Friday Five: *Trigger Warning* Discussing Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. A month we are encouraged to reflect, learn, and take action to support those affected by sexual assault experiences.
Read on to gain awareness about the month, tools for helping survivors and steps we can collectively take to build a safer and more empathetic society.
1. History Bite: How Sexual Assault Awareness Month Started
Initiated in April 2001 by the National Campaign to Prevent Sexual Assault in America, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) was founded with the goal to raise awareness about sexual assault, educate the community, and promote prevention.
Since then, SAAM has grown tremendously, attracting individuals, organizations, and communities across the United States to work together to prevent sexual assault. If you would like to learn more, click the button below:
2. Understanding Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is a violent act that occurs when someone engages in sexual contact or activity without the other person's consent. Sexual assault can come in different forms, such as sexual harassment, rape, and sexual exploitation.
It is important to know that sexual assault can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Nearly one in five women in the United States have experienced rape or attempted rape at some time in their lives (Black et al., 2011).
In the United States, one in 71 men have experienced rape or attempted rape (Black et al., 2011).
One-fifth (21.1%) of sexual assaults were committed by a family member (Kilpatrick, Saunders, & Smith, 2003).
3. If it Happened to You…
If you have been a victim of sexual assault, we want you to know that you are not alone. If you feel that you are ready and finding support would be helpful in your healing process, here are a few resources to get started:
Consider support from a trained professional: many platforms and professionals have a speciality and finding someone who focuses on sexual assault or trauma therapy could be most useful.
Connect with local or online survivor support groups: offer a safe space to share your feelings, receive mutual support, and learn from each other's experiences.
Practice Self-Care: Self-Massage for Sexual Healing
If you need help, contact someone you trust, such as a crisis counselor or a close friend. You can also use our Telephone Hotline if you are in crisis to find local support.
Please remember that you are deserving of respect and pleasure, and what happened was NOT your fault.
4. If it Happened to Someone You Know…
“I grew tired of being ashamed of a crime that I did not commit.”
— Survivor Rena Romano, TED Talk Healing From Sexual Abuse Can Start With One Word
If you know someone who went through sexual assault you may be wondering how you can help. Countless sexual assault survivors spend years living not only in silence but also in shame.
As a friend, partner or family member, there are ways you can be supportive and help that person feel safe and respected:
Listen without judgment: Offer a safe space for the person to share their feelings and experiences.
Believe and validate: It is critical to believe in the person's experience and validate their feelings.
Offer support options: Encourage the person to seek professional help if desired.
Respect boundaries: Respect the person's boundaries and do not pressure them to share more than they are comfortable with.
Practical support: Offer help with everyday tasks to relieve stress and allow the person to focus on their recovery.
You can also use this Guide for Friends and Family of Sexual Violence Survivors, which provides an overview of sexual violence and includes tips on communication, common questions, long-term effects, and how loved ones may be affected.
5. Towards a World Without Sexual Assault
Prevention involves educating about consent, challenging harmful cultural norms, empowering individuals to intervene safely, promoting supportive environments, addressing risk factors, and encouraging community participation.
According to professor Lamb, proper sex education teaches us how to be more ‘caring and just’ towards one another. Consent is often discussed in schools as a measure of self-protection, but beyond that, consent is really about treating others with respect and honoring their wishes.
Getting consent right and focusing on breaking down patterns and expectations tied to broader social structures like gender roles can go a long way in making sure our communities become the assault-free spaces they ought to be.
