Research shows that people very rarely claim they’ve been abused when they haven’t. On the other hand, survivors often don’t report sexual abuse when it happens.
Here are 5 reasons why a survivor may not report being sexually abused:
Shame. Sexual abuse carries a stigma. Many abuse victims report feeling ashamed, embarrassed, or even responsible for their own abuse. These feelings of shame and embarrassment are particularly prevalent in men. As Karen G. Weiss, an associate professor of sociology at West Virginia University explains: “Unwilling to risk emasculation or exposure, men are choosing to remain silent rather than report sexual victimization to the police and others.”
Fear of retaliation. Many victims fear that they will be retaliated against if they report their abuse. Fear of retaliation is particularly common when the abuse occurs at work or within the military. According to a Rand Corporation survey, 32% of men and 28% of women in the military said they experienced retaliation after a reported sexual assault.
Fear of not being believed. Sexual abuse victims may not report abuse for fear that they won’t be believed. From the victim’s perspective, it’s simply not worth the emotional toll and threat of retaliation if they don’t think police or other officials will take them seriously.
Not wanting a friend or family member to be prosecuted. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), 8 out of 10 rapes are committed by someone known to the victims. Often, a victim’s reluctance to get a friend or family member in trouble prevents them from reporting the abuse. This can be particularly true in domestic abuse situations in which the victim relies on the abuser for emotional or financial support.
Fear that too much time has passed. When an abuse occurred a long time ago, the victim may feel that too much time has passed to report the abuse—either because the evidence is no longer available or the statute of limitations has run.