Rape and Sexual Assault

by Marianne Cook, LICSW, Clinician, Harvard University Mental Health Service

Please note that this article contains some graphic content due to the nature of the topic.

One of out every six women and one out of every 33 men in the United States is a victim of rape or sexual assault during his or her lifetime. College women are particularly likely to be victims; one in four is raped or sexually assaulted by the time she graduates. Although the specific legal definitions of rape and sexual assault vary by state, rape is generally defined as forced sexual intercourse, including anal, oral, and vaginal penetration. Penetration may be by a body part or by an object. Sexual assault is typically defined as unwanted sexual contact, such as groping or fondling, that stops short of rape. Both acts are criminal and perpetrators can be prosecuted in court. Anyone can be a victim of rape or sexual assault: men, women, and children; people of any age, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. About 73 percent of rape and sexual assault victims know their attacker; among teenagers, this rate is approximately 93 percent.

The physical consequences of rape and sexual assault may include sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy, and physical injuries. In terms of the impact on mental health, victims of rape and sexual assault are much more likely than the general population to suffer from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. They are four times more likely to contemplate suicide. The rate of alcohol and drug abuse is also markedly higher among victims.

Victims are never at fault for rape and sexual assault, no matter how they looked or acted around the assailant. However, you can lower your risk of being attacked by being aware of your surroundings and avoiding dark or isolated areas. Trust your instincts and get out of a situation if it feels dangerous—even if you are with someone you know. At parties, don’t leave beverages unattended or accept drinks from someone you don’t know or don’t trust. Stay with the group instead of going off alone with someone unfamiliar or untrustworthy.

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, it is important to get yourself to the nearest emergency room. Do not wash your body or change clothes if possible because there may be physical evidence on you. At the hospital, a medical professional who is specially trained in rape and sexual assault will examine you for physical injuries, sexual transmitted infections, pregnancy (if you are a woman), and possibly rape drugs in your system. He or she will also collect any evidence of the assailant from your body. After the examination, you can choose to file a police report against the assailant.

Unfortunately, feelings of guilt and shame prevent many victims from going to the hospital or reporting the crimes committed against them. Remember, it is never the victim’s fault. Reach out to people you can support you. There are sexual assault crisis centers all over the country which provide counseling, legal advocacy, and many other free and confidential services for victims. For the center nearest you, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.

The information in the article above was drawn from the following sources:

• National Women’s Health Information Center (2009). Sexual assault. From NWHIC web site: womenshealth.gov/faq/sexual-assault.cfm#b
• Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (2009). Get information. From RAINN web site: www.rainn.org/get-information

Additional Sources of Information

• New York Times Health Guides: Overview — Rape
• Fostering Healthy Norms to Prevent Violence and Abuse: The Social Norms Approach. An overview of research and theory underlying the social norms approach including recent studies on the role of misperceived norms in fostering violence, and a discussion of the applicability of the social norms approach to child abuse and sexual assault prevention. Forthcoming in Keith Kaufman, Ed (2010): The Prevention of Sexual Violence: A Practitioner’s Sourcebook, NEARI Press.
• Acquaintance Rape : A Matter of Consent by Dr. Amy Menna. Excerpt: “Rape. It is a powerful word for a power hungry act. It breeds fear and in many cases, it breeds silence. It is important that this silence be broken, and survivors be heard. By doing so, we break the grasp that rape has upon so many. The aftermath can be immense. The journey to heal may be terrifying; the steps, long and tedious. By building a bridge of awareness and empowerment, woman and men who have experienced rape can be healed and heard.”
• Forensic Nursing. “Forensic nursing combines science and medicine, law and criminology. At its root, forensic nurses are advocates for patients and resource people, managing the care and efforts of all disciplines involved in the response to incidences of assault or abuse.”