April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center is raising public awareness about sexual violence (focusing on sexual assault and rape) and educating communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.
What is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence occurs when someone is forced or coerced/manipulated into unwanted sexual activity without agreeing or consenting. Reasons someone might not be able to consent include fear, being underage, having an illness or disability, or being incapacitated due to alcohol or other drugs. Consent can be initially given, and then later withdrawn.
Sexual violence is a crime that comes in many forms, including forced intercourse, sexual contact or touching, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, and exposure or voyeurism.
An important point to keep in mind is that sexual violence is never the victim’s fault, regardless of what she or he is wearing or doing, including if the victim has been drinking or is in a relationship with the perpetrator.
Sexual Violence on Campus
- Over the course of an average 5-year college career, it is estimated that between 20% and 25% of college women will become victims of completed or attempted rape.
- Among college women, 9 in 10 victims of rape and sexual assault knew their offender.
- Almost 12.8% of completed rapes, 35% of attempted rapes, and 22.9% of threatened rapes happened during a date.
- Among college women, only 12% of rapes were reported to law enforcement (Kilpatrick et al., 2007). Common reasons that victims do not report sexual assault include: fear of the assailant, fear of being disbelieved, and lack of faith in the system.
- Alcohol is the most common date rape drug. Use of alcohol by the victim or the perpetrator does not lessen the offender’s responsibility for the act of violence.
How Can You Help?
- Listen and don’t judge. Let the victim know that he or she is not to blame for what happened.
- Tell the victim that you believe him or her. Let them know that you believe and will support them.
- Refer the victim to resources on campus and in the community to talk with individuals who are trained on these issues.
Resources