashbacks memories of incident as if it is taking place again Borderline personality disorder Sleep and Eating disorders Distrust of others uneasy in everyday social situations Substance abuse

Suicide
Childhood and adulthood victims of rape are more likely to attempt or commit suicide. The association remains, even after controlling for sex, age, education, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and the presence of psychiatric disorders. The experience of being raped can lead to suicidal behaviour as early as adolescence. In Ethiopia, 6% of raped schoolgirls reported having attempted suicide. They also feel embarrassed to talk about what had happened to them. A study of adolescents in Brazil found prior sexual abuse to be a leading factor predicting several health risk behaviours, including suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Effects of sexual assault on children

Rape and other forms of sexual assault on a child can result in both short-term and long-term harm, including psychopathology in later life. Psychological, emotional, physical, and social effects include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, eating disorders, poor self-esteem, dissociative and anxiety disorders; general psychological distress and disorders such as somatization, neurosis, chronic pain, sexualized behavior, school/learning problems; and behavior problems including substance abuse, destructive behavior, criminality in adulthood and suicide.

A major government study examining sexual violence in the USA reports the majority of the victims have serious physical and mental health consequences that can last a lifetime.

The prevalence of physical and mental health problems:

24% of victims reported asthma. 27% had high blood pressure. 29% had frequent headaches. 30% had chronic pain.

38% had difficulty sleeping.

Referenceshttp://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/medical/health/medical/womensheal th/story/2011-12-15/Rape-has-long-lasting-far-ranging-health-effects/51962432/1

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/8293424/Life-after-rape.html
http://www.hopesurvivors.org.uk/pg4-rape_effects.html

http://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/rape/effects-of-rape-psychological-andphysical-effects-of-rape/
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=173639

http://rapeisneverjustified.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Black-DotProject/466328040093853?sid=0.3876181768719107

Rashi Jauhri 11Com6525