|
|
See Also:
|
MGR Proposal ExampleLindsay Hauck EDT 180B 2/22/06 MGP Research Design My Topic The topic I want to concentrate on for my multigenre research paper is college campus rapes with a focus on female victims. I want to find out whom these crimes are happening to and who commits them. Also, I want to know what leads assailants to attack their victims. What kind of profile does a rapist on a college campus have? What I Already Know I have limited knowledge about college campus rapes in regard to statistics. What I do know is that far more go unreported than are reported. From what I’ve heard, I gather that this crime is prevalent on many campuses throughout the country, whether coeds and parents realize it or not. I think many young women don’t understand what constitutes rape. That may sound unbelievable—how could you not know when you’re raped? But the line between a consenting physical relationship and a forced sexual situation is blurry for many. This is especially true when drug or alcohol abuse is involved, which is also widespread on college campuses. What I also know is that rape is often downplayed. There are arguments about girls dressing a certain way that is “just asking for it.” Also, if alcohol or drugs are involved all of the girl’s credibility is washed away along with her dignity. To those two points I also know this: no girl asks to be raped and drugs or alcohol should not cancel out rape. It should never be downplayed. I have a friend who was heavily under the influence of alcohol. She went home fro the bars with a guy she knew. She wasn’t exactly sure what happened and was worried that something might have happened. She still doesn’t know entirely. Before talking to me, she had told another close friend. The friend replied to her, “Well you were kind of drunk.” It made me wonder, does that punishment fit the crime? What I Want to Learn As I mentioned above, I want to know what goes on in a rapist’s mind. I also want to learn more about how many are committed by strangers, how many by men that the women already know, and how many are date rape. I want to find out the thought process that goes on in these criminals’ minds…as scary as it will be. I particularly want to focus on college campuses and find out in what contexts these rapes happen. Also, I want to know why girls don’t report all rapes. I’d like to find out what kind of psychological damage these victims suffer after the crime. Also, I wonder how this psychological damage affects their attitudes and perceptions about men and how it will affect their relationships in the future. Thirdly, I’d like to know what happens to the rapists after the crime is committed. I want to find out how many rapists on college campuses are serial, how many get caught, and how many are jailed. I’d also like to know what percentage get away without any punishment. Or would I? Finally, I want to learn about what happens within the victims’ nuclear families after rape. I wonder how much support girls get after such a traumatic experience. I imagine it varies from family to family, but I’d like to find some statistics about this. The Origins of My Research The origins of my research started when a young woman on Miami’s campus was raped in her off-campus house at the beginning of the semester. My research origins began forming when I obsessively started checking our deadbolts before going to bed and then again at 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. when I would wake up in a sweat. Finally, the origins to my research came to fruition when I became scared to go jogging by myself during the day, and I started obsessively glancing over my shoulder during sunset on my way home from class. The recent rape on campus started me asking, why? The bubble we live in popped. I didn’t know if I was setting myself up to be a victim. Since the house where the girl lives is right behind mine off-campus, the reality of rape slapped me in the face. Hearing the girls around the corner, who live right next to her house, talk about the details of the rape knocked the wind out of me. As a female at Miami University, I began realizing that I could be a target. I started thinking, at any time the safety net could be pulled. In a matter of minutes, my reality could be gutted and turned inside out. And then what would I do? This made me want to know more about the psychological implications of rape on both sides (rapist and victim). While I want to protect myself from these types of feelings and realizations, I also want to educate myself and be able to understand this subject much more. Questions I Have about College Campus Rape What percentage is reported? Unreported? What is the profile of a rapist? A serial rapist? What are the psychological effects on a rape survivor? How does rape affect family relationships and friendships of the survivor? What percentage of college campus rapes on campus are acquaintance rape? What counseling resources do survivors have? What kind of thinking or logic goes on in a rapist’s mind? What goes through a survivor’s mind when she goes to the hospital and has the rape kit done on her? How are a survivor’s future intimate relationships affected because of rape? What are common attitudes toward rape and rape survivors? What kind of instruction or information do most young women have about rape and sexual assault before beginning college? What kinds of mental instabilities are linked with rape (such as depression)? My Research Plan I plan to begin my research by looking at the questions I have about it. I want to get a good idea of percentages, so I know how many women are being heard, how many are too scared to speak up, and how many are silenced. I want to get a gist of what a typical rape survivor’s life/mentality is before and after the rape. I want to know how it changes them as a person. I also want to know about the rapist. I think my paper will be shaped by personal stories as well. For my paper I think I want to weave in a personal story of a fictional character among facts and statistics. I have a contact at the Butler County Rape Crisis Center here in Oxford to interview with any questions I have also. As well, one of my housemates volunteered at the Rape Crisis Center for a while and would be a great source to talk to. I want my piece to reflect the personal chaos that ensues when a young woman is raped and how she muddles through it to sanity (if she does). Preliminary Bibliography Adams-Curtis, Leah E. (2004). College women’s experiences of sexual coercion. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 5(2), 91. Boeringer, Scot B. (1999). Associations of rape-supportive attitudes with fraternal and athletic participation. Violence Against Women, 5(1), 81. Glazer, S. (1994). Sex on campus. CQ Researcher, 4(41), 961. Hanford, Cindy. (1999). Campus rape ignored…Even when there’s a videotape. National NOW Times, 31(4), 4. Leone, B. (Ed.). (1995). Rape on campus. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. Ottens, A.J., & Hotelling, K. (2001). Sexual violence on campus : Policies, programs, and perspectives. New York: Imprint. Quindlen, Anna. (2000). Welcome to animal house. Newsweek, 136(17), 84. Sebold, A. (1999). Lucky. New York: Scribner. In-class presentation by Cindy Kuhn from the Butler County Rape Crisis Center (don’t know how to cite) Source of this proposal-http://www.therapecrisiscenter.org/campus_rape2.htm |