Response to Campbells Response to Rape Article

Campbell's study on the Community Response to Rape seems to focus on the Symbolic Interactionism at work in the situation of rape. There was a huge emphasis on how rape victims interpreted their reality and how their advocates, the legal, medical and mental health systems interpreted the meanings behind the rape victims actions. The study found in interesting set of variables that affected the successful prosecution of the rapist, the likelihood of all health concerns being addressed for the rape victim, and the continued mental health support of the rape victim. If the victim exhibited "good victim" behavior they were more likely to receive the help they wanted. If they did not, then it seems that their advocates and the personnel in the institutions designed to help them didn't know how to interpret their actions so they would "back off" helping the rape victim. Unfortunately if a rape victim didn't react with the traditional crying and cooperative assent they didn't receive important information regarding the opportunities for continued medical and mental health support. Rape victims reality was greatly affected by the availability of an advocate, the existence of a rape crisis team, and prosecution process.

The study also addressed the attitudes and perceptions of the people in positions to assist the rape victim. Advocates in some situations were hesitant to push the issue of prosecution with law enforcement if investigators deemed the case unfit to continue. The advocate's concern with creating barriers for the next victim is a good example of symbolic interactionism at work. Even though the advocate hoped that more could be done, they stopped short at demanding more so that the next time they had to ask law enforcement for help they wouldn't have burned any bridges.

They symbols of what truly constituted a rape were indicative of the world view. If the rape didn't cause visible physical injuries to the rape victim or if a weapon wasn't used it wasn't deemed as a serious crime. Also if the rape victim knew her rapist it seems the world view wasn't as sympathetic to the rape victim. Those visible symbols of a crime, the injuries and the weapon were important to whether the rape was successfully prosecuted.

The inconsistent medical help given to rape victims was very concerning. The study didn't delve into the meanings behind these actions or inactions as the case may be. Why did only certain victims receive important information and medical care for STD's and pregnancy? The process to collect bodily fluids and document injuries seemed firmly in place, why the difference in the medical care for the prevention of STD's and pregnancy? Was it simply the lack of training for personnel, or was it something more to do with the individual's attitudes and perceptions of the rape victim? Or even how the medical personnel interpreted the meanings of the rape victims behavior?

The study was eye opening and addresses an important issue in our society. It highlighted the need for education for the legal, medical, and mental health systems so that they may better meet the various needs of all rape victims.