Ways Sexual Violence Effects Body Image

On Thursday afternoon, Slippery Rock students and others gathered at the University Union to listen to a lecture regarding sexual assault awareness. Psychology professor Dr. Jennifer Sanftner explained a number of ways in which people, mostly women, dislike their body image once they are sexually assaulted. It was described that when men are sexually assaulted, they are more likely to display their frustration out on the other people. When women are sexually assaulted, they are more likely to harm themselves, for example they may cut themselves on numerous occasions. Also when sexually assaulted, most women believe that it's their fault the act took place, and some are face with trauma possibly long-term as well as the shame regarding their body image.


Dr. Jennifer Sanftner here at the conclusion of her lecture.

In the lecture, one of the main points Dr. Sanftner explained involved the term self-objectification. Self-objectification deals with numerous aspects such as those who are raped deal with feeling a sense of guilt and feel as though it's their wrongdoing. The impact of sexual abuse can lead to a disconnection with others. Dr. Sanftner said "It's a never a woman's fault when being abused." Also mentioned was that women who are sexually assaulted have chronicle checking of their body image and deal with the constant struggle of determining whether or not their body is acceptable to society. There's also the risk of anxiety involved as women are more prone to this issue and with the more anxiety they are faced with, the more women are going to go down the path of eating disorders.

Another key topic involved in the lecture was that of disorder eating.


Dr. Sanftner explains the impact of disorder eating  for those who are abused.

According to Dr. Sanftner, women usually are in situations when they don't know how much they should eat and that could lead to disconnection. Also when they're abused, women may either have eating disorders such anorexia and bulimia or some may just gain weight. Others may take on excessive exercising, which could become a very dangerous outcome for the body.

Assistant Director of the Women's Center Karla Foster looks on during the lecture.

There was also the discussion of sexual assaults that occur on college campuses. It was mentioned that one in four women are sexually assaulted on a college campus, while men are assaulted one in thirty-three times. Karla Foster, assistant director of the Women's Center, explained during the lecture that about fifteen sexual assault incidents occur per semester at Slippery Rock University alone.



Karla Foster gives detail of what happens when sexual assaults occur on campus.