Question

why is there low reports of sexual violence? Note: Do not provide reasons that are obvious such as personal, distressing and embarassing or stigmatizing reasoning.

do gender roles or socio/cultural play a role?

Answer 1

There is very less reporting of sexual violence and reasons are many including socio cultural and gender.

Women accounts for 83% of sexual assault cases but reporting is very low. There are various reasons.

Low self esteem of women in certain cases leads to denial of sexual assault like sexual comment, obscene message or even inappropriate touch . Low self esteem creates a hurdle in accepting these assault if assaulted is powerful and hold authority.

Women psyche over a time have evolved in such a way that they first try to find faults within themselves. When they are assaulted , they attribute some of their behavior as provocative like dressing or replying with excessive smile that worked as clue for assaulted. So instead of blaming and reporting accused , they attribute it on herself.

In some society, sexist jokes etc are social norms or not considered that bad. When a women faces such obscenities in work place or colleges, even after feeling offended, she does not report as people in vicinity donot consider it a sexual assault.