SEXUAL ASSAULTS

INDIRECT
ASSAULTS

Sexual assault is any uninvited or unwelcome touching or talking about private parts of your body. Obscene phone calls, lewd gestures and remarks, and indecent exposure are indirect assaults.

They're usually done for the "thrill" the offender gets from your reaction, whether it is only surprise or hysteria. Sometimes it is impossible for you to do anything to prevent coming in contact with someone who gets his kicks this way, but what you can do is keep your cool. No reaction. No visible upset. This is the best way to prevent this type of incident from escalating into something more undesirable.

If it's an obscene phone call, hang up immediately. If it's a lewd gesture or remark, just keep walking. You can wave to an imaginary friend up ahead if someone is persistent. If it's an indecent exposure, pretend you didn't see anything or-if you're in a location where the offender could easily be caught-scream for HELP. You may have to make a split-second decision whether to even show a reaction, but being prepared to make this kid of decision will help you feel less vulnerable about all sexual assaults.

Sexual Offenders usually commit their crimes over and over again unless they're stopped, so report any kind of sexual assault and don't feel guilty or ashamed. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.
 

DIRECT
ASSAULTS

Rape

All sexual assaults are alarming and repulsive, but rape and incest are the most frightening and have the severest consequences for the victim.

Many ideas that people have about why a rape happens are myths, such as that the woman was dressed too seductively or that women enjoy being raped. They assume that rape is a sexual crime motivated by desire. It isn't. Rape is a violent crime, an act of hostility and force, and an attempt to humiliate. Rape is a criminal offense. Most states define it legally as sexual intercourse achieved or attempted without the victim's consent and with the use of threat or force. Many states now define all forms of sexual conduct carried out against a person's will as a crime; a sexual assault-whether the individual is a male or a female.

Rape can happen to anyone, but National Crime Survey data indicate that women between 16 and 24 are particularly vulnerable. Many reported rapes happen between people who have known each other, seen each other, or met before. Rapes involving teens often are "acquaintance" rape and can happen on dates, in your home, and at parties. About 1/3 of all reported rapes are committed in the victim's home. In a stranger-rape situation, police believe that rapists tend to prey on women easily intimidated, or who seem to be daydreaming so much that they can be taken by surprise.

outside:

Most rapes occur outside, on the street, in a park, playground or schoolyard. Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you when you're outside.

*Stay in well-lighted areas as much as possible.

* Walk confidently, directly, at a steady pace, on the side of the street facing traffic.

* Walk close to the curb. Avoid doorways, bushes, and alleys.

* Wear clothes and shoes that give you freedom of movement.

* Don't walk alone at night and always avoid areas where there are few people.

* Be careful when people stop you for directions. Always reply from a distance, and never get too close to the car.

* If you're in trouble, attract help any way you can. Scream, yell for help, yell "Fire!," or break window in house where you think someone is home.

inside:

* Don't allow any stranger into your home when you're alone. You can offer to make an emergency phone call yourself while they await outside.

* If strangers telephone or come to your door, don't admit them if you're alone.

* If you live in an apartment, of the residence halls, avoid being in the laundry room or garage by yourself, especially at night.

* If you come home alone and find a door or window open or signs of forced entry, DON'T GO IN!! Call Campus Safety.

* Make sure all windows and doors in your room can be locked securely.

INCEST

Incest-when a relative forces sex on you is one of the scariest and most upsetting forms of sexual abuse. Incest can be anything from touching you to unwanted sexy kisses to oral sex to intercourse. Victims are mostly young girls, but it can happen to boys as well. Often incest is more like persuasion than a violent attack and becomes a closely held family secret, continuing for years. Incest victims may be economically dependent on their abusers. They delude themselves into thinking that it won't happen again, or worry about sending their father, stepfather, uncle, or brother to jail if they tell anyone.

The most important and almost the only way to prevent incest is to tell someone you trust and who will believe you about the problem. This can be very, very difficult and relatives can make you feel that you are lying or caused the incest. You need to keep reminding yourself that incest in not love and that you have a right make decisions concerning your body, particularly the right not to be touched sexually by anyone you don't wan to be.

Persons who commit incest and their victims can only be helped when the problem is out in the open. Although incest is a criminal offense, the person reported usually is not sent to jail, but ordered by the judge to get psychiatric help. Many law enforcement agencies work with social service and mental health agencies to stop the abuse, protect the victim, and provide counseling to all family members.

Running away is not the answer. The abuser will find another victim, perhaps a younger sibling, and the runaway often becomes another type of victim when exposed to street crime, prostitution and drugs. Neither is getting married to escape the incestuous situation a solution. Women who were sexually assaulted when young often end up with husbands who abuse them.

Talk to someone if you are a victim or know someone who is. This is the first and crucial step in helping yourself stopping the abuse. Some places you can call for help besides Campus Safety are the Whittier Police Department, Whittier College Counseling Center, rape crisis centers, community mental health centers, women's health centers, and social service agencies.

WHAT IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN A VICTIM?

Sexual assault is a terrible experience for the victim and for their friends and family. If you know an assault victim, you may notice that they seem to act differently for a while-withdrawn, afraid, or unsure. You yourself may feel hurt, angry, or upset.

What can you do? First show the person that you care. Given them your support by being available to spend time with them; have dinner, go to a movie, go shopping. Your friend or relative may be afraid to be alone. Let them talk about the crime if they wish. Many victims feel ashamed after an assault. They may feel that they didn't fight hard enough. They may blame themselves for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You should let the victim know that happened wasn't their fault.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU'RE A VICTIM?

If you've been assaulted, get help quickly. Call Campus Safety. They can take you to the hospital, put you in touch with community services and Whittier Police. They can get information about the crime from you that will help them arrest the attacker.

If you prefer not to call Campus Safety right away, get help from a friend, the counseling center, your area coordinator, your doctor, a hospital emergency room, contact a rape or other crisis services that may be available in the community. They usually have a hotline telephone number you can call 24 hours a day. They can explain your choices, offer counseling, and contact the police for you.