Sexual Assault in Australia

This report analyzes the issue of sexual assault in Australia, exploring its causes, consequences, and potential prevention strategies. It examines various theories, including feminist theory, social learning theory, and sociobiological theory, to understand the underlying factors contributing to this crime. The report also discusses the legal framework surrounding sexual assault in Australia and highlights the need for comprehensive measures to address this societal problem.

Social Studies

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Crime defined as an illegal activity executed by an individual with the purpose of
harming other person. It is also be considered to be as harmful act against the public which
government in the nation intends to prevent by punishing an individual or imposing fine. It is
mainly a violation of law. There are different types of crimes these are robbery, sexual assault
etc. The main reason for the increase rate of criminal activities is Poverty.
The present report have focus identifying root cause of cause of increase in sexual assault
crime as well as consequences the same. Study will also highlight the measures which can be
taken by society foe effectively dealing with such type of crime.
MAIN BODY
A crime is basically a deliberate act which causes either physical or psychological harm.
In context of Australia, there has been increase in Violent crimes such as homicide, Kidnapping,
sexual assault, robbery etc. The main cause of increase in number of criminal country in specific
country could be high level of unemployment, poverty, Racism, politics, regionalism etc.
According to the Australian bureau statistics, during 2017 and 2018 there has been great decline
in the rate of national victimization. As per the present Crime statics of Australia there has been
approx. 3.9 percent increase in crime of Sexual assault (Recorded crime reports, 2019.). Sexual
assault is considered to be as one of the serious crime as this crime has long lasting effect on an
individual life (Shor & Seida,2019). Sexual assault crime can be referred to as any sexual act
committed using coercion or without the consent of other person. Coercion can be defined as
degree of force applied in order to harm other person. Sexual assault criminal activity also
include blackmailing other person. It has become one of the issue which has lead to the high
level of concern among society in Australia (Australia has a sexual assault problem.2017).
According to the report of CASA forum (centers against sexual assault) women are
generally a victim of interpersonal violence. It has also been found that serious inquiries are the
consequences of sexual assault which has to be faced by victim. Sexual assault is the crime
which also have negative effect on psychical as well as mental health of victim. Increase in such
types of crimes in the country has lead to the increase in fear among women and it has lead to the
decline in their confidence. Criminal activities such as sexual assault have significant effect on
Victim , their families and children (Kenny, 2018.). In addition to this, an individual who has
been victim of such criminal activities such as Sexual assault can have far reaching

psychological, heath, financial and social consequences. Criminal activities such as sexual
assault can lead to the death of victim. Psychological as well as emotional effect of sexual
assault are intense fear, feeling of low esteem, guilt, suicidal idealization, increase in level of
stress etc. In addition to this, crimes such as sexual assault can have adverse effect on the
relationship of victim with other people. In addition to this, Over-protectiveness of the victim may
also be an issue which can have long lasting effect on their life.
The group of people in Australia facing the risk of such types of criminal activities
includes young women, children , people with mental illness, women living in rural areas .
Reason for increase in such types of crimes has also been part of debate. According to some
people, changes in culture is considered to be as significant cause which has given risen to such
type of criminal activities in Australia. In addition to this, lack of education the other major cause
of increase in crimes such as sexual assault. Other major cause of increase in number of sexual
assault crime in Australia is lack of consent training (Indaba, 2018).
Situational model, it is the hypothesis which intends to offer pragmatic solution for the
criminal problems. This hypothesis is based on assumption that offenders are deliberate as well
as purposive decision makers. In addition to this, situational theory also states that an individual
does not require any motivation for doing crime. Contribution of theory in understanding the
cause is least in nature .As per this hypothesis, a person commit crime for material goods,
money , sexual gratification, excitement and status. Social status which includes the option
which are available with an individual in specific situation which influence people to perform
specific activity. IN context of Australia also, the crime such as sexual assault has been
conducted by people for sexual gratification or excitement which is highly influenced by changes
in culture. In addition to this, other types of factors which might positive influence an individual
to perform criminal activities such as sexual assault include marriage and separation, peer
influences, drug dependency etc.
Feminist theory, states that high level of sexual assault takes place because of rape
supportive culture. It is the hypothesis which is based on assumption that all women s have same
level of risk related to sexual assault. Feminist theory define sexual assault a conscious
procedure of intimidation through which all men in the society keep all women in state of fear.

According to this hypothesis, it is the lifestyle as well as statues which influences an individual
to commits such type of crimes. It is the hypothesis which highlights the risk which are faced by
victim of sexual assault. In addition to this, Feminist theory, states that the risk which are faced
by victim of sexual assault is highly as well as significantly influenced by an amount of exposure
that victim had to the criminal. Feminist theory also dictates that male dominate women by
getting highly as well as significantly influencing by political, social and economic factors.
The social learning theory states that it is the culture as well as tradition which influences
male to dominate Women and give rise to the criminal activities such as sexual assault.
According the social learning hypothesis desensitization is the main cause of sexual assault.
In addition to this the other theory related to the sexual assault crime is sociobiological
theory. It is basically hypothesis which emphasizes on exploring the way evolutionary adaptions
effects or influence the psychology of offender (Deslauriers-Varin, Bennell & Bergeron, 2018).
As per the sociobiological theory, sexual assault is basically an alternative gene promotional
strategy which is generally adopted by losers.
In context of legal system in Australia, sexual assault is considered to be a serious offense
for which an offender ( a person who has committed crime) has to face serious consequences.
The conduct sexual assault is considered to be as serious offense for which an individual
committed the crime might be imprisoned for maximum fourteen years under section 48 of
Criminal law consolidation act 1935.
A quick as well as an effective measure are required to be taken by society in order to
prevent or control such types of crimes in the nation. Parents need to educate their child and help
their children in developing the understanding about the right or wrong activities. In addition to
this, parents and family members are required to make their child understand about the
consequences of the wrong activities performed by them. They also need to support their
children in increasing their potential to retain control, on their bodies. People in society need to
bring the positive as well as drastic improvement in the culture.
In addition to this, campaign can be organized in order to create the deep as well as long
lasting cultural change which will be very much helpful in context of controlling such types of
crime in nation. The program organized for generating about the issue of sexual assault, should
be organized at a time maximum effect on life of participants. In addition to this, such program

