The Mind & The Shield
Using research to understand emotions — and action to prevent harm
My psychology research focuses on how music-centered mentorship and supportive environments influence emotional well-being, especially among young people.
I aim to understand the link between creative expression, self-confidence, and social connection — and how these elements can protect against anxiety, depression, and isolation.
Sexual violence prevention campaign
Name
Lynn Sung
Location
South Korea, Seoul
Year
2020 - 2021
The research is held to see the reality of the victims of sexual violence today. I did the research to figure out what we need to change and what are possible improvements to make in order to protect them.
Research summary
The real issue with sexual violence is not how to prevent all possible sexual assaults. Of course, removing all potential sexual violence is our goal and everyone's will; however, as of now, we need to protect the victims and prepare a place for them to feel safe and accepted. According to my research, there were severe issues on how sexual violence-issued victims are being treated in society today. They are often bullied in school, not getting enough help from the government to protect their rights and privacy. They are already suffering from the violence itself and receive more mental attacks from the people surrounding them. What does the law exist for? Laws exist to protect the people, the weak, and the victims from the perpetrators. As I researched, there were no proper laws to protect or take care of the victims after the incidents, but rather create more perpetrators to make them suffer even more. This is a severe issue. This should not be happening in the world, where we should feel safe. Rather than talking about what happened to her and why that happened to him, we need to stop asking questions to them. We have to emphasize with them to heal their torn heart. We need to plan a way to provide them with safe care and needs whenever they need it. Lastly, to educate people on these issues to change their perceptions on these kinds of problems to create a protective army for the victims to feel safe in their environment.
Research
The issue of sexual violence is happening worldwide, in reality. However, unfortunately, it is an issue that does not get resolved even though the government reinforces the laws targeting those problems. Furthermore, the issues regarding sexual violence took place on multiple platforms because we live in a world where we use various technologies, including TVs, phones, and the most, the internet. Therefore, sexual violence is active on and off and online; we call them cyber sexual assault.
The bigger problem of sexual violence is that it does not end on the violence itself. Instead, the problem is creating more issues even after the primary offense, creating a secondary offense. A secondary offense is an attack towards the victims of sexual violence by the people surrounding the victim through insults, rumors, and whispers that damage the victim's mental health and heart, making them suffer even more.
According to the research, the victims are suffering due to the lack of support that the government gives. The news article" '국세청, 성추행 피해자 2차 가해 방치...결국 피해자는 목숨 끊었다." talks about the sexual harassment took place at the Korean National Tax Service center. The victim was harassed by her supervisor, and the harassment issue continued even after she reported to the police. She had to continue to work with the preparator for three months, and not only that but had to go through the rumors surrounding her, that includes "the supervisor took care of you," "Your behavior was not appropriate," blaming her for the crime that has taken place. As a result, she could not hold up the rumors and the gossips. She gave up on her life. This incident shows how the government is not doing anything for the victims. The government should have protected her from the preparator after her report to create a safe environment that she could live.
It is wordless that this kind of problem is continuing today in Korea and worldwide. The laws need to be changed, and people's perceptions towards the victims have to be educated. I will continue to tell the world the reality of this and to encourage the victims to live the world with more confidence and less fear. We have to tell them that what happened to them is not their fault. Rather than talking about what happened to her and why that happened to him, we need to stop asking questions to them. We have to emphasize with them to heal their torn heart. We need to plan a way to provide them with safe care and needs whenever they need it. Lastly, to educate people on these issues to change their perceptions on these kinds of problems to create a protective army for the victims to feel safe in their environment.
Research reflection
After the research, I thought about what I could do to help them. First, of course, I will continue to tell the world about these issues in schools and other platforms. However, I wanted something more realistic and helpful to help the victims in my way. I thought about my talents and what I am good at. I immediately thought about my violin. I am a violin player, and I thought I could hold a fundraising concert to help them directly. The funds raised by this concert were donated to the Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center. This fundraiser is not the end of the action of my research. I will continue to pay attention to sexual violence and find specific preventive measures and fundraising activities to prevent this from happening any more.
Research data
