Magnet Senior Project

Running head: SEXUAL VIOLENCE, ECONOMIC SECTORS AND LITERACY
The Correlation between Sexual Violence, Economic Sectors and Literacy Rates
De’De’ Ajavon
North Cobb School for International Studies

SEXUAL VIOLENCE, ECONOMIC SECTORS AND LITERACY 2
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to determine if countries involved specifically in agriculture,
industry or service have higher counts of sexual violence and if countries with lower literacy
rates have higher counts of reported sexual violence. It was hypothesized that countries with
higher literacy rates that were also involved in higher level economics would have a lower
number of reported sexually violent crimes. Literacy rates, population sizes and economic
sectors for 58 countries were collected from the CIA World factbook and the numbers of
sexually violent crimes for these countries were collected from UNODC. The literacy rates and
number of crimes were compared in a scatter plot. No correlation was found. Therefore, the
hypothesis was not supported. The economic sectors and sexually violent crimes could not be
analyzed and compared because of the lack of data. It was concluded that many more of the
developed countries had available data because of their infrastructure and population size.
Because most of the developing countries lacked data, it can be concluded that they have
inadequate infrastructure and are unable to maintain and distribute nation data.

The Correlation between Sexual Violence, Literacy and Economic Sectors
Background: Throughout history, women and men have been treated unequally. For centuries,
gender roles have confined both sexes to specific jobs and have limited their opportunities in all
parts of life. The word ‘gender’ refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and
attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women (WHO, 2014). The word
‘role’ in a sociological context is defined as the expected behavior associated with a status.
Stereotyping plays a huge part in gender roles. Stereotypes are oversimplified conceptions that
people who occupy the same status or group, have in common (John, n.d). For example, men [in
the United States] are expected to be independent, assertive and competitive; females are
expected to be more passive, sensitive and supportive. These beliefs have not changed much over
the past twenty years within the United States, and apparently, around the world as well. Within
the United States, standards usually vary depending on the ethnicity, age, education and
occupation (McGraw, 2003). For example, Mexican-Americans heavily focus on gender roles
because their culture is structured that way. In the Mexican-American culture, women are
usually expected to organize finances, shop, cook, clean and take care of the family. On the other
hand, the males are supposed to provide for the family financially. In contrast, within the
majority of the population of the United States of America, egalitarian attitudes toward gender
roles have increased (Coder, L. & Spiller, S.M., 2013). Egalitarianism is a social philosophy
advocating the removal of inequalities among people (Merriam-Webster dictionary, 2013). It is
also important to recognize that a person’s perception of gender roles will not always stay
consistent; Opinions of gender roles fluctuate (McGraw, 2003). “Gender” also refers to the

differentiation between masculinity and femininity based on social relations, rather than on the
basis of the biological characteristics of males and females (Bhat & Khurshid, 2011). A person
can be biologically female, but identify with the male gender and vice versa. This is important in
the context of gender roles because not all people will live up to the role expectations that are
generally set for the sex they belong to. The inability for people to live up to their specific gender
roles contributes to the widening gender disparity in the world. Gender disparity, or inequality,
means unequal participation or the gap in the achievement of men and women in the educational,
labor force, health services and political spheres of life (Bhat & Khurshid, 2011). This
worldwide widening of gender inequality is caused when people are unable to maintain the roles
and the expectations that are set for them.
Along with low self-esteem issues that accompany the high expectations set for
individuals all around the world, there are numerous crimes committed against them. Abuse,
usually practiced against women, is one of the most widely used forms of crime worldwide.
Abuse is: a corrupt practice or custom; language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly,
intemperately, and angrily; physical mal-treatment (Merriam-Webster dictionary, 2013). There
are four different types of abuse that can occur: physical, sexual, psychological and economic.
Examples of physical abuse are things like slapping, beating, kicking, acid throwing and
stabbing. Some examples of sexual abuse are rape, sexual assault, gang rape, coerced sex
through threats, and sex through physical force, forced marriages, incest, and barter marriages--
which are used to pay off debts a family may have. Psychological abuse goes hand in hand with
both physical abuse and sexual abuse.
Examples of psychological abuse are things like behavior intended to intimidate and
persecute, isolation, taking away a person’s custody of their children, verbal aggression, constant

