By: Cheyenne Taylor Women across the world came together after the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape case in 1992. This case revolved around an 18-year-old girl that was raped by her driving instructor. He was prosecuted and arrested for the crime but appealed his sentence, claiming that they had consensual sex. The Italian supreme court appealed his case, saying that the victim’s jeans were too tight for the rapist to have removed the jeans by himself. So, they argued that she would have had to help her rapist take her pants off, therefore making the act consensual.
Angered by this judgment, Italian women protested by wearing denim jeans and sitting on the steps of the Italian Supreme Court building. Images of these courageous women spread, and the news of the case shocked people across the globe. In 1999, the first American Denim Day was held in LA. Since then, each year, people worldwide wear denim to stand in solidarity with victims of sexual assault and speak out about the harmful effects of victim-blaming, which often results in more pain and suffering for sexual assault victims. Our agency encourages everyone who supports survivors of sexual assault to wear denim this year on #DenimDay in honor of all survivors. Help is Available:
#WeSupportSurvivors #WeServeAll #WeBelieveYou #SAAM By: Cheyenne Taylor Robert Ingersoll, an American lawyer and writer, once said, “We rise by lifting others.” Today, we want to discuss the ways we can help uplift survivors of sexual assault. We can start by changing the way society speaks about survivors. Common myths about sexual assault are harmful to survivors and can prevent them from getting the help and justice they deserve. These myths include beliefs that survivors “got what they deserved” or that they were “asking for it.” These thoughts are communicated through questions like, “What were they wearing,” “What were they doing,” or “Why did they drink so much?”
The truth is these types of questions focus on the wrong person. When a stabbing occurs, we never turn to the stabbing victim and question what they were wearing to make themselves more at risk of getting stabbed. We know that it is not our place to question survivors, and there is no justification for causing this harm. However, when speaking about sexual assault survivors, we assume they are lying – even though less than 2% of people are reported to have lied about sexual assault1. We also focus on questioning the survivors instead of questioning those who sexually assault people. Survivors are shamed so much that many do not report their perpetrators and many perpetrators go free. In fact, only 5 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison2. Survivors feel so much shame for being sexually assaulted, but we can work together to take away those feelings of guilt. Instead of questioning survivors about their actions and what they did to “deserve” trauma that nobody deserves, we can show support to these survivors. We can offer support by using phrases like “It took a lot of courage to speak about this,” “It’s not your fault,” or “You are not alone. I am here to help.” We can also continue to check-in with them and give them the time to grieve and heal from their experiences. We should also validate their decisions. Listen to them without judgment and encourage them to make the best decision for themselves and their health. Additionally