Rates of rape, sexual assault in Pennsyltucky are much higher than official statistics

Official rates of rape and child sexual assault in Pennsyltucky —western and central sections of Pennsylvania, which are geographically and/or culturally part of Appalachia—are significantly higher than the rest of the state, Emma Eisenberg reports for Salon. But actual numbers are estimated to be even higher because of the high number of incidents that go unreported. (Wikipedia map: Pennsyltucky)

"Nationwide, experts believe the available numbers on rural sexual assault underestimate the problem," Eisenberg writes. "A 2003 report from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center found that in rural areas, the numbers of those who seek crisis services far exceed the number of reported rapes. The NSVRC hypothesizes that underreporting, a major factor in all states, is especially pronounced in rural areas because of the low population density, which means victims probably know or have significant relationships with their attackers."

Studies show "that the closer the relationship between the victim and the offender, the less likely a victim is to report," Eisenberg writes. Other factors include not wanting to report rape to a police officer victims know on a personal level, lack of cell phone service and public transportation, poor roads and long distances to travel to reach law enforcement and crisis centers.

Susan Lewis, who wrote the National Sexual Violence Resource Center report, wrote, “Sexual assaults in rural areas are mostly hidden crimes, hidden both intentionally and unintentionally by characteristics of a close-knit culture or an isolated lifestyle.” A program director in a rural Pennsylvania, identified in the report only as Tanya, said, “Rural people don’t report unless they have to." (Read more)