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About Rape/Sexual Assault
Please call our 24-hour CrisisLine if you are a victim of sexual assault, incest or child sexual abuse, if you have a friend or family member who is a victim, or if you have questions regarding sexual violence. You can call day or night, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no charge and you can call toll-free.
(907) 276-7273
1-800-478-8999
TTY: (907) 278-9988
It is never O.K. to force, pressure or trick anyone into having sexual contact --even if you think they were "leading you on," even if you have spent money on them, even if they are your spouse, even if they have had consensual sex with you before, or even if you think they "owe" you. That is sexual assault, and it is a crime.
Sexual assault is any sexual contact without consent.
Consent must always be present throughout sexual activity, and it can be taken back at any time.
Consent is:
¡¤ Mutual
¡¤ Active and excited
¡¤ Between partners of equal power
¡¤ Between unimpaired partners
Silence and "giving in" are not consent.
Sexual Assault is:
Any sexual contact (with or without penetration) that is gained through:
o force (pushing, pinning down, choking, etc.)
o threats ("I'll kill you/your family," "I'll hurt you," a weapon is present.)
o trickery (using drugs, alcohol, or deception to make someone sexually receptive or unable to resist)
o manipulation (using pressure: "You can't stop now, I'm so excited," "You did it with your last boy/girlfriend," "If you loved me you would.")
o coercion (using threats, bribes, and blackmail: "I'll tell your mom you were drinking if you don't," "You could lose your job if you don't," "I'll tell everyone we did anyway.")
This includes any sexual contact with a minor who is too young to consent--even if they say yes, even if they initiate it, even if they are in love.
NO ONE DESERVES TO BE
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, NO MATTER WHAT.
A Rapist is Someone Who:
- Believes they have the right to sex regardless of consent.
- Believes that using any means necessary to gain sex is ok.
- Believes the myth that "No" really means "Yes."
- Disregards another persons feeling or needs.
- Violates another person's boundaries.
- Uses someone's trust to coerce sex.
Sexual assault is not an act of lust or passion
Sexual assault is an act of power, dominance and control.
ONLY THE OFFENDER IS TO BLAME
IT IS NEVER THE VICTIM'S FAULT
In spite of this fact, many victims of sexual assault feel that they have done something to cause the assault in some way. The offender may contribute to this by blaming the victim, minimizing the problem, or denying that it happened. Feelings of shame or guilt are normal, but remember, it is never the victim's fault.
Differences Between Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment:
The difference between sexual assault and sexual harassment is the kind of physical contact. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Verbal Assaults- Whistles, jokes, comments and insults about gender, sexuality, or sexual activity.
- Visual Assaults- Exposing yourself to another, exposing someone else to nude or pornographic material against their wishes, gesturing, or mimicking sexual acts.
- Physical - Intimidating behaviors and postures like cornering or hovering over another person, tickling or wrestling beyond that persons comfort, touching another person (i.e. Hair, shoulder, waist, etc)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. CAN MALES BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED?
A. It is estimated that 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted before the age of 18 and that nearly 23,000 men are forcibly raped each year in the United States.
Q. CAN SEXUAL ASSAULT EVER BE THE VICTIM¡¯S FAULT?
A. Sexual violence is NEVER the victim's fault. It doesn't matter if the victim was dressed seductively, drinking or using drugs, out at night alone, homosexual, on a date with the perpetrator, etc. No one asks to be raped. The responsibility and blame lie with the perpetrator, never the victim.
Q. IS SEXUAL ASSAULT A CRIME OF PASSION?
A. Sexual assault is not a crime of passion but an act of violence and aggression. The perpetrator uses sex as a weapon to gain power and control of the other person.
Q. WHAT ABOUT FALSE ACCUSATIONS?
A. Sexual assault has the lowest false reporting rate of any violent crime. Most commonly, 1 in 6 victims will not report a sexual assault because of feelings of shame, fear, and humiliation.
CrisisLine (907) 276-7273
1-800-478-8999
TTY: (907) 278-9988
Business line: (907) 276-7279
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Getting Help
Rape victims can be male, female, young or old. If you have been raped and are hurting emotionally you do not need to be alone. We can help you thru a variety of
services Call or drop by our office.