Sexual Assault
A Code of Conduct for How Media Should Interview Trauma Survivors
Reflections from a trauma specialist and survivor.
E. Jean Carroll, Donald Trump, and the Indelible Memory of Assault
Research suggests that victims like E. Jean Carroll tend to remember their assaults vividly. I know because I'm one of them.
What Does Being a Man's 'Type' Have to Do With Harassment and Rape?
President Donald Trump recently defended himself against an accusation of rape by saying the accuser wasn't his type. How much does attraction play into sexual harassment and assault?
The NRA's Losing Case Against Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act
Extreme risk protection orders have worked at the state level.
Martha McSally's Experience With Sexual Assault in the Military Is Part of a 'Silent Epidemic'
Sexual assault in the military affects about 4.3 percent of female service members, but it often goes unreported.
Victims of Campus Sexual Assault and the Accused Stand to Lose From Devos' Proposed Changes to Title IX
The secretary of education's plans threaten to make it more difficult for victims of sexual discrimination to seek justice, and might in turn hinder her goal of strengthening due process.
As the Comment Period for Proposed Title IX Changes Ends, Nearly 100,000 Have Weighed in
Many commenters have raised concerns that the proposal will discourage survivors from coming forward, even in an era when people seem to be speaking out about sexual misconduct more than ever.
How Sexual Assault Victims' Advocates Are Training Doctors to Provide Better Care
Josie Torielli, who works for the NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault, spoke to Pacific Standard about the impact of the #MeToo movement, the importance of SAFETI, and the myth of false reporting.
What America's Science Agencies Are Doing About Harassment
Activists are putting the pressure on the federal government to leverage its money against alleged sexual harassers.
Betsy DeVos Wants to Overhaul Title IX Procedures. What Will That Mean for Campus Assault Survivors?
Cross-examination could soon be a right for those accused of sexual misconduct—but it may not be the most effective way to reveal the truth.
#HimToo Should Be a Conversation About Male Victims of Sexual Assault
Conservatives are trying to use #HimToo to defend Kavanaugh and Trump.
Viewfinder: Harvey Weinstein Goes to Court
Harvey Weinstein arrives at the New York State Supreme Court on October 11th, 2018, in New York City, a year after the sexual assault and harassment charges against him broke.
The Supreme Court Nomination That Tore the Country Apart
The ascendence of Brett Kavanaugh levied considerable damage to all three branches of government.
Quantifying the 'Weinstein Effect' One Year Later
Coverage of sexual harassment and assault allegations is up 30 percent compared to the months immediately before the New York Times published its story about Harvey Weinstein.
False Reports of Sexual Assault Are Rare. But Why Is There So Little Reliable Data About Them?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that false rape reports drastically exceed those of other crimes.
A Man Assaults a Native Woman—and Never Sees a Day in Jail
Seeing these crimes go unpunished can make indigenous communities feel hopeless. But in dark times, I take inspiration from our grandmothers.
Sexual Harassment and Assault Are Understudied Health Risks
They're linked to high blood pressure, insomnia, and depression.
Dispatches: A Historic Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing
News and notes from Pacific Standard staff and contributors.
The Kavanaugh Allegations Rock the United States (in Photos)
The Supreme Court nominee's confirmation hearings touched a raw nerve for survivors of sexual violence.
Kavanaugh's Trip to the Twilight Zone
A legal scholar dissects Thursday's emotionally charged Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing.
Viewfinder: Emotional Moments During Christine Blasey Ford's Testimony
A tear runs down the cheek of Representative Carolyn Malone (D-New York) as Christine Blasey Ford testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on September 27th, 2018.
Kavanaugh Frequently Interrupted Female Senators on Thursday. That Doesn't Bode Well for His Supreme Court Conduct.
And other takeaways from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's Thursday hearing.
For Ford, Could the Senate Hearings Open Up Old Wounds?
Research shows that the trauma of sexual assault lingers for victims, and ruminating over the memory of an assault could re-traumatize survivors.
There Are Best Practices for Interviewing Those Who Report Sex Crimes—and Thursday's Senate Hearing Followed None of Them
An expert on how to best investigate sex crimes responds to Christine Blasey Ford's testimony.