should be organized which fits within a cultural beliefs as well as practices of particular group
of people or community.
It has been suggested that women in Australia might avoid social situations with men. In
addition to this, Women In Australia needs to generate self- awareness the potential of violence
or crimes that women men are capable of doing. In addition to there, considering the issue of
sexual assault in Australia, there is great need to promote gender equality in the nation , as it will
be very much important for eliminating such types of criminal activities in the future. The
different types of events such as cognitive behavioral program can be organized in order to
support victim of sexual assault in improving their psychological conditions. In addition to this,
there is also a great requirement for promotion the non-sexist educational materials. Health
promotion campaign can be organize for modeling the behavior of people in society. Training is
need to be provided to health care professional, so that they could develop skills as well as
knowledge in context of detecting and handling the sensitive cases related to the sexual assault.
In addition to this, advertisement through social media, television, hoardings etc. can be very
much helpful in changing the attitude of people towards such types of violence. Special
regulations are required to be developed by people in society so that such types of criminal
activities can be controlled. In addition to this, defense training is required to be provided to
Woman, so that they could develop the potential to prevent themselves from becoming a victim
of such type of criminal activities.
In addition to this, social ecological model can be considered to be as helpful as well as
effective framework for identifying suitable measures for controlling or preventing such types of
crimes. The shape of social ecological is like a four nested egg. Each shell in the model indicates
the area where changer or improvement can be done in order to deal with specific issue. Each
shell in the model represents the different things, for instance, smallest shell represent an
individual, second shell points out relationship, the other shell represent community and last
biggest shell indicates society (Jozifkova, 2018). Social ecological is generally used in the field
of sexual violence prevention for creating as well as evaluating the prevention programming.
The different types of strategy which can be implemented by people in Australia for controlling
or avoiding the crimes of sexual assault such as :Comprehensive services strategy. It includes
bringing changes in the various social setting in order to prevent the crime (Cress, 2018). People

in the society need to address the issue which is giving rise to the such type of criminal activities
and they also required to develop the understanding about the risk associated with the same.
Spectrum of prevention is a tool, which is designed for supporting communities in
creating a comprehensive sexual violence initiatives. It is a tool which has been specially
designed big changes. Spectrum of prevention tool emphasizes on individual, environment
including system as well as norms which makes significant contribution in reduction of sexual
violence cases in the nation. In addition to this, communities can design an effective plan for
promoting confidence that their relationship neighborhood, family, schools, workplace are safer.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the report that sexual assault is the major crime which is
taking place in Australia. The other fact which has been found from the study is that sexual
assault is serious offense which can have adverse effect on the physical and mental health of
victim. It can also have adverse influence on the family members of the victim. The other thing
which have been found that sexual assault Is the crime which is required to be controlled
quickly, as it can have devastating and negative effect on social development and also on growth
Illustration 1: Spectrum of prevention
Sources:(Prevention Theories. 2018)

of nation. The different strategies have been suggested which can be adopted by society which
can be helpful in controlling as well as eliminating the cases of sexual violence in the nation.

REFERENCES
Books and References
Deslauriers-Varin, N., Bennell, C., & Bergeron, A. (2018). Criminal investigation of sexual
offenses. Sexual Offending: A Criminological Perspective.
Indaba, S. O. (2018). Why don't victims report crime?. African Journal for Human Rights, 22, 1.
Kenny, D.T., 2018. Children, Sexuality, and Child Sexual Abuse. Routledge.
Shor, E., & Seida, K. (2019). “Harder and harder”? Is mainstream pornography becoming
increasingly violent and do viewers prefer violent content?. The Journal of Sex
Research, 56(1), 16-28.
Cress, Z. P. (2018). Reducing Incidence of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fleet.
Jozifkova, E. (2018). Consensual sadomasochistic sex (BDSM): The roots, the risks, and the
distinctions between BDSM and violence. Current psychiatry reports. 15(9). 392.
ONLINE:
Recorded crime reports.2019. [Online]. Available through
:<https://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Pages/bocsar_crime_stats/bocsar_latest_quarterly_and_a
nnual_reports.aspx>.
Australia has a sexual assault problem.2017.[Online]. Availbale through :
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-01/australia-has-a-sexual-assault-problem-we-cant-
ignore/8764220>.
Why are rates of domestic violence in Australia still so high?[Online]. Available through :
<http://theconversation.com/why-are-rates-of-domestic-violence-in-australia-still-so-high-
87187>.
Prevention Theories. 2018.[Online]. Availbale through :
<https://www.nsvrc.org/prevention/theories>.