Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

Firstly, I want to start off this discussion of sexual violence with a trigger warning. In this article I’ll be discussing sensitive topics such as rape and sexual assault.

Every year since 2001, April has been the start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), in which companies, organizations, and individuals come together to raise community awareness about sexual violence and resources available to survivors. According to the CDC, more than 1 in 3 women, and nearly 1 of 4 men have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. Sexual violence can impact survivors in a wide variety of ways, some of which include the development of depression, anxiety, PTSD, disordered eating, sleep disturbances, and change in libido. In my opinion, one of the most pressing issues regarding sexual violence today is rape culture.

Rape culture is a concept which exists in environments in which rape, coersion, and other forms of sexual violence are normalized and excused, and victims are blamed for the actions of their perpetrator. Rape culture is extremely prevalent across North America, in places like fraternities and large party environments, though many deny its existence. It is perpetuated through things like the use of misogynistic language, joking or making a mockery out of rape, and the romanticization of sexual violence. Though both men and women can be victims of sexual violence, rape culture predominantly affects women. As its roots stem from historical patriarchal systems that were designed to put women in a lesser position, most women live in fear of being sexually assaulted. Women are taught to alter their actions taken in their daily lives to protect themselves from getting raped, assaulted, or harassed. Since adolescence, most girls are told to never walk alone at night, hold their keys between their knuckles, and to dress in a manner that won’t draw unwanted attention towards them. The sad thing is, since adolescence, most boys are not taught to not make misogynistic comments, or to treat women as their equals, and not as “prizes” or “goals”. So, if someone tells you that they’ve been a victim of rape or some other form of sexual violence, take them seriously. Speak out against your friends who make rape jokes and don’t seem to be concerned about consent or respect when talking about women. Hold them accountable for their sexist words, attitudes, and actions.

So what can you do? If you or a friend have been a victim of some form of sexual violence, it’s okay to feel ashamed, guilty, or embarrassed. It’s okay if you don’t want to tell anyone right away, or for years after the event, but remember that you don’t have to keep it a secret. What happened to you is not right, and it’s not your fault. Keep in mind though, if you’re living in the US, that statutes of limitations may be something you need to consider. When a crime is committed, there is a certain amount of time that a state has to charge the perpetrator. After this time has passed, they can no longer be charged with that crime. These laws vary state by state, but a simple Google search can give you the information you need.

I want to emphasize that as a society, we should not be telling survivors what they could have done differently to prevent the crime, or that they need to work harder at protecting themselves, rather we should be teaching young men and women about consent, respect, and the dangers of a misogynistic outlook on the world. Lastly, recovering from sexual violence is a process that looks different for everyone. It may take weeks, months, or years, but there is no timeline you’re meant to follow. There are a number of resources that can help you through your healing process, such as therapy and support groups. These are confidential, safe spaces where you can openly share about your experiences and feelings, hopefully without feeling judgement or guilt. You are not alone, and you are not at fault.

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Sources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, December 16). Sexual Violence is Preventable.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/sexual-violence/index.html#:~:text=Nearly%201%20in%205%20women,it%20occurred%20before%20age%2010

• Pazzanese, C. (2020, August 26). How rape culture shapes whether a survivor is believed. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/08/how-rape-culture-shapes-whether-a-survivor-is-believed/.

• SAAM 2021 - We Can Build Safe Online Spaces. National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (n.d.). https://www.nsvrc.org/saam.

• Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics. RAINN. (n.d.). https://www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence.