RAPE AS AN ECONOMIC CRIME:
FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR SURVIVORS Rebecca M. Loya, Ph.D. Institute on Assets & Social Policy, Brandeis University
[email protected]
University of New Hampshire April 9, 2015
OVERVIEW • Introduction & background • Economic effects of sexual assault: • Expenses • Employment • Education • Disparate effects for low-income survivors
• Recovery: • Resources that help prevent the economic spiral • Policy gaps & recommendations
• Questions & discussion 1
BACKGROUND • Intimate partner violence (IPV) has detrimental effects on
survivors’ employment, earnings, & housing (Adams et al., 2012;
Swanberg et al., 2005)
Abusers’ repeated violent and controlling tactics over time
Economic effects of IPV ↓ employment ↓ earnings Housing instability
• Relatively little research on economic dimension of Non-IPV sexual violence (SV) & isolated SV Isolated sexual violence (e.g., acquaintance rape)
Economic effects? 2
ISOLATED SEXUAL VIOLENCE •
Rape or sexual assault that is not part of pattern of abuse by an intimate partner
• •
•
SV committed by non-intimates (e.g., acquaintances or strangers) SV by intimates that was not part of a pattern of abuse (e.g., single rape by otherwise nonviolent partner)
Isolated sexual violence is common. 18.3% of U.S. women have experienced rape or attempted rape (NISVS, 2010) . Of these:
• • •
Acquaintance: 40.8% Stranger: 13.8% Intimate partner: 51% % that is not pattern of abuse?
RELATED RESEARCH Financial Costs “Rape tax” = $143,205 per rape
(in 2014 dollars; Miller et al., 1996; Post et al., 2002 )
Sexual Violence
Decreased earnings Young adult survivors earn $6,000 less/year (MacMillan, 2006)
Survivors have lower household income up to 20 years later (Loya, 2012)
Open Question: How does sexual violence affect survivors’ economic wellbeing? 3
SAMPLE • 18 rape crisis service providers • From 7 agencies in 2 NE cities
• Mean years of experience: 11
Provider Sample Position/ Category
n
Lawyer
5
Counselor
5
Advocate
3
Administrator
3
Counselor/ administrator
2
TOTAL
27
4
SAMPLE • 18 rape crisis service providers • From 7 agencies in 2 NE cities
• Mean years of experience: 11 • 9 adult, female survivors of isolated SV
• Mean age: 41 • Mean age at 1 assault: 18 • Mean years since most recent assault: st
16.8
Survivor Sample Race/ethnicity
n
Black/African
1
Non-Hispanic white
5
Latina (any race)
3
Employment status
n
Employed
4
Homemaker
2
Unemployed
2
Disabled
1
• Income range:
