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Rape - Crime Against Humanity!
20 January, 2007

WC > Sexual Assault

Facts

Somewhere in America, a woman is sexually assaulted every 2 minutes, and females of entering college age (16-19) are three and one-half times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault (U.S. Department of Justice). The UNT Women’s Center is a place for referral to appropriate resources for victims of assault, and a place for listening and aiding a student to regain control. Please contact the Women’s Center for a presentation to your class or dormitory on sexual assault awareness education.
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The Role of Myths about Sexual Assault

Myths divert attention from the true nature of sexual assault, giving women and children a false sense of what constitutes 'security' and 'insecurity' for them, while protecting those who are responsible for the assaults.

These myths perpetuate three messages

1.It is the responsibility of women and children to be aware and wary of men's advances.
2.If sexual assault occurs it must be due to the behavior of the adult victim or child.
3.Men can not be responsible for their actions or behavior.

These messages

1.Blame the victim.
2.Protect the offender.
3.Reinforce the vulnerability and ambiguous status of women and children.

Myths Facts
Women enjoy being assaulted or raped. Assault and rape are frightening and humiliating experiences during which the victim has no control over what happens. No one enjoys an experience like this.
It is impossible for a man to rape a women unless he has a weapon such as a gun or knife. Assailants do not need a weapon to terrify victims into submission. Many are in fear of losing their lives or being hurt, regardless of whether or not the assailant has a weapon.
Nice girls don't get assaulted or raped. All women are vulnerable to sexual assault and rape.
All assaulters and rapists are strangers. Most are known to the victim - father, other relative, partner, acquaintance, friend, boyfriend, neighbor, colleague or boss.
All assaults and rapes occur at night, on a dark street or in a park. Many occur during the day. Almost half of the rapes reported take place in the victim's home or the rapist's home.
It is a man's right to have sex with his wife or partner whenever he wants to. Forcing a woman to have sex when she does not want to is RAPE. A relationship does not imply consent. Coercion does not have to be physical. There are many other ways men put pressure on women to have sex when they know the woman is unwilling. Forced sex is what rape is all about.
Rapists are psychopaths (sick men). There is no typical rapist. Violent rapes by psychotic men are well publicized but in fact most rapists look and act like ordinary men and lead apparently normal lives.
If a woman didn't scream, or fight, it could not have been rape. Many women who have been raped are not able to scream or struggle. They have been threatened and so have become paralyzed with fear which means they are unable to fight back. There is also the fear that the attacker will become more violent if there is a struggle.
Men can't help themselves. Sexual assault and rape occurs when a man is sexually frustrated and becomes so excited that he can't control himself. Many assaults and rapes are premeditated and planned. Many rapists state that they could have had sex elsewhere but preferred to rape. Rapists often are not sexually excited. Rape is an aggressive and violent act. It seems that sex is used as the most effective way of degrading the victim but the motive has more to do with power than sex.
Women provoke assault or rape by the way they dress or act Almost anything a woman does could be construed as being an invitation, or 'asking for' assault or rape.
Women who are affected by alcohol and drugs are asking to be assaulted or raped. Being in a vulnerable situation does not imply consent.
All men who are raped are homosexual. Men who are raped are vulnerable because of their age, isolation, or because they are seen as different. They are often raped as part of a violent attack that is aimed at domination and degradation.
Men are always able to defend
themselves.		 Men who are attacked undergo the same reactions as women. They are paralyzed with fear, so frightened that they cannot call for help and afraid to resist in case this provokes more violence.
Men who rape other men are homosexual The men who rape are often heterosexual, and usually have a relationship with a woman. They rape men as part of their violence and need for power and dominance.

 

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If you are assaulted-immediate actions

1. Get to a safe place and call 911
2. Do not douche, bathe or change clothes
3. Get to a hospital (UNT or Denton PD can escort you)
4. Regardless of whether you've made your decision about whether or not to prosecute, have your doctor do a rape kit. The decision to prosecute can be made at any time, once evidence is collected, but if the evidence is destroyed, the decision is already made.
5. Discuss with your doctor other tests, such as STD, HIV and pregnancy you may want to have run now or in the future.

Once at the hospital

After your complete medical exam, a Denton or UNT Police officer will be present to take an initial report. You will need to make time for a full report later. Options are available to transport you home, to a shelter or as needed.

If you were assaulted on the UNT campus

Counseling is available through Denton County Friends of the Family and well as the University of North Texas Counseling and Testing. UNT Police can call to make an appointment for you. UNT Police can also assist you by completing documentation of your case for the Crime Victims Compensation Program.

If you were assaulted in Denton off campus

Counseling is available through Denton County Friends of the Family and social workers within the Denton Police Department. Denton Police can also assist you by completing documentation of your case for the Crime Victims Compensation Program.

Help is available

The UNT Health and Wellness Center in collaboration with Denton County Friends of the Family provides a Sexual Assault Support Group on a weekly basis which is held in the Health and Wellness Center.

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