Sexual Assault Basics are important to be aware of because April is Sexual Assault awareness month.
A little known fact is that though one in five women in the United States experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime, nearly a quarter (24.8%) of men in the U.S. have also experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime as well.
This means sexual assault is everyone’s issue, and everyone’s problem.
The national sexual violence resource center (NSVRC) hosts a wealth of information for victims, advocates and trainers. To learn more click here.
The Joyful Heart Foundation lists some signs of sexual assault including but not limited to:
Physical injuries
Not all sexual assaults and rapes cause visible injuries. Injuries can often be internal, such as internal bleeding or sexually transmitted diseases. There may not be any injuries at all after an incident of violence or abuse.
Trust Issues
Survivors of sexual violence may have difficulty trusting others. As a result, survivors may have a hard time maintaining relationships. In some cases, it can become challenging to determine who can be trustworthy.
Isolation
Survivors may also remove themselves from their community and loved ones following acts of violence. Changes in behavior may also occur, including having outbursts of anger or similar reactions.
Signs of a perpetrator
Perpetrators do not display universal characteristics of violent behavior. There are some red flags, however, to alert us. These include:
Using derogatory sexual terms
Sexually harassing others
Exhibiting an aggressive demeanor
Seeing and treating others as sexual objects
If you have been sexually assaulted or suspect someone has been, If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault, you’re not alone. There are resources that can help you heal and offer support for both survivors and people close to them.
Rainn.org lists a selection of National Resources which you can view by clicking here.
To read more about sexual assault view a previous article we wrote about Heavenly Jewels, an organization founded by survivor Javon Frazier, which is based in Maryland, click here.