humiliation and seclusion. Lastly, there is economic abuse. Examples of economic abuse are
denying a person funds, denial of food and basic needs and controlling access to basic health
care (Bhatti, Jamali, Phuloto, Mehmood, & Shaikh, 2011). Sexual harassment is different from
abuse, but still falls under the same category. According to Jones (1996), sexual harassment, at
its core, is the coercive, exploitive, and improper use of power for sexual gratification. In acts of
sexual harassment, the perpetrator receives sexual pleasure by intimidating a target who does not
have the power to retaliate or resist. Domestic violence is as “the inflicting of physical injury by
one family or household member or another; also: a repeated or habitual pattern of such
behavior” (Merriam-Webster dictionary, 2013).
Jones also explains that there are many myths that go along with abuse, harassment and
domestic violence. Many believe that women ask for it because they send mixed signals to men
and that when they say no, they mean yes. Many also believe that males cannot help it and that
certain male behavior is only natural and harmless (1996). A case study completed in the district
of Jacobabad, Sindh, Pakistan concluded that if a woman does not meet the standards of the man
she is married to, most or all of the previously listed forms of abuse will occur (Bhatti et al.,).
Because of the stereotypes associated with men, some find it difficult to believe that
sexual violence can occur against males as well, but it does happen. The statistics relating to
violence against females and males are daunting. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest
National network (RAINN), in the United States of America, 44% of victims were under 18
years of age and 80% were under the age of 30 years. 10% of all victims in the United States, are
male. 54% of assaults go unreported, which explains why 97% of rapists will never spend a day
in jail. The World Health Organization, also known as WHO, compiled a list that includes
possible effects of violence against women. Some of these effects include: increased

vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and STDs/STIs (Sexually transmitted diseases/infections), homicide,
suicide, unintended pregnancies, induced abortions, depression, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder), difficulty sleeping, eating disorders and emotional stress (WHO, 2013). Many of these
crimes against women go unreported by the victims completely out of fear, which is why only
about 3% of rapists are in jail for the crimes they committed (RAINN, 2009). There are also
cases where accused rapists and offenders plead incompetent. Pleading incompetence basically
means that a person cannot understand the criminal charges that are being held against them
and/or the elements of a criminal trial and therefore, cannot participate in their own defense.
A case study called, “Should Competency Be Coerced?” was completed in 1990. It
supported the idea that it is somewhat easier than expected to evade criminal charges of things
like rape and harassment. It was revealed that when a person pleads incompetent, they are also
usually insinuating the plea of insanity. Pleading incompetency makes it more difficult for a
judge to rule on a case because those defendants are held to a different standard. These people
usually go on to receive psychiatric help and are technically waited on until they are competent,
which usually never happens (Reamer & Kelley, 1990). The repercussions and aftermath of acts
of sexual violence on a male can be a little different. Men will experience most of the same
effects as women do, but because of the social constructs that males face, they may think they
should have been strong enough to fight off their attacker. This can lead to self-esteem issues,
depression and other mental illnesses. Adult males and females are not the only victims of sexual
violence. Children also fall victim to sexual violence. According to the results of a United States
survey administered by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 12.3% of female victims and
27.8% of male victims were raped when they were ten years old or younger (CDC, 2014). Sexual
violence against children is more prevalent in lesser developed countries. In 2002, the World

Health Organization estimated that approximately 223 million children all around the world have
been raped or have experienced forms of sexual violence. Millions of others are estimated to
have been exploited for pornography or prostitution (UNICEF, 2011). After experiencing
something as traumatic as rape, children can face not only mental issues like PTSD and
depression, but social problems as well. Victimized children may have trouble with socialization
in environments like school because of the stigma that usually latches on to them, the fear of
being judged or mistreated, discrimination and bullying (UNICEF, 2011). To combat these
sexually violent acts, many international and national organizations have stepped up. Hotlines
and lifelines have been set up by groups like the Trevor Project, UNICEF and RAINN. In
developed nations, therapy groups and sessions are also available for people in need.
Economics is such a global subject because of how encompassing it is. It involves even
the most remote countries because money has to be made somehow. Economic sector is defined
as a division of a country’s population, based upon the economic area in which that population is
employed (Business Dictionay, 2013). Many economists recognize the following five economic
sectors. The primary sector, which includes agriculture, mining and other natural resource
industries; the secondary sector, covering manufacturing, engineering and construction; a tertiary
sector for the service industries; the quaternary sector for intellectual activities involving
education and research and the newly idealized concept of the quinary sector, which is reserved
for high level decision makers in government and industry (2013). Countries like the United
States of America and The United Kingdom are examples of nations that widely participate in
tertiary, quaternary and quinary sectors of the economy. Nigeria and China are examples of
countries that are in the primary and secondary sectors of the economy. On a broader scale, there
are sectors based in agriculture, industry or service

Agriculture, the cultivation and domestication of different plants and animals, became
widely used in the beginnings of human civilization (Diamond, 1999). There are very few
countries that are heavily based on agriculture, most of which are located on the African
continent. Although these countries are reliant on their agrarian way of life, projects have been
started in order for them to shift to industry (AFDB, 2013).
Industry/manufacturing is a very prevalent economic sector. Most countries are involved
in industry, but are not necessarily reliant on it. Countries that manufacture goods usually export
them and/ or sell them to their own citizens and then import other things that they need (CIA
World Fact book, 2013). For example, a large part of China’s economy is comprised of industry
and manufacturing. They export many of their products to countries like the United States of
America.
The service sector, a category that most developed countries fall under, is comprised of
jobs that contribute services to the general public, businesses and corporations. This sector is
important to the commerce of every country. As the infrastructure in developing countries
improves, the country will begin to move to the next sector of economy. Along with the
improvement of infrastructure, the need for education will begin to be emphasized.
Generally, countries involved in higher level economics will have higher levels of social
mobility—the ability to move up or down in the socioeconomic class structure of a country.
Women have always been at a disadvantage when it comes to money and economics. During the
presidency of John F. Kennedy, the President’s Commission on the Status of Women was issued.
This document depicts patterns of employment discrimination, legal inequality, unequal pay and
meager support services between men and women within the United States of America (The
Britannica Guide to Social Movements that Changed the Modern World, 2010).

Education impacts everyone, whether they know it or not. In the early 20th century,
women had very little access to education, due to the restrictions their male counterparts placed
upon them. These restrictions still continue to affect some women around the world. Bhat and
Khurshid (2011) completed a study in India, specifically in the states of Jammu and Kashmir,
that supported the idea that if a state was involved in programs like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyah
(SSA), an organization that promotes girls’ education through equalization of educational
opportunities and elimination of gender disparities, they would see a rise in their total enrollment
of girls into school. Disparities in education cause a paradox because disparities in education
cannot be eradicated without ensuring universal primary education and universal primary
education cannot be ensured without removing gender disparities in education (Bhat & Khurshid,
2011). The literacy rate of a country is also an important factor to consider when referencing
education. Literacy is when a person age 15 has the ability to read and write. Developed
countries almost never have a low literacy rate, while developing countries have low literacy
rates [compared to that of its counterpart].For reference, Afghanistan, a lesser developed country,
has an overall literacy rate of 28.1%. The United States of America, a very developed country,
has an overall literacy rate of 99%. India has an average literacy rate of 62.8% and China has a
high literacy rate of 95.1% (CIA 2012). It is important to realize that some countries, like China,
may have high literacy rates, but are not necessarily as developed compared to countries like The
United States of America. The United States of America, Finland and South Korea are some of
the countries among the top ranked in the developed world for education (Zhao, 2012). There are
a couple reasons that education is not available in countries similar to Afghanistan. An extremely
important reason is that there is a gender imbalance in some countries. The stronger cultural
preference for boys in particular countries or regions like China, leads to a greater gender

disparity in the educational sector. In 1979, China introduced the one child policy. This policy
was created to handle the rapid population growth in China. The one child policy, also known as
the family planning policy, stated that any given family was only allowed to have one child. This
one child was almost always a boy because the country of China valued males more than
females. To prevent the birth of a female, pregnant mothers would induce abortion if the gender
of the fetus was known. This contributes to the already present gap between females and males.
In more simplified terms, if females continue to be discriminated against in these countries or
regions they will, rarely, if ever, have a chance at education. This is completely astonishing
because the disparities between males and females in education could transfer into other areas of
life and widen the gap, between men and women, even farther.
As the Earth’s population continues to increase, more and more problems come to the
forefront. There are questions about the availability of food and water, the age paradox occurring
in countries like japan, lack of infrastructure in developing nations and limitations in education
and economics. When a country is developing, the main focus is put on the setting up of or the
correction of the government. At this point, social issues, as far as education and crime, are
normally ignored and are handled individually by the citizens.
Sexual violence continues to occur worldwide and all kinds of people are victimized by it
every day. The increasing rates of literacy and the higher amount of countries in the tertiary
sector of economy are good indicators that sexual violence may decrease over time. As more and
more people become knowledgeable about the subject and have resources to fully deal with it, it
is much more manageable and possibly easier to detect and stop.

Methods: A list of 58 countries was randomly generated. To find the economic sector of a
specific country, the researcher went to the CIA World factbook, clicked on the drop down bar
that says “Please select a country to view”. The researcher then selected Afghanistan from the
list, then scrolled halfway down the page, clicked economy, and scrolled down to find the section
labeled as ‘GDP-Composition, by sector of origin’. The percentages for agriculture, industry and
services were recorded individually. These steps were repeated for the remaining 57 countries.
To find the literacy rates for a specific country, the researcher went to the CIA world
factbook, found Afghanistan on the list and individually recorded the literacy rate for the total
population, males and females. These steps were repeated for the remaining 57 countries.
To find the sexual violence statistics, the researcher downloaded the “Total Sexual
Violence Count at the National Level, number of police reported offences” Excel spreadsheet
from UNODC. For each country, the number offences from 2011 were recorded. If the country
had no available data, “No Data” was recorded.
The literacy rates collected were compared to the sexual violence counts by using a scatter plot
and finding an r-squared value. A table was created to compare economic sectors and average
counts of sexual violence. Another table was created to see the affect literacy rates had on the
unavailability of data.
Materials:
 Internet Access
 Pens
 Paper
 Printer ink

