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Legally defined, a sexual assault is sexual relations against a person's will and without consent committed by a stranger, date, friend, partner, spouse or casual acquaintance and may included aggression, control, and/or power inequality. Most people only think of Sexual Assault as rape or coerced and/or forced sexual intercourse, sometimes with added physical violence. Sexual Assault may also include: unwelcome, non-consensual jokes, voyeurism ("Peeping Tom"), exhibitionism, undisclosed sexual photographing or videotaping, forced touching in a sexual manner and/or forcing someone to engage in unwanted sexual touch. Adult sexual assault/abuse can be male on female, male on male, female on female, or female on male and can happen to anyone regardless of race, socio-economic status, sexual preference, age or gender. You are not to blame, even if you have been sexually intimate with that person or with others before. You were drinking or using drugs. You froze and did not or could not say "no". You were unable to fight back physically. You were wearing clothes that others may see as seductive.
First Steps If You've Just Been Sexually Assaulted
Female Sexual Assault/Abuse Whether you choose to report your assault or not, seek immediate medical attention. The medical exam is conducted for your protection. Timing is very important and should be performed immediately after the assault, but can be performed up to 72 hours after, while the evidence is still able to be collected. IMPORTANT: DO NOT change your clothes, bathe, shower, douche, comb your hair, go to the bathroom, drink, eat, smoke, brush your teeth or gargle, before you go to the hospital or see a doctor. Bring a change of clothes to wear home after the exam as your clothing may be sealed as evidence. If you have already changed your clothes, place the worn clothing in a paper bag to take to the hospital. A description of the assault will help the physician with the rape exam. It may also be used as evidence if there is a prosecution. (Please see: What Happens in a Rape/Medical Exam)
Child Sexual Assault/Abuse is any situation in which an
adult or someone significantly older than the victim threatens, forces, or
manipulates a child into sexual activity including: inappropriate
touching, sexual contact, including through clothing:, sexual intercourse,
exposing one's sexual organs in an inappropriate manner, engaging in
activities related to child pornography, child prostitution, permitting,
encouraging or forcing a child to watch sexual activities of others,
allowing others to sexually abuse/exploit a child; encouraging or forcing
a child to engage in sexual activity with any person or with animals; or
other sexually explicit conduct. Many offenders take advantage of
their position of trust and/or authority and don't need to use physical
force with children. Approximately 1 in 4 females and 1 in 7
males are reported to have been sexually abused by the age of 18.
Children rarely talk about sexual abuse they are experiencing
due to many factors, such as fear, shame, guilt or not having the
vocabulary to be able to explain what has happened to
them. Develop a vocabulary for body parts with your
child, so s/he will have the proper words to express what has happened to
them. Teach your child that their bodies belong to them and it's OK
to say "NO". Help your child learn the difference between
good secrets and bad secrets. If abuse does occur; let your
child know that you believe them and that it is not her or her fault that
they were assaulted.
Male Sexual Assault/Abuse Men fall victim for the same reasons as women: they are incapacitated, coerced, and/or overwhelmed by threats of acts of physical and emotional violence. It is a myth that gay men are more likely to perpetrate sexual assault on males. The facts exist to support that perpetrators can be anyone. In 98% of rape cases, rapists are heterosexual men. 24% of male victims of sexual molestation were victimized by females. Sexual assault/abuse can be emotionally devastating because many victims may feel partially responsible . Common response to male sexual assault/abuse will be many of the same reactions as females have as well as:
About 75% of men and 55% of women involved in acquaintance rape had been drinking prior to the attack. ROHYPNOL ("ROOFIES") - The date rape drug Rohypnol, also commonly know as "roofies," "la rocha," or "roachies" is a prescription sleeping medication that is illegal in the United States. It is an odorless, colorless and tasteless tablet that dissolves quickly in liquid and can easily be slipped into a victim's drink without their knowledge. An individual who has been slipped a "roofie" may appear to be very drunk, after drinking a small amount or no alcohol at all. The effects of "roofies" include: lowered inhibitions, impaired judgment, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, lethargy, impaired motor skills and memory loss while drugged such as temporary amnesia. Serious complications, including coma and death, can occur if Rohypnol is consumed in high amounts and/or combined with alcohol. GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB) - The date rape drug Gamma-Hydroxybutyrat (GHB), also commonly know as "Georgia Home Boy" or "Grievous Bodily Harm," has never been approved for any medical uses in the United States. While GHB is not currently listed as a federally controlled substance, it is illegal in many states to manufacture, possess or sell GHB. Most GHB used today is "homegrown" by non-professionals in their homes thus allowing for significant differences in purity, concentration and potency, making its effects extremely unpredictable. GHB is most commonly a clear, liquid that is colorless, odorless, with a salty taste. It can be easily mixed into a drink. The effects of GHB include: deep sedation, unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, acid burns, respiratory depression, respiratory arrest, seizures, coma and death. ALCOHOL - The impact of alcohol is frequently underestimated. Drinking alcohol may put a person at a higher risk for sexual assault due to lowered inhibitions, uneven judgment, their perceptions becoming blurred, confusion, dizziness - impaired coordination/ motor functioning, memory loss, blackouts or unconsciousness, These effects can leave a person vulnerable to sexual assault, making one's ability to resist an attack lessened. Some people may purposefully "feed" others alcohol before coercing of forcing sex in order to reduce their defenses. People who consume too much alcohol and are alone, often become targets for individuals or groups of individuals who are "scouting" for a victim. An individual cannot consent to sexual intercourse when intoxicated or drugged to the point that one cannot make, clear, rational decisions or has passed out.
What Happens in a Rape/Medical Exam The rape/medical exam is conducted for your protection. Timing is very important and should be preformed immediately after the assault, but can be performed up to 72 hours after, while the evidence is still able to be collected. IMPORTANT: DO NOT change your clothes, bathe, shower, douche, comb your hair, go to the bathroom, drink, eat, smoke, brush your teeth or gargle, before you go to the hospital or see a doctor. Bring a change of clothes to wear home after the exam as your clothing may be sealed as evidence. If you have already changed your clothes, place the worn clothing in a paper bag to take to the hospital. A description of the assault will help the physician with the rape exam. It may also be used as evidence if there is a prosecution. Even if you do not intend to prosecute, seek medical attention immediately. Common elements of a typical rape/medical exam?
The last step will be the follow-up procedures for the medical and/or rape exam:
Even if you choose not to have the rape exam, seeking a medical exam at any time after the assault is very important for your personal health. If you think you may have been drugged, a free drug test is available and requires a urine sample within 72 hours of suspected drug ingestion. This test will also screen alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazephines, cocaine, GHB, marijuana, and opiates.
Common Reactions - Victims of sexual assault/abuse may experience a wide range of various physical and emotional reactions to their trauma. Individuals vary in the way they handle and cope with their victimization. Some reactions may be triggered by people, places or things connected with the assault. Other reactions may happen "out of the blue." Most reactions are normal and temporary reactions to an abnormal event. Some typical reactions include:
Being Sexually assaulted is never your fault.
How to Protect Yourself Against
Sexual Assault:
Being Sexually assaulted is never your fault.
Even if you get a medical exam or a rape exam, you still do not have to report the sexual attack to Law Enforcement unless you want to. If you seek medical attention, a police report may be taken at the hospital or you may file a report with your local police department, if you choose. If you require medical or mental health treatment as a direct result of being a victim of a violent crime such as sexual assault/abuse, domestic violence or child abuse, you may be eligible to receive assistance from the Crime Victims Compensation Program.
RAPE CRISIS CENTER HOTLINES
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