Rape and Terrorism

[jimhines]

For some reason, this failed to crosspost from my website. The original post is here.

According to the Global Terrorism Database, 3029 people were killed by terrorists in the United States between 2000 and 2010. That's an average of 275 people per year.

According to the U. S. Department of Justice, there were a total of 52,470 rapes in 2008 (the most

Comments

Nitpick

[akiko]

There is no Medical University of North Carolina. The University of North Carolina School of Medicine is at the main campus here in Chapel Hill. (A Medical University of SOUTH Carolina does, however, exist. That's in Charleston.)

That aside, your post is astute as usual.

Re: Nitpick

[jimhines]

Fixed, thank you.

[jadesfire55]

"Not slaves to that fear, but always aware."

Very true, and thank you for putting it like that. Because you're right, it's that constant underlying awareness that prompts me to walk with my head up if I'm out late at night, looking around and behind me occasionally so I know where all the people are. Even when I'm in an area where I feel utterly safe.

[darkangel_wings]

Yes, to all of this. I don't think I can add much of anything, but just... yes. It IS terrorism of a kind, because it keeps so many people afraid of going out. It creates an omnipresent fear, even when going about routine activities. It harms so many people, in such a real and personal way, and yet it seems like so little is done to actually fight it.

[serialbabbler]

The only problem I have with a direct comparison of numbers is that the statistics on terrorism only include people who were killed not people who were injured. Since most rapes don't result in death it seems a bit like comparing apples and oranges. (I do realize that the numbers for rape would still be dramatically higher, of course, but it still disturbs my sense of symmetry.)

[rachelmanija]

I initially thought that too, but actually, many rapes do end in murder. To put it clearly: most rapes don't end in death. But many murders do begin with rape.

So while rape-murders, like terrorism injuries, may be left out of the equation, that cuts both ways. I am pretty sure way more women are raped and then murdered than die AND are injured by terrorism.

[serialbabbler]

I was assuming that the official rape rate would include rape-murders since they tend to be separate charges. (I don't think I've ever looked that up, though.)

I agree that the overall numbers would still be higher for rape. I'm just bothered by the idea that terrorism only counts if it kills somebody. (Or, to put it another way, former-Representative Giffords isn't dead, but her life has definitely been directly effected by terrorism. Assuming they even count that kind of event in their terrorism statistics.)

[pantryslut]

I really, really, really Do Not Want (more) security theater around rape and sexual assault, though.