Title: The Impact of Increased Sexual Offenses on Women's Lives
Gang rapes and serious sexual offenses hit an all-time high in 2022, with 789 reported cases, a 16.55% increase over the previous year's 677 reports. According to BILD's print edition on September 22, 2023, this alarming surge disproportionately impacted young women, leaving them feeling more scared and vulnerable than ever before (As reported by BILD in the print edition on September 22, 2023).
Living in Fear
"They are more afraid," says Erika Krause-Schöne (56), the women's chairwoman of the police union GdP. "There are more areas of fear than before: not just the way home, but also the park or swimming pools." This rising fear among women is evident in the increased number of calls to the free "Heimwegtelefon" (030/12 74 182) after 8 p.m. Volunteer operator Daniel (32) shared that the number of calls has quadrupled since 2019 (What does this do to the lives of young women?).
Ways to Protect and React
The advice for women under threat is to speak up confidently and call for help. Fabian Puchelt (33), spokesman for the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, encourages women to yell, "Leave me alone!" and seek help from passersby directly ("Speak up when in danger!"). Moreover, he advises against using pepper spray as it can sometimes backfire during the chaos. Instead, he recommends setting off a pocket alarm, as most perpetrators tend to flee at the sound (How should victims behave?).
The Perpetrators
Ninety-eight percent of the sexual assaults were perpetrated by male individuals. Most of the young attackers were German nationals, with the largest group being 14 to 18 years old. Older suspects, however, were frequently foreign nationals and under the influence of alcohol (Who are the attackers?).
Researchers argue that the primary motivations behind these violent acts are not primarily sexual desire but peer pressure and the desire to assert power. Dr. Stefan Luft from the University of Bremen states, "Acceptance and treatment of violence are different today. Sexual violence serves to humiliate and punish" (On September 20, 2023, BILD reported in its print edition on the case in the swimming pool).
Prevalence of Gang Rapes in Cities
The majority of the sexual crimes occurred in cities with over 100,000 inhabitants. Gang rapes and serious sexual offenses are predominantly urban phenomena (Has it always been like this?).
The Future
Since 1987, the number of sexual offenses has been consistently rising. Despite the public debate on the origin of the perpetrators, nearly half of the reported offenses involved German nationals (Do we need tougher penalties?). The psychologist Ahmad Mansour suggests that these behaviors arise when individuals are socialized in societies with different gender roles and sexual taboos, and that the misconception of victims' availability exacerbates the issue (Ahmad Mansour (47) is a German-Israeli psychologist and author).
In conclusion, the alarming surge in gang rapes and sexual offenses has gravely affected the daily lives of young women in Germany by causing fear, limiting their freedom, and impacting their mental and emotional well-being. Addressing the issue through education, violence prevention programs, and support structures can help reduce the incidence of these crimes and create a safer environment for all women.