Budget: Internet access was provided by Cobb County.
Results: The following results display the analysis of sexual crimes versus literacy rate and
economic sectors and the unavailability of data.
The r-squared value of 0.0261 shows that the correlation between literacy rates and the number
of crimes reported has no correlation.
y = 308.9x - 19923
R² = 0.0261
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
45000
50000
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
ReportedCountsofSexualViolence(2011)
Literacy Rates
The Correlation between Literacy Rates
and the Number of Reported Crimes
Series1
Linear (Series1)
Economic Sector Average Count of Reported Sexual Violence Cases
in 2011
Agriculture Not Available
Industry Not Available
Service 9358.4
The Effect of Economic Sector on Sexual
Violence in 2011

The table on the previous page shows that countries mostly involved with either agriculture or
industry are unable to maintain and produce public information and data. The average for service
may be skewed because very large ranges of numbers were used.
This table shows that data is highly unavailable in countries with medium to low literacy rates.
Discussion: From the low r-squared value, it can be concluded that developed nations do have
higher counts of sexual violence. Other research supports the idea that developed countries are
more likely to report crimes. People in developed countries are able to do so because of the
infrastructure that is in place. Because of the justice system in developed countries, people that
have committed sexually violent crimes, or any other crimes, almost have a guarantee of being
punished in some way. Since there are written laws that are enforced, there are less repeat
offenders. These developed countries also have large populations which would be another
explanation of why there are so many counts. In this specific data, it was found that literacy has
little to no impact on the number of crimes that occurred, which is not true because being able to
Literacy Rate Group
(percent interval)
# of Countries w/
Unavailable Data
Total # of Countries % Unavailable
High (80-100) 21 42 50%
Medium (60-79) 9 11 82%
Low (59<) 5 5 100%
The Effect of Literacy Rate on the
Unavailability of Sexual Violence Data

read and write would allow a person to be aware of the laws and rules that are enforced
nationally. This data could have been skewed because there was a large range of numbers used in
the sexual violence data. Again, this range occurred because of the population differences
between developed and undeveloped countries and also because many countries did not have
their data available. The most major finding was that many countries did not have available data.
That is significant because those countries had medium to low literacy rates and/ or were based
in agriculture or industry. This supports the idea that countries all around the world with lower
literacy rates that are involved in lower level economics lack infrastructure and the ability and/or
the necessary resources to log information and data.
This study is extremely relevant in the today’s world, as well as in the future. It points out the
flaws and problems developing nations endure. Violence around the world is inescapable. That
could possibly come from the gender roles people are expected to have or from the lack of
knowledge and resources. In developed countries, eliminating discrimination and inequality is a
major priority because developed countries are usually fully functional. On the other hand,
developing countries are more heavily focused on problems with infrastructure and political
unrest rather than education and societal issues. This is because social plans and education
cannot be implemented without having a strong government to support it. This study could
possibly change lives because people all over the world are suffering. This sheds light on the fact
that developing nations are struggling and they maybe need help to get things running. The
governments of underdeveloped and developing countries could possibly realize that a stronger
emphasis needs to be placed on education and economics in order for their countries to grow and
thrive. If not everyone can become educated, the populations of the world will keep falling
victim to their own ignorance. There would be a lack of knowledge about ethics and how to

generally treat people. People would continue to whatever they please without thinking of how
their decisions and actions affect others. When countries become more aware of the way their
citizens are being treated, they will eventually realize that their country needs change.
Adding each country’s representatives as an independent variable would be interesting. It would
be insightful to see how many men and women were responsible in nationwide lawmaking.
To improve upon this research, it would be helpful to have access to more international
databases. These databases could give deeper information into the specific laws in each country
and about how that country makes money. It was difficult to individually research each of the 58
countries to try to find what was legal or illegal in that specific country. Working with people
that have background and experience in the social sciences would be very helpful because they
could have access to useful databases and they could help make sure that countries were being
judged on their own standards. Also, another improvement would be choosing a larger number of
countries. By choosing a larger sample size, the data results could possibly reflect less dramatic
result. The lack of data was a huge problem because the numbers that were available had large
gaps between them.

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Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank Ms. Johnson and Coach Fraundorf for their support and guidance through this
research. They are greatly appreciated.

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