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What is Sexual
Assault? Any forms of unwanted or unwelcome sexual activity.
It includes rape, attempted rape, child sexual abuse, incest, sexual harassment,
marital rape, voyeurism, exposure and sodomy. Even with better laws
and increased public education and awareness, many old beliefs persist.
These misconceptions may lead to victim blaming, failure to report rape
and low arrest and conviction rates.
First steps to change the
situation is to know the facts:
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Sexual assaults are acts of
violence committed primarily out of anger and/or need to feel powerful
by controlling, dominating or humiliating the victim.
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Victims of sexual assault are
forced, coerced or manipulated to participate in unwanted sexual activity.
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Victims of sexual assault do
not cause their assaults and are not to blame. Offenders are responsible
for the assaults.
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Most perpetrators know their
victims and plan their assaults.
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More assaults occur at or in
victims’ homes than at other locations.
Sexual assault is a major life
crisis. It interrupts normal life at home, work or school, with family,
friends or co-workers. Women of color, lesbians and gay or straight
males must often deal with cultural stereotypes and prejudice in addition
to coping with their victimization.
Sexual assault can happen
to a person of any age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background and
social status. The youngest rape victim reported to the FBI is 2
months old, while the oldest victim reported is 97 years old. The
primary motivation for sexual assault is power and control, not sexual
desire.
Sexual assault victims often
suffer in silence because they experience shame, self-blame, embarrassment
and fear that no one will believe them. Often offenders guarantee
their victims’ silence with threats of harm to the victim or his/her family
members. Less than 10% of all sexual assaults are reported to law
enforcement, making it one of the least reported crimes in the United States.
If you have experienced childhood
sexual abuse, acquaintance sexual assault or any other form of sexual assault,
RCASA wants you to know that you are not alone. Recovery help is
available through a variety of resources. Call RCASA for assistance
in dealing with your own sexual assault or the sexual assault of a friend
of a loved one.
What is Acquaintance Sexual
Assault? When the victim of sexual assault knows the offender.
Information about Sexual
Assault
Important Facts to Know:
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According to the FBI, some form
of sexual assault occurs every 45 seconds
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Up to 90% of all sexual assault
victims know their offender
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One in 4 college women have
been the victim of and attempted or completed rape
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Males, one in 5 will be sexually
assaulted
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Females, ages 15-24, are the
primary victims of acquaintance sexual assault
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In a study of sexual assault
victims, 57% of these women were sexually assaulted on a date
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Approximately 10% of all sexual
assaults are reported to law enforcement. Reported cases of acquaintance
sexual assault drops to approximately 5%.
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In a college survey, 27% of
the men interviewed admitted to using emotional coercion or physical force
when a woman was unwilling to engage in sexual relations.
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