Sexual Assault
Sexual assault can take many forms, including attacks such as rape or attempted rape and any unwanted sexual contact or threats. It is important that the victim of sexual assault understand that no matter where they were, the time of day or night assaulted, what they were wearing, or what they said or did, if they did not want the sexual contact, then the assault was in no way their fault.
What is sexual assault?
As a rule, a sexual assault occurs when someone touches any part of another person's body in a sexual way, even through clothes, without that person's consent. Some types of sexual acts which fall under the category of sexual assault include forced sexual intercourse (rape); sodomy (oral or anal sexual acts); child molestation; incest; fondling and attempted rape. Sexual assault in any form is a devastating crime. Assailants can be strangers, acquaintances, friends, or family members. Assailants commit sexual assault by using violence, threats, coercion, manipulation, pressure or tricks. Persons who commit sexual assault do so out of a need to control, dominate, abuse and humiliate. Sexual assault is the venting of aggression through sex, and has little to do with passion, lust, desire, or sexual arousal.
According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes, and male victims are the least likely to report a sexual assault. Of female sexual assault victims, 73% were assaulted by someone they knew, and 26% were assaulted by a stranger. Thirty-eight percent of women assaulted by a known offender were friends or acquaintances of the rapist, and 28% were intimate partners.
What to do if you’ve been sexually assaulted
Immediately after an assault, it is most important to find a safe place, such as a neighbor or friend's house, police station, or hospital. If the assault occurred in your home, it should be secured as soon as possible by locking all the doors and windows. If you are hurt, immediately dial 911 to request an ambulance or have a trusted friend or relative transport you to the nearest medical facility for evaluation and treatment. If you are raped, do not shower, douche, change clothes, or alter the scene of the crime.
Survivors of sexual assault react in many different ways following an assault. Whatever the reaction, it may be helpful for the victim of sexual assault to call an advocate such as Wild Iris. Reporting to the police is your choice, however, research has found that rape survivors who had the assistance of an advocate such as Wild Iris, were much more likely to have police reports taken and were less likely to be treated negatively by police officers. These survivors also reported that they experienced less distress after their contact with the legal system. Wild Iris’s advocates are specifically trained in assisting victims of sexual assault, and can provide emotional support and a variety of services including:
- Accompaniment to the hospital;
- Accompaniment during the rape exam (It is the victim’s right to have an advocate present during a rape exam. The decision on whether or not to have an advocate present is entirely up to the victim).
- Emergency crisis intervention, counseling and referrals;
- Legal advocacy and court accompaniment;
- Information about sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and pregnancy testing.
- 24/7 Crisis Hotline
Whatever the circumstances, no one asks or deserves to be sexually assaulted. |