The Troubling Statistic: 1 In 5 women in the United States has been raped at some point in their lives

The troubling statistic, One in five women in the United States (more than 23 million) have been raped in their lifetimes, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The statistics are astonishing and paints a frightening picture of society.

Even scarier— an estimated 46.7 % of female victims of rape (almost half) had at least one perpetrator who was an acquaintance, and 45.4% of female rape victims had at least one perpetrator who was an intimate partner.

– More than 31% of women in the United States have been physically abused by a current or former partner at some point in their lives.

Additionally, an estimated 22.3% of women have experienced severe physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner.

– Intimate partner violence covers “physical, sexual or psychological harm.”

– Most sexual violence occurs before the age of 25.

– 43.9 percent of women reported experiencing some sort of sexual violence during their lifetimes.

– 19.3 percent of women in the United States  have been the victim of rape.

– Multiracial women have the greatest risk, with 32 percent having been raped during their lifetime.

– 27.3% of women have experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact during their lifetimes.

– Unwanted sexual contact includes completed or attempted forced penetration; alcohol- or drug- facilitated penetration; being made to penetrate a perpetrator; being coerced into unwanted penetration; or experiencing unwanted kissing, fondling, or other non-penetrative behaviors.

– About 3 in 10 women reported unwanted sexual experiences that did not include physical contact such as being flashed or forced to view sexually explicit material.

– Nearly half of women in the U.S. having experienced at least one act of psychological aggression by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.

The important thing to note here is that, all of these research studies are the result of women actually telling researchers that they were abused.

While the response rate for the survey wasn’t all that high (about 33%), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers conclude that the results likely underestimate how common such violence is in the United States. To read more of the study click here.

I’m sad to have to report this, but the news is important: Even one victim is too many when it comes to sexual and physical violence!!!

====> So what can you do? How do we start the long road to changing statistics like these?

What do you think is the best approach to this problem? Tell us in the comments or tweet us: @ceoworld.