Are Women Underreporting Rapes As A Result Of The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?

Advocacy groups for sexual assault victims, as well as women’s groups like NOW, fear that the “messy, high-profile case, with its public glare on past faults of the accuser” involving Dominique Strauss-Kahn and the hotel maid accusing him of attempted rape may prevent victims from reporting instances of sexual violence:

“I can see victims out there contemplating coming forward, and saying, ‘What’s the point?'” says Bakalar, whose attacker is serving a 20-year sentence for the rape. “If they’re on the fence, and they see this, instead of taking a step forward they might take a step back.”