April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). According to SAAM’s official webpage, “The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.” Sexual assault is a prevalent issue today, especially on college campuses. It’s astounding that “at least 1 in 4 college women will be the victim of sexual assault during her academic career.”
Did you know that 80% of sexual assault victims are under the age of 30? Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Sixty percent of sexual assaults are not reported to police and 15 of 16 rapists will never spend a day in jail. And finally, approximately two thirds of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.
The statistics are quite alarming if, like me, you are a young woman, currently attending a university. However, many schools including the University of Vermont are taking action to prevent such occurrences and raise public awareness about this major problem.
For instance, the Women’s Center at UVM is a great resource for its students to gain knowledge and attend events on campus. This past Tuesday the center held the Dismantling Rape Culture Conference where various workshops were available for the education of students. If you’re interested in getting involved with the Women’s Center, click here.
Sexual assault happens and it’s never the victim’s fault for the violence that is inflicted upon them. However, there are small things you can do to prevent such a thing from happening to you.
1. Be aware of your surroundings.
2. Communicate your limits as clearly as possible. It’s okay to say “NO,”
bottom line, no exceptions.
3. Avoid excessive use of drugs and alcohol. It’s fun to go out, but keep in
mind that an intoxicated female is a prime target for sexual assault crimes.
Depending on how much you’ve had to drink, your behavior, judgment,
memory, and co-ordination may be drastically impaired, making you
extremely susceptible to sexual violence and abuse.
4. Avoid walking alone, especially at night. Try to avoid poorly lit areas,
bushes, and alleyways. Walk with confidence. And if you are in danger, it is
surprisingly more effective to yell “FIRE!” than “RAPE!” Yelling about a fire is
sure to make people notice because they will have more concern about their
own safety.
It’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month! Spread the word and get involved. And if you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, click here for resources that can be supportive in a variety of ways.
Sources:
http://www.nsvrc.org/saam
http://www.rainn.org/statistics
http://www.slc.edu/offices-services/security/assault/statistics.html