Eilene Zimmerman looked at the widespread occurrence of sexual assault in universities and colleges. With the increase of sexual assault cases in universities, the author looked at what the universities were doing to prevent sexual assault cases in their perimeters. The author studied the causes of the vice, contributing factors, and historical background.
Zimmerman identified some causes of the vice. Among these were disrespect and objectification of women (Zimmerman 3). Due to lack of respect, men expected sex after a date, and upon resistance from the woman, the man attempted to rape her (Zimmerman 3). The author also observed drunkenness during parties, and social events triggered the vice. She gave the case of Leah who was in a party and was chatting with a guy, and in no time the guy had "put his hands in her short" and asked if they could go home and have sex (Zimmerman 2).
Zimmerman also identified various contributing factors. Lack of early sex education was seen as a critical contributor to the vice as students’ conduct was shaped by “cultural and societal norms” (Zimmerman 3). Policies and programs adopted by learning institutions are unfruitful as they lacked data and financial support (Zimmerman 4
The author gave a historical background of sexual assault cases. Zimmerman stated that "[…] Obama administration released a list of 55 colleges and universities under investigation for their handling of sexual complaints" (1). The background information showed that the problem has existed for quite a period and was attracting attention from the federal government. Zimmerman further claims, “in the ensuing two years, the national conversation about sexual assault on campuses has intensified […]” (1). The claims build on the historical relevance of sexual assault addressed by the article.
The article gives a sociological analysis as it explains observations in the society that have stayed rooted over a period. Zimmerman provides an insightful analysis of sexual assaults. In the process, he employs effective sociological methods of data collection. The article studied a specific social environment and attempted to explain the occurrence of sexual assaults. In providing insights into the matter, Zimmerman used quantitative and qualitative data. She reported that sexual assault frequencies had reduced by 50% since the introduction of ‘the Green Dot program’ at the University of Kentucky. From an interview with Esther Boykin, a therapist, Zimmerman found out that 75% of her clients had traumatic experiences due to sexual assaults that happened in college (Zimmerman 5). Apart from Boykin’s interview, the author conducted other interrogations which formed his qualitative analysis and data on the matter. She interviewed women who suffered from sexual assaults not forgetting the school administration and the relevant stakeholders.
Zimmerman also attempted C. Wright Mill’s ‘sociological imagination’ due to her interpretation of the society by looking at both history and biography of people. Zimmerman asserts, "I asked several college-age women I know [..]" (1) showing that her interpretation was based on the few individuals interrogated. From the interrogations, she drew her conclusions on the whole society. Most women who suffer from the assault do not speak up due to fear of stigmatization. Some victims are blamed, others laughed at while some go through a lot of humiliation from family members. Besides, some parents do not encourage their children to open up and ironically decide to keep an assault as a secret to protect their family name and image. A well-known lawyer, Matt Kaiser, said that new ways of handling sexual attacks are good, but people need to be given time to adapt to the new environment. It is evident that history affects our behavior and consciousness. Mr. Kaiser also believes that it is difficult to change the mental orientation of an individual when they get to campus because their previous exposure might curve the behavior permanently and so the prevention measures would prove futile (Zimmerman 5).
Another aspect of sociological imagination is the aspect of prediction of the future depending on the current. Zimmerman’s article looked into the future as she analyzed the current trends. According to Zimmerman (4), the previous approaches used by campuses to prevent sexual assaults were not sufficient. However, she observed that the few changes made are working in the right direction. The analysis of the approaches enabled her to see a promising future for women in campuses. She wrote, “That’s far from a sea change, but it’s a start” (Zimmerman 5). Evidently, Zimmerman concluded from the current affairs and appreciated the positive moves.
Conflict theory mainly influences the author's thinking. The opinion is quite vocalized in the article concerning competition for the limited resources which has heightened the oppression of the disadvantaged group. Despite the fact that any social group may be affected by the cruelty, the article wholesomely dwells on gender hostility. The female gender is seen at the receiving end as far as sexual assault on campus is concerned. Traditionally women have been taken as a weaker gender as compared to men. They have been the victims to suffer human sexual cruelty for an extended period. Many assault cases have not been reported for various reasons. However, things are positively changing as the vice is slowly being curbed.
School administrations cover up sexual assault cases in the name of confidentiality. Zimmerman alleged that “The University of Michigan treats specific cases of reported sexual misconduct confidentially […]” (1). The behavior might invite several interpretations among them that the school is hiding this to protect itself so that it can continue receiving more and more students. Students enroll in good amounts of tuition fees and schools are therefore tempted to maintain a right image disregarding the suffering of the victims. The school should put severe measures that will eliminate any occurrence of sexual assault. For instance, expelling any student found guilty of the charge or whoever tries to accuse the other of sexual assault false-fully can be a right approach. The steps would not only eliminate the plague from the school, but it would have an enormous impact on the whole country. Many schools would formulate these rules, and at last, the nation would pay attention and work together into killing the vice.
The boy child presents another case of a conflict as he is also a subject to the suffering that is brought about by the allocation of gender roles and needs. The boy child has been a forgotten member of the family as all attention has drifted to the girl child. A good example is where parents do not see the need of talking to their male children about sex and consent and also how to treat women (Zimmerman 5). Boykin said, "We have to start teaching boys and young men what to do instead of simply telling young women what not to do" (Zimmerman 5). When boys go out into the cold world, they do things and are accused of things they were not aware of and did not commit.
Therefore, it is evident that the author makes assumptions which are conflict-driven on the operation of the world. There has been oppression of the weaker gender, and this has brought unity among the women. In a conflict situation, the weaknesses faced by a group of people ignite comradeship and acts as the beginning of a new error. Through conflict, a resolution is reached, discussions change, and at the end of the day, an equilibrium is met. At this point, the society starts to be fair. Women have come out to fight sexual assaults and implementation of working ideas has emerged, and so the existing conflict is slowly but ultimately being resolved. The female gender is on the move to changing how things are running. Zimmerman wondered whether the reported increase in sexual assaults was due to the increased occurrence or as a result of more women reporting the cases (1). Women are the primary social actors and are on their feet to protect their freedom, rights and interest day after day. Over the years, women have endured all kinds of abuse from men, but now they have changed the rules of the game if not the game itself. Over centuries, men have always had the upper hand and deciding the fate of women came in handy. From the article, women have risen, and their vocals have been heard as formulation and implementation of stricter rules and regulations to prevent sexual assaults are taking place. Zimmerman also concludes that young boys should be educated on what to do and that sexually assaulting a woman is bad (5).
In conclusion, the article is excellently written, but it does not have enough statistical data to file a stronger case. The writer should consider going deeper into the matter and getting more statistical data. Zimmerman indicated that her daughter was a victim of sexual assault and this might clown the judgment due to personal affiliation with her family. Men were also not interviewed for the reader to have a better scope of the situation and make an objective decision. Therefore, Zimmerman should have presented more statistical data and conducted an interview which enabled representation of views of the two societal genders.
Work cited
Zimmerman, Eilene. “Campuses Struggle with Approaches for Preventing Sexual Assault.” The New York Times, 22 June 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/23/education/campuses-struggle-with-approaches-for-preventing-sexual-assault.html. Accessed 16 March 2017.
