Health Education & Wellness

Sexual Assault and Rape

Rape and sexual assault are acts that affect every group of people, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, education level, income level, race, background or ethnicity. Many times people have been victims of rape or sexual assault are left with many unanswered questions. The following information may help to answer some of those questions and also gives tips on how to avoid situations that my put you at risk of rape or sexual assault.

Sections

What is sexual assault?
What is rape?
What is consent?
How frequently does sexual assault and rape occur?
What do I do if I am sexually assaulted or raped?
How do I help a friend that has been sexually assaulted?
How do I protect myself from sexual assault?
What To Do If You Are Attacked
Victim Services

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault and abuse is any type of sexual activity that you do not agree to, including inappropriate touching, vaginal, anal, or oral penetration, sexual intercourse that you say no to, rape, attempted rape, child molestation, exhibitionism (exposing oneself in public), incest, voyeurism (act of observing unsuspecting individuals, usually strangers, who may be naked or in the process of disrobing) and sexual harassment. Sexual assault can be verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention.

Sources: IUPUI Health Services, SmarterSex.org

What is rape?

Rape is the act of making someone partake involuntarily in sexual acts through violence, force, threat of injury, other duress, or where the victim is unable to decline due to the effects of drugs or alcohol.

Rape is any kind of sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral) that is committed against a person's will or is committed with physical force or psychological coercion. Rape is a form of sexual assault and happens in many situations. When a person is intoxicated or unconscious and unable to give consent, this is known as date rape.

Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

What is consent?

Mutual consent is only achieved when both partners consciously indicate a willingness to participate in the sexual activity. This is a tricky issue and should be discussed and reached without coercion by either party. If you are involved in a situation where you or your partner are intoxicated or unconscious and cannot say "no", this is not mutual consent.

Source: IUPUI Health Services

How frequently does sexual assault and rape occur?

Sexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes, with about half still going unreported.

Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted.
One in six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape.
Men account for 10% of all sexual assaults.
In 2003-2004, there were an average annual 204,370 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.
About 44% of rape victims are under age 18, and 80% are under age 30.
67% of sexual assaults were perpetrated by a non-stranger - 47% of perpetrators were a friend or acquaintance of the victim, 17% were an intimate and 3% were another relative.

Source: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

What do I do if I am sexually assaulted or raped?

Find a safe environment - anywhere away from the attacker. Ask a trusted friend to stay with you for moral support.
Preserve evidence of the attack - don't bathe or brush your teeth. Write down all the details you can recall about the attack & the attacker.
Get medical attention. Even with no physical injuries, it is important to determine the risks of STDs and pregnancy.
To preserve forensic evidence, ask the hospital to conduct a rape kit exam.
If you suspect you may have been drugged, ask that a urine sample be collected. The sample will need to be analyzed later on by a forensic lab.
Report the rape to law enforcement authorities. A counselor can provide the information you'll need understand the process.
Remember it wasn't your fault.
Recognize that healing from rape takes time. Give yourself the time you need.

How do I help a friend that has been sexually assaulted?

First, understand that you will have strong feelings that you will need to acknowledge. You may feel overwhelmed with many different feelings and it is important for you to acknowledge this. You may be overcome with feelings of anger towards the rapist (which is ok) and toward your friend (which is not ok). You may feel a sense of powerlessness and confusion (imagine what your friend is feeling or is fighting very hard not to feel). In addition to these feelings and others, your friend may also be experiencing deep-seated feelings of regret, degradation and shame. This is where you come in.

You will need to sift and sort through your feelings (and getting counseling yourself may be important) but you will need to put them aside to be there for your friend in a non-judgmental, supportive manner. It is not your friends' fault. Rape/sexual assault/non-consensual sex is not their fault. Sex is about mutual consent and the word mutual is stressed.
Do not express your opinion. Help her to identify all her options. She has complex and important decisions to make and it will be a difficult struggle for her. Allow her to express her feelings – the full range. Just listen. Be empathetic. Validate and believe her. Help her feel safe. She may need to think of ways she can be safe and changes she can make that will help her feel safer.
There are destructive myths about rape/assault. Rape/sexual assault/ non-consensual sex is a violent act about power over. Tell her you do not believe these myths. This can be empowering and you may also need to advocate for her in the medical and legal system.
Although she may not want to, it is still extremely important for her to seek medical attention. It is also important for her to talk to a mental health counselor or a rape crisis services person. It is perfectly ok to attend these appointments with your friend and it may help her.
It is important for her to receive medical treatment as soon after the assault as possible. Even though she will want to wash and change clothes, it is important for her to remain in the same clothing and not to wash until after the exam.
Rape/sexual assault/non-consensual sex is traumatic and each person will go through unique individual responses. It is not uncommon for person who has been raped to protect the perpetrator.
She will need care, comfort, and a way to heal. She will need to know that it is not her fault; to get medical treatment, and do deal with her feelings (i.e. not numb them). Above all, believe in her healing capacity and her ability to heal.

How do I protect myself from sexual assault?

If at home...

Make sure all windows and doors can be locked securely, especially sliding glass doors. Use the locks and keep all entrances well-lit.
Use the peephole in the door.
Check the identification of any sales or service person before letting them in.
Don't let any stranger into your house if you are home alone - no matter what the reason or how dire the emergency is supposed to be. Offer to make an emergency phone call while they wait outside.
Never give the impression that you are home alone if a stranger telephones or comes to the door.
Get to know your neighbors and find someone you can turn to if you're worried.
If you live in an apartment, avoid being alone in the laundry room or garage alone, especially at night.
If you come home and find an open door or signs of forced entry, do not go in!
Let a roommate or neighbor know where you are going, who you will be with, and when you will be home.

While walking...

Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you.
Stay in well-lit areas.
Walk confidently and at a steady pace on the side of the street facing traffic.
Walk close to the curb. Avoid doorways, bushes and alleys.
Wear clothes and shoes that give you freedom of movement.
Don't walk alone at night and always avoid areas with few people.
Be careful when people stop you for directions. Always reply from a distance and never get close to the car.
If you are in trouble, attract attention any way possible. Scream, yell for help or yell "fire".
If you feel you are being followed, don't go home, go to a safe place.
Don't wear headphones.
Carry a whistle to use in case of an attack.

When in your car...

Keep your car in good working condition and always have at least a half tank of gas.
Park in well-lit areas, and always lock your car, even if you will be gone only a short time.
When you return to your car, always have you keys ready and check the front and back seats and the floor before getting in.
Drive with all the doors locked.
Never pick up hitchhikers.
If you are being followed, don't go home, go to a safe place.

On Campus...

SecurityOnCampus.org

What To Do If You Are Attacked

Keep your head. Stay as calm as possible, think rationally and evaluate your resources and options.
It may be more advisable to submit than to risk severe injury or death. You have to make this decision based on the situation. But don't resist if the attacker has a weapon.
Keep assessing the situation as it is happening. If one strategy doesn't work, try another. Possible options to not resisting are negotiating, stalling for time, distracting the assailant and escaping to a safe place, verbal assertiveness, screaming to attract attention, and physical resistance.
You may be able to turn the attacker off, with a bizarre behavior such as throwing up, acting crazy, or picking your nose.

Source: U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security

Victim Services

Beu Health Center
309/298-1888
At the corner of University and Murray
Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm
University Counseling Center
309/298-2453
Olson Hall, 2nd Floor
ucc.wiu.edu
Hours: 8 am to 5 pm - Monday through Thursday
8 am to 4:30 pm - Friday
Western Illinois Regional Council
309/836-3640
223 S. Randolph, Macomb
wirpc.org
Domestic Violence Program
309/837-6622
Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault
309/837-5555
Sexual Assault Crisis Line
423/522-7273
Crime Victims' Hotline
212/577-7777
National Victim Center
800/394-2255