Excerpts from Pamphlets
"We go through life assuming we are secure. All of a sudden, something happens that makes us aware we are totally vul- nerable.”
For as long as you can re- member you have probably been led to believe that sexual assault is deadly and brutal. You have learned to fear it, fear reporting it and fear the judicial system.
It is important to note that the offender can be male or female, but for the purpose of the follow- ing information, they will be
referred to as ‘he’. ‘ Sexual Assault prevention is a state of mind. It is a daily ex- ercise that says, "I refuse to be a victim.” ;
Common Misconceptions of Sexual Assault:
x All women want to be sexual- ly assaulted...
Sexual Assault is, by’ defini- tion, an act committed against the will of the victim. It is not seduc- tion. The!2 is notendemess in sex- ual assault, no concern for the feelings of the victim. The thought that a women could enjoy being exposed to the threat of in- jury or death, that she could enjoy the humiliation and fear that ac- companies sexual assault, is
preposterous.
& No woman can be sexually assaulted against her will...
Because of a lack of under- standing of how and why this act occurs, many believe that a normal healthy woman simply cannot be sexually assaulted. Often the most ardent believers of this myth are women themselves, and their judgmental attitudes continue to victimize every woman who is sexually assaultéd.
x She was asking for it...
The popular beliet that women, because of their be- haviour or dress, somehow cause a man to commit sexual assault, disguises who is actually responsible for this act. The bur- den of blame is wrongfully shifted from the offender to his victim.
FATUR.
reprinted from The Cord Weekly
FACTS
ABOUT
SEXUAL ASSAULT
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Sexual Assault (previously referred to as rape) is not something we like to think about. :
If you are going to be sexual- ly assaulted, you may as well relax and enjoy it...
This attitude suggests that if a woman is attacked and aitempts to defend herself, she can never succeed; that all women are weak and defenseless. Scores of women have successfully warded off their attackers. Women need to understand and believe they can indeed do something about sexual assault.
"...,BUT, He did not look like an attacker..."
In spite of what you may have been taught, you cannot recog- nize the offender by looking at him. He has no "look". He can be a repairman, deliveryman, sales- man, a date, a casual ac- quaintance, someone related to you, a fellow student, an employer or the man next door. IN FACT, HE CAN BE ANY-
ONE.
Since you cannot recognize him, itis important that you learn to recognize potentially dangerous situations and know how to protect yourself.
One in four Canadian women is
- sexually assaulted. Most women
live with the fear of being sexually assaulted. People don’t like to talk about it but as a community, we should all be concerned. No one should have to live in fear,
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault is any un- wanted act of a sexual nature im- posed by one person upon anoth- er.
Sexual assault of any kind is a crime, even in a marriage or a dating relationship.
Statistics show that nearly all sexual assaults are committed by men against women or girls. A
_ very small percentage of sexua:
assault victims are men.
Is there a difference between Sexual Assault and Rape?
Rape is unwanted sexual in- tercourse.
‘Under the law, sexual assault is any unwanted act of a sexual nature, including rape and any other unwanted fondling or touching.
Where does it happen?
Most people believe that sex- ual assault happens in "dangerous" places such as dark alleys or parking lots. But more than half of all sexual assaults take place in private homes.
Who is Sexually Assaulted?
All kinds of women are sexually assaulted—women from every walk of life. They can be of every racial and ethnic back- ground; rich or poor; homemakers or women who work outside the home.
Women of all ages and physi- cal types are sexually assaulted, including elderly and disabled women.
It doesn’t happen to any certain "type" of women. Any woman can be sexually assaulted.
So
Page 14
Why does Sexual Assault hap- pen?
A sexual assault happens when a man thinks that his feel- ing and desires are more impor- tant than the woman’s feelings and desires. This attitude reflects the fact that women have not yet achieved real equality in our society. de
By committing a sexual as- sault, the man imposes his wishes on the woman by pressure, force or other means. His "right" to get what he wants is more important to him than her right to say no.
When a woman says no, many men don’t listen. Some men think she really means maybe or yes. Some men even believe that women secretly "want" or that they "deserve" to be raped. This is not true.
Under the law, women have the right to say no to any form of sex or sexual touching, even ina marriage or when dating. No means no—whatever the situa- tion.
Who commits Sexual Assault?
Most people think of sexual assault as a woman being sexual- ly attacked by a stranger. Bul more than half of all sexual as- saults are committed by men who are known to the women.
When a woman knows th¢ man who: sexually assaults her, i! is less likely that what has hap- pened to her will be seen as a sex- ual assault, even by her. She is also less likely to be believed.
But these sexual assaults are no less a crime than those com- mitted by strangers.
Men who commit sexual as- sault are from every back- ground—rich and poor, of every racial and ethnic group; and are in every kind of job and profession.
Men who commit sexual as sault can be the husbands, patt: ners, relatives, boyfriends, employers, co-workers, doctors teachers or lawyers of the womel
~ they assault.
Who is responsible for Sexual Assault?
People who commit sexual as- saults are responsible for thes¢ crimes, not the victims.
What a woman wears, wheté she goes, what she drinks or wh? she talks to does not mean she 5 inviting sexual assault or giving up her right to no. These myths blame the victim for the crimé,
_ not the offender. Any woman of any age in a most any situation can be sexual ly attacked. If a woman is sexual ly assaulted it is not her fault
Cont. on page 15 — —FA
=—— Thursday, November 10, 19883
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