Introduction
This week we’ll be talking about abuse, specifically sexual harassment or ‘rape’ in more common terms. We’ve already covered harassment before, but this particular topic is such a prevalent issue in our world that it deserves its own separate article.
The definition
Sexual abuse is the illegal, non-consensual sexual activity (including unwanted sexual touching, forced oral sex, rape, etc) that is usually carried out forcibly or under threat of injury and against the will of the victim. Sexual abuse to any person of any age will affect how they think, act and feel for the rest of their lives. It can lead to fear, shock, trauma and anxiety/depressive disorders. Victims often experience PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) symptoms - insomnia, flashbacks, withdrawal, hypervigilance, etc that cause a huge amount of distress.
What’s it all about?
Though traditionally limited to attacks on women by men, the definition of rape has been broadened to cover same-sex attacks and attacks against those who, because of mental illness, intoxication, or other reasons, are incapable of valid consent. Statutory rape, or intercourse with a person younger than a certain age (generally from 12 to 18 years), has long been a serious crime in most jurisdictions. Rape is widely considered an expression of anger or aggression and a pathological assertion of power by the rapist. The psychological responses of victims vary but usually include feelings of shame, humiliation, confusion, fear, and rage. Many rape victims fail to report the crime, deterred by the prospect of a distressing cross-examination in court and the difficulty of proving a crime for which there usually are no witnesses. In the late 20th century there was a notable increase in the use of rape as a weapon of war, and in the 1990s the tribunal investigating crimes stemming from genocide in Rwanda ruled that rape and sexual violence constituted a form of genocide. Rape and other forms of sexual violence are linked to long-term consequences for both the individual and the community as a whole. Definitions of rape and sexual violence have changed over time. In 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation broadened the definition of rape for the Uniform Crime Reporting Program to include “penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.” This expanded definition allowed male victims to be counted in the rape category.
How serious is it?
The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, published in 2010, showed that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will experience rape, which they defined as “forced attempted or completed penetration.” The rates of sexual violence other than rape, including being forced to penetrate another person, sexual coercion, unwanted sexual contact, and non-contact unwanted sexual experiences, were experienced by 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men sometime during their life. These national statistics do not even adequately reflect the experience of populations where rape and sexual violence occur in much higher numbers. The population of people with disabilities also has an even higher risk of sexual assault. And it's not just limited to men and women, in Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 64 per cent of respondents reported being a victim of sexual assault.
When looking at epidemiological studies, it is important to understand how rape and sexual violence are defined and how data are collected. Sexual abuse oftentimes doesn’t get reported due to social stigmas, lack of support, financial resources and similar reasons so it’s agreed that its occurrence is a lot greater than what is reported to higher authorities. Statistics show that sexual abuse is prevalent at alarmingly high rates-
•The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau report Child Maltreatment 2010 found that 9.2% of victimised children were sexually assaulted.
•According to a 2003 National Institute of Justice report, 3 out of 4 adolescents who have been sexually assaulted were victimised by someone they knew well.
•A Bureau of Justice Statistics report shows 1.6 % (sixteen out of one thousand) of children between the ages of 12-17 were victims of rape/sexual assault.
sexual abuse can result in short and long-term physical(STIs, physical injury, chronic conditions), mental (PTSD, generalised anxiety disorder, depression) and behavioural (substance abuse, increased risk of suicide attempts, aggression) consequences which is why we must work towards reducing its occurrence.
So what can we do about it?
Broaden your understanding of rape culture. It’s important to recognize that rape culture goes beyond the narrow notion of a man assaulting a woman as she walks alone at night. For instance, rape culture encompasses a wide array of harmful practices that rob women and girls of their autonomy and rights, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.
Know the factors that underpin rape culture and the myths that surround it. While no one may disagree that rape is wrong, through words, actions and inaction, sexual violence and sexual harassment are normalized and trivialized, leading us down a slippery slope of rape culture. Interrupt rape jokes. Challenge images of violence against women in advertising, pornography, professional wrestling, and other forms of media. Support women and men working to end sexual violence by volunteering your time, donating money, and/or lobbying legislators.
The primary step in preventing sexual abuse is understanding the root cause of it - oppression. It’s when a person wants to feel power over another by force. It is a widespread and repeated injustice. There are many individuals (race, gender identity, sex, age, class, etc), social (poverty, societal norms, etc) and communal (high levels of crime, weak laws and policies about sexual violence, etc) factors that contribute to oppression.
Learn about physical and sexual abuse. Find out about who is most likely to commit crimes of abuse, why people engage in abusive behaviour, behaviour changes that may be seen in victims of abuse and how to recognise them, etc.
Redefine masculinity. Take a critical look at what masculinity means to you and how you embody it. Self-reflection, community conversations, and artistic expression are just some of the tools available for men and boys (as well as women and girls) to examine and redefine masculinities with feminist principles.
Recognise that sexual violence will not end until everyone contributes to the solution. Unless more and more people start seeing sexual abuse as a problem and try to find solutions for it we won't be able to fully solve this issue.
Educate the next generation. It’s in our hands to inspire the future feminists of the world. Challenge the gender stereotypes and violent ideals that children encounter in the media, on the streets, and at school. Let your children know that your family is a safe space for them to express themselves as they are. Affirm their choices and teach the importance of consent at a young age.
Know that silence does not equal consent.
And how can we help the victims?
Stop victim-blaming. Don’t blame rape victims for the violence perpetrated against them. Because language is deeply embedded in culture, we may forget that the words and phrases we use each day shape our reality. Rape-affirming beliefs are embedded in our language: “She was dressed like a s**t. She was asking for it.” It is part of popular song lyrics: “I know you want it.” It is normalized by objectifying women and calling them names in pop culture and media. You have the power to choose to leave behind language and lyrics that blame victims, objectify women and excuse sexual harassment. What a woman is wearing, what and how much she had to drink, and where she was at a certain time, is not an invitation to rape her.
Be aware of the helpline numbers where you are and if you are able, then support organisations that aid abuse survivors.
Listen to survivors. In the era of #MeToo, #TimesUp, #NiUnaMenos, #BalanceTonPorc, and other online movements, survivors of violence are speaking out more than ever before. Listen to their experiences, read stories of survivors and activists around the globe, and follow #OrangeTheWorld and #GenerationEquality on social media.
Believe victims when they share their experiences with you. more often than not victims end up having to defend their choice of clothing, their behaviour in the situation or how long they take to come forward and share their story.try not to interject when the victim is sharing what they went through and hold the abuser accountable for their actions.
Do not be a passive bystander. If you see someone being harassed approach them and help them out. If you are scared to put yourself in the situation get someone who you trust to help and make sure the victim is safe.
How to avoid risky situations from escalating?
Anyone can be the target of sexual assault, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sexual history, or social class. There is no stereotypical victim or rapist. Nearly 85% of all victims of sexual assault knew the person who raped or assaulted them. Often a situation starts off innocent and fun, but can then very quickly escalate out of control.
Avoid hazardous situations. Sexual assault can occur in any situation and is never your fault regardless of the circumstances. However, by taking such steps as traveling accompanied and avoiding alcohol and drugs, you can substantially reduce your risks for being victimized.
Trust your instincts. If you feel you are being pressured into unwanted sex, you probably are. If you feel uncomfortable or threatened around an acquaintance or your partner, get out of the situation immediately. If you misread someone's signals, you can always explain later.
Respond physically. Even clear communication is not always effective. Some people simply don't listen or don't care. If either person is intoxicated of high, it may also complicate the situation. However, it is not an excuse for someone to commit sexual assault. If someone is assaulting you and not responding to your objections, you have the right to respond physically or to physically defend yourself if you feel you can do so. If possible, push the person away, scream "No!", and say that you consider what the person is doing to be rape. It is understandable that most people instinctively do not respond forcefully to people they know. It is not your fault if you find that you cannot do so.
Do’s and Dont’s
Do take responsibility for your own sexuality
Don’t let it be defined by your partner, the media, or anyone else.
Do not use alcohol and/or drugs to get someone to have sex with you.
Do not participate in sexist behaviour by objectifying or stereotyping women.
Do Teach everyone you know about the myths and realities of sexual violence.
Do not engage in behaviour that can suggest sexual abuse i.e. don’t make rape jokes, don’t discriminate against others for any reason.
Do make sure people around you follow the same, if u hear a friend make a joke about any kind of abuse, shut it down immediately.
Don’t say things like, “Why didn’t she leave?”
Do say, “We hear you. We see you. We believe you.”
To sum it up
Sexual abuse is illegal, non-consensual sexual activity usually forced upon a person. It can lead to fear, shock, trauma and anxiety/depressive disorders. To prevent sexual abuse, it is important to work towards reducing its occurrence by learning about physical and sexual abuse, recognising that it will not end until everyone contributes to the solution, believing victims when they share their experience, being aware of helpline numbers and support organisations that aid abuse survivors, understand the root cause of abuse oppression, do not engage in behaviour that can suggest sexual abuse, approach someone being harassed and help them out, and don't be a passive bystander. Without clear consent from both parties, any form of sexual contact is sexual assault and no one ever deserves to be raped or assaulted!
Finally, here are some helplines that you can reach out to yourself, or help someone else to do so:
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