Teens - Date/Acquaintance Rape

SEXUAL ASSAULT:
IT IS MORE THAN STRANGER RAPE

          Sexual assault is a violent criminal act committed against people in our society.  Most people believe that rape is about sex but sex is the weapon that rapists use to have power and control over someone.  We would like to believe that rapists are strangers that jump out of bushes and attack only women who are out late at night but statistics say differently.  One out of every seven women is a victim of marital rapes, 70-80% of all rape crimes in the U.S. are acquaintance rapes.  One in four females and one in seven males will be sexually assaulted by the time that they are age 18.

Sexual assault is any forced, tricked and/ or manipulated, sexual contact, touch and/ or penetration against a persons will.  Date/ Acquaintance Rape is the most frequently committed type of assault, this can be forced, tricked or manipulated sexual contact by a friend or acquaintance of the victim.  Many times these assaults go unreported; sometimes a victim may not be believed if she tells someone.

          Marital rape is a crime in most states.  Again, this crime goes unreported because many people and even the victim may not see it as rape when their husband forces or coerces them into having sex.  Incest is another form of sexual assault.  This is when a person is abused by a relative or other person in a position of trust, authority or someone seen in the family context (parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts/uncles, nieces/nephews, foster parents, foster siblings, parents, (boyfriend/ girlfriend).  The most common victims of incest are children.

          Sexual assault can include exposing, uncomfortable touch, forced touch or penetration (rape).  All of these forms of sexual assault can affect a person for the rest of their lives.  Only 10% of rapes are reported and many victims never receive the help that they need.  If you have been assaulted there is help available.  Call Hands of Hope Resource Center to speak to an advocate.

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