Sexual Assault
What Is
It?
Sexual assault is forcing another
person into sexual acts. Sexual assault may involve touching, fondling, contact
between the mouth and either the victim's or the abuser's private parts (genital
area), and putting body parts or other objects inside the victim's body. Sexual
assault is an act that is done to the victim or that the victim is forced to do
with someone else. Sexual assault can also be called rape, acquaintance rape, date rape, marital
rape, sexual abuse, or incest. Victims may be
male or female. Every state has laws against sexual assault.
Who Commits Sexual Assault?
Some
perpetrators of sexual assault (those who commit the crime) are strangers.
However, most victims are sexually assaulted by someone they know-family
members, friends, romantic partners, acquaintances, or dates.
How Does a Rapist Control a
Victim?
Rapists don't
always use physical force or weapons to commit the crime. They may threaten to
hurt victims or someone they care about if the victims do not cooperate. They
may isolate them (take them to a place where there are no other people who might
help). They may intimidate them by threatening to spread rumors about the
victims or cause other problems for them. Rapists often use alcohol or drugs to
incapacitate victims so they can't protect themselves. Sometimes two or more
perpetrators drug victims without their knowledge to commit sexual assault.
Important Facts about Sexual Assault
Many harmful
myths surround the subject of sexual assault, causing great damage to victims.
Some important facts for victims to understand about sexual assault are that:
·
Sexual assault is a violent crime.
Research shows
that those who commit sexual assault seek to dominate and humiliate their
victims rather than to find sexual satisfaction. Most perpetrators are either
married or have regular sexual partners.
·
The perpetrator is
responsible. Perpetrators
often blame the victim for the sexual assault. They may say that they assaulted
the victim because he or she dressed in a certain way or flirted with the
perpetrator or others. But in fact, the perpetrator chose to force sexual
activity on another person against his or her will.
·
Rape can occur within an intimate
relationship.
Even in marriage or an intimate relationship, anytime one partner forces the
other to have sex against that person's will, rape has occurred.
How Does Sexual Assault Affect
Victims?
Victims may
react to sexual assault in different ways. They may not tell anyone about what
happened. They may be anxious, ashamed, and afraid of what people might think.
They may blame themselves for "allowing" the assault to happen. They may think
the police will doubt their accounts of the crime or not take it seriously.
If You Are a Victim
How You May Feel: You may feel shock, numbness, lack of control,
helplessness, or vulnerability. You may be overwhelmed with fear and anxiety,
and you may not want to see your friends and family. You may cry, yell, and
shake, or you may feel calm and unaffected. You may have flashbacks and
nightmares, changes in eating patterns (eating too much or very little), and you
may be unable to concentrate. Or you may not have any of these responses. There
is no "typical" reaction to sexual assault.
Common Injuries: You may have bruises, cuts, and soreness in your genital
area or any part of your body that the person who assaulted you had contact
with. You may feel nauseated and numb. Or you may have no physical injuries, as
far as you can tell. However, you may have been exposed to sexually transmitted
diseases that might surface when symptoms appear later on.
Decisions to
Consider:
·
Medical Care: Will you seek medical care to treat your injuries and be
tested for sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy? You may want to seek such
help, even if you decide not to report the crime.
·
Counseling: Will you cope with your feelings privately or seek the help
of a trained professional? Counseling can help you manage the emotional and
physical impact of the crime and regain a sense of control over your life.
·
Reporting the
Crime: Will you report the crime? If you
decide to file a report, timing is important. The sooner police know about a
sexual assault, the more quickly physical evidence can be found. If the police
request a forensic exam
(sometimes called a "rape kit"), the exam should be done as soon
as possible to collect any physical evidence.
Resources
The best way to find out about
these options is to talk to a crime victim advocate. The National Crime Victim
Helpline (1-800-FYI-CALL) advocates can help you think through
these decisions and refer you to resources in your area. Helpline services are
free and confidential.
National Crime Victim Helpline
1-800-FYI-CALL
(1-800-394-2255)
1-800-211-7996
TTY
8:30 a.m.– 8:30 p.m. ET
weekdays
Or visit: Help for Crime Victims: www.ncvc.org/victimassistance
Lawrence Greenfield, "Sex Offenses and Offenders: An
Analysis of Data on Rape and Sexual Assault," (Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice
Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 1997).
Copyright
© 2008 by the
National
Center
for Victims of
Crime. This information may be freely distributed, provided that it is
distributed free of charge, reprinted in its entirety, and includes this
copyright notice.