Understanding the Issue
Sexual violence is any unwanted sexual contact. Someone the victim knows perpetrates most sexual violence. It can be a friend, classmate, co-worker, date, neighbor or relative. Force can be actual physical aggression, threats of force, emotional coercion or psychological blackmailing.
In many cases, a lack of clear communication or a lack of understanding as to the differences in gender communication can lead to sexual assault, and this is more likely to happen in dating or romantic situations.
Facts and Figures
The majority of all rapes of women are known as acquaintance rapes, in which the victim knows her attacker. Between 62% and 84% of survivors knew their attacker.
In a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease control of 5,000 college students at over 100 colleges, 20% of women answered “yes” to the question “In your lifetime have you been forced to submit to sexual intercourse against your will?” Thus, one in five college women has been raped at some point in her lifetime.
Sexual violence remains a most dramatically underreported crime. 42% of rape survivors told no one about the rape.
Statistic Source and for more information: http://www.oneinfourusa.org/statistics.php
Common Reactions to Sexual Assault
Fear and Anxiety. Individuals who are victims of sexual assault will probably experience a heightened sense of fear and anxiety. This may happen when they remember their assault, or it may be triggered spontaneously.
Re-experiencing the Trauma. Individuals who have been assaulted often re-experience the event, sometimes through flashbacks or nightmares.
Increased Arousal. Victims may feel jumpy, jittery, shaky, easily startled, and have trouble concentrating and sleeping. Continuous arousal can lead to impatience and irritability, especially if the victim is not getting enough sleep.
Avoidance. Individuals who have experienced sexual assault may avoid situations that remind them of the assault.
Anger. Victims may feel angry, not only with the assailant, but also with others.
Feelings of Guilt and Shame. Many rape victims blame themselves for the things that they did or did not do during the assault. Victims sometimes experience feelings of blame from others about their assault.
Depression. Depression is a common reaction to a sexual assault. Rape victims may feel down, sad, hopeless and full of despair. They may cry more often, and lose interest in people and activities that they used to enjoy. They may also feel that their lives are not worth living.
Self Image. Rape victims tend to view themselves and the world more negatively than prior to the assault. They also may experience difficulties trusting others, and difficulties with being intimate with others. Their relationships with other may become tense.
Ways to help if someone you know is a victim of sexual assault
•Follow the protocol that has been established at your University for handling victims of sexual assault.
• Encourage the victim to report the crime, and to obtain medical attention. On many college campuses, victims can report rape and keep their identity concealed as a “Jane Doe”, which gets the crime on record with appropriate authorities, and gives the victim time to decide how they want to handle the sexual assault. Proper medical attention is a must, so that the victim can be examined, treated, and physical evidence can be collected.
•Understand that part of the healing process is the victim feeling empowered to make his or her own choices about how the sexual assault should be handled. As much as you may feel that an assault victim should pursue a certain course, it is important that you allow the victim to make decisions about how to deal with the assault after it has occurred. This is important to the healing process.
•Don’t be judgmental. Women do not provoke rape because of how they dress, talk or behave. Rapists look for victims who are accessible and vulnerable.
•Do not place blame on the victim. Rape is not the victim’s fault. Regardless of the circumstances prior to the rape, rape victims do not ask to be sexually assaulted. Reassure the victim that the sexual assault was not their fault.
•Give comfort. The victim will need a great deal of nurturing and support.
•Do not make judgements as to whether a victim is telling the truth or not. Passing judgement on the rape is someone else’s responsibility. Remember that according to FBI statistics, only 1 to 2 % of assaults is suspected to be false, which is approximately the same rate for false reports for other crimes.
•Don’t minimize the trauma of being raped by someone you know. Individuals who are victims of acquaintance rape deal with extensive emotional issues, which are in many ways similar to the issues that manifest after a stranger rape. Additionally, victims of acquaintance rape also suffer and must work through the issues of being victimized by someone that they trusted and knew.
•Encourage the victim to not stay alone. Although it is ultimately the victim’s choice, encourage them to contact a close friend who can stay with them at night initially after the assault.
•Encourage the victim to seek out support through a hotline, counseling center, or rape crisis center. Individuals trained in sexual assault issues can best help and support the sexual assault victim.