The next time you are with a group of people, there is a good chance someone in that group is the survivor of sexual assault.  An exhaustive government survey found that nearly one in five women surveyed said they had been raped or had experienced an attempted rape at some point in their lives.  Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted with 44% of victims under the age of 18.

These numbers do not tell the full story.  Sexual assault remains one of the most under reported crimes, with 54% still being left unreported, as stated in a recent National Crime Victimization Survey.  Under reporting of sexual assault typically results because:
•    Survivors feel they will not be believed
•    Survivors have feelings of shame or embarrassment
•    The perpetrator is well known or in a position of power/authority over the survivor or in the community
•    The victim is threatened or manipulated into silence by the perpetrator

Sexual assault is defined as any unwanted sexual act or contact that is attempted or completed by force, threat of force or coercion.  In Michigan, the legal term for this type of crime is Criminal Sexual Conduct.  Sexual assault and abuse may also include verbal, visual or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention such as exhibitionism and sexual harassment.

Because of continuing misconceptions, it is important to stress a few basic facts about sexual assault:
•    It is a crime of violence and control, not an act of passion.  
•    Women and girls of all ages, races, socio-economic groups, neighborhoods and lifestyles can become victims, as well as men and boys.  
•    It is often committed in the victim’s own home by someone the victim knows or a person in a position of power or trust – a relative, friend, neighbor or other acquaintance.

You may wonder what you can do to help prevent sexual assault.  The National Sexual Violence Resource Center suggests parents start talking to their children about healthy sexual development early on.  Some suggestions might be:

Young children:
•    Teach body parts using the correct name for each. This builds knowledge, empowerment and helps avoid shameful feelings about one’s body.  Perpetrators will often use shame as a means to silence victims.
•    Teach appropriate personal boundaries and the difference between wanted/unwanted touch.  This builds understanding of privacy, how to interact appropriately with peers/others, and that their body belongs to them and they can say no to unwanted touch.

Preteens:
•    Talk about physical changes during puberty and provide age-appropriate information on reproduction and sexuality.  This will let them know these issues are topics that can be discussed openly, without shame.
•    Encourage critical thinking and build the skills to differentiate fact from fiction in media images and representations of sexuality that young people are exposed to 24/7.  Messages from advertising, films, television and video games provide a distorted view of normal, healthy relationships and sexuality and help create an environment for widespread and increasing violence against women and children.

In addition to holding sexual assault offenders legally responsible for their behavior and actions, we must also do a better job of listening to and supporting survivors without blame.

If you, or someone you know is the victim of sexual violence, contact the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan’s 24-hour crisis and information line at (231) 347-0082 or for long distance callers (800) 275-1995.

Sexual assault is a difficult issue to discuss, yet if we choose to be silent we help enable its existence.