Hopefully you have heard a lot about sexual violence during the past couple of weeks. For most, this was probably due to the recently publicized rape at HSU or Take Back the Night activities. Other friends of mine have recently been accosted by individuals spewing sexual slander or had those close to them experience the most common types of rape – those by perpetrators who are known by their victims. Unlike allusion of the comments made by the Vice President of Student Affairs in response to the recent knife-wielding stranger rape, one category of rape is not better or worse than another – rape is rape.
Rape is also not a once in a great while occurrence in Humboldt County. It is the silence about these frequently occurring rapes that allows women to continue to feel both victimized and alone. Women who are raped by people they know often deal with victimization not only of their person, but also in their extended emotional and relational interactions. They are also more likely to feel like it was their fault, or that they could’ve done something to prevent it.
If you have a story to share, anonymously or otherwise, about yourself or someone close to you who has experienced sexual violence, I urge you to do so here or in another public arena where you feel comfortable. Hearing the stories of other women and seeing the common threads that run through them helped me to deal with emotions associated with rape and to see that my victimization was not rare and was not my fault. Men, please feel free to post your stories as well. Thanks for sharing: Silence perpetuates violence and victimization.
700,000 women are raped and/or sexually assaulted in the US each year – that is over 50 million during the lifespan of the average American. Unless you live in a bubble, you know many female victims of sexual violence.
Local Stats:
2,096 – Number of first-time callers to the North Coast Rape Crisis Team last year
1 in 12 – Men claim to have raped a woman
5% (or less) – Rape survivors who report the rape
84% - of rape victims know their attackers
1 in 4 – the number of women who will be raped in her lifetime
3,000 – number of call made last year to Humboldt Domestic Violence Services from abuse victims
Rape is also not a once in a great while occurrence in Humboldt County. It is the silence about these frequently occurring rapes that allows women to continue to feel both victimized and alone. Women who are raped by people they know often deal with victimization not only of their person, but also in their extended emotional and relational interactions. They are also more likely to feel like it was their fault, or that they could’ve done something to prevent it.
If you have a story to share, anonymously or otherwise, about yourself or someone close to you who has experienced sexual violence, I urge you to do so here or in another public arena where you feel comfortable. Hearing the stories of other women and seeing the common threads that run through them helped me to deal with emotions associated with rape and to see that my victimization was not rare and was not my fault. Men, please feel free to post your stories as well. Thanks for sharing: Silence perpetuates violence and victimization.
700,000 women are raped and/or sexually assaulted in the US each year – that is over 50 million during the lifespan of the average American. Unless you live in a bubble, you know many female victims of sexual violence.
Local Stats:
2,096 – Number of first-time callers to the North Coast Rape Crisis Team last year
1 in 12 – Men claim to have raped a woman
5% (or less) – Rape survivors who report the rape
84% - of rape victims know their attackers
1 in 4 – the number of women who will be raped in her lifetime
3,000 – number of call made last year to Humboldt Domestic Violence Services from abuse victims
posted by:
|
Boston
|
