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Info
Just for ... Teens
Rape
is a violent sexual act committed against a person’s will.
- Rape
is not sex. Rape is an expression of power and control in
which a person uses a sexual act as a means of violence.
- Rape
victims belong to both sexes, all races and ethnic groups,
all economic backgrounds, and all ages.
- Acquaintance
rape is forced, unwanted sexual contact between a person and
a known assailant.
- Adolescent
women are at a higher risk for sexual violence than any other
age group. Part of the reason for this is the large number
date/acquaintance rapes that occur at this age.
What
to do if a friend tells you she/he has been raped
- Believe
what your friend tells you;
- Accept what
you hear without judgment;
- Listen actively
and openly;
- Reinforce
that the rape was not your friend’s fault;
- Be sincere;
- Be there
for your friend when she/he needs you;
- Look for
opportunities to point out your friend’s strengths and positive
aspects;
- Ask open-ended
questions to allow your friend to talk it out;
- Suggest
calling a Rape Crisis Center;
- Accept your
friend’s decisions in dealing with the rape;
- Be aware
of your limitations;
- Be careful
not to play a role that is not natural to you;
- Try not
to tell your friend what to do;
- Silence
is okay;
- Be aware
that your friend may direct negative feelings toward you;
- Do not
argue with your friend;
- Know that
you cannot "cure" your friend;
- Say "I’m
sorry that this happened to you;"
- Do not compare
the situation to "worse" ones you know, and;
- Validate
your friend’s feelings.
Statistics
- 1 in
3 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually assaulted before the age
of 18 (Russel, D. 1988. The Incidence and Prevalence of
Sexual Abuse of Female Children.)
- The risk
of rape is 4 times higher among women aged 15 to 24 (Harlow,
1991).
- 38% of
all date rape victims are females between the ages of 14 and 17
(Bart, P. A. and P. H. O’Brien. 1985. Stopping Rape. New
York: Pergamon Press, pg. 131.)
- 92% of
adolescent rape victims know the assailant (National Center
for the Prevention and Control of Rape. 1984. Newsweek,
April 9.)
- 57% of
all rapes occur in the context of a date (Koss, Woodruff,
Koss study, 1990)
Common
feelings felt by rape survivors
- Fear
- Guilt
- Loss of
control
- Embarrassment
- Anxiety,
shaking, nightmares
- Concern
for the rapist
- Wondering--Why
me?
- Shame
- Anger
Every
survivor of sexual assault reacts differently.
What
to do if you are the victim of sexual violence
- Contact
a friend, relative, neighbor, teacher, counselor,
etc. Do not feel alone; there are people who can give you the
emotional support you need.
- Report the
attack to the police whether or not you plan to file charges.
Rarely do rapists attack only one person; they may get away with
it and continue to rape.
- Seek medical
attention. Do not shower or clean up first. As soon as
possible, go to a hospital or health center. Get examined and
treated for possible venereal disease and pregnancy. You may also
have internal injuries of which you are unaware.
- Contact
your local sexual assault services. You have been through
a traumatic event and will benefit from dealing with your feelings.
Survivors who get counseling recover from the attack quicker and
with fewer lasting effects than survivors who get no help.
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