Survey Highlights Brazilian Women’s Fear of Being Rape Victims

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Pregnancy termination resulting from rape performed safely by a health service is supported by 82 percent of Brazilians, and 88 percent consider that every city should have an abortion service provided by law, in order for the victim to choose whether or not to continue the pregnancy. However, only 46 percent said to have knowledge of a health service for rape victims.

This is shown in the survey ‘Perceptions on rape and abortion provided by law’, published on Monday, November 9th by the Patricia Galvão and Locomotiva Institutes. According to the Locomotiva Institute research director, Maíra Saruê Machado, the impact of rape is a reality close to the population, given that 52 percent of respondents know a woman or girl who has already been a victim and 16 percent of women said they had been victims of sexual violence.

The survey was conducted online between September 1st and 14th and recorded the opinion of  2,000 men and women in Brazil, aged 16 or older.

Among the women, 95 percent said they were afraid of being raped every day, and 78 percent said they were very afraid. Among men, 92 percent said they feared their daughter, mother, wife, or girlfriend would be victims of the crime.

“The majority knows a woman or girl who was a victim and the perception that Brazilian women fear this will happen to them is unanimous. The consequences of rape on the victim’s life, whether psychological, physical, or unwanted pregnancy, are also well recognized. But the survey shows that the State’s support of women and girls who are victims, be it in the police stations or in the health system, could be better qualified,” said Maíra.

The survey points out that 91 percent of women believe they would tell someone if they were rape victims and 68 percent would certainly do. The reasons reported for preventing the communication of the crime are shame, embarrassment, and fear of exposure. In the sample, 92 percent of women said they would report it if they were victims, but 53 percent of respondents said that victims usually do not report it.

Only 29 percent believe that the police are well prepared to assist rape victims, and 93 percent agree that every rape victim who seeks a police station or health service should be informed about ways to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. Among those who know a victim, 17 percent reported that she became pregnant and in 42 percent of such cases the pregnancy was terminated.

According to Jacira Melo, executive director of the Patrícia Galvão Institute, the survey evidences the support of rape victims by public services.

“The notion that intercourse without consent is rape is widespread and that, in case of pregnancy, every girl and woman has the right to safely terminate the pregnancy in a public hospital. And moreover, the majority of the population agrees that every city should have a health service to assist these victims,” he said.

Regarding cases like the 10-year-old girl who was raped by her uncle and became pregnant in Espírito Santo, 94 percent said they were in favor of interrupting the pregnancy.

The survey also highlighted the perception of the main forms of violence suffered by women. Among respondents, 73 percent pointed to domestic violence, 53 percent to sexual harassment, 43 percent to unequal wages between men and women, 42 percent to rape, 38 percent to physical violence, 37 percent to double working shifts, and 14 percent to racism as a form of violence suffered by Brazilian women.

When only women’s answers to the survey are analyzed, rape is pointed out by 44 percent and reported as the fourth main form of violence suffered, while among men the figure drops to 39 percent, sixth place.

For 84 percent of respondents, the rapist is always to blame, regardless of the woman’s clothing or behavior, and 59 percent believe that rape is sexual intercourse without consent. A total of 94 percent disagree that there are women who deserve to be raped.

When asked about specific situations, 92 percent said it is rape when a man forces a woman to have sexual intercourse; 90 percent when a man has sex with a woman who is unconscious, drunk, or drugged; and 82 percent when a man has sex with a woman who is severely mentally disabled; 81 percent when a husband or partner forces his wife into sexual practices that she does not wish; 77 percent when a man has sex with a girl under 14 years of age, regardless of her consent; and 65 percent said it was rape when a man fondles or touches a woman’s body without her consent.

With respect to social isolation imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, 81 percent of respondents believe that quarantine contributes to the rise in rape within the home. Of the total, 98 percent agree that if someone finds out that a girl is being raped within the home, they should report it. According to 88 percent, anyone who is present or aware of rape and does not report it is also to blame.

Victims should be offered psychological care according to 89 percent of respondents; immediate medical assistance for injuries and bruises for 84 percent; medication to prevent sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis and HIV for 83 percent; and 74 percent agree that the victim should promptly take the morning-after pill to prevent pregnancy.

Source: Agência Brasil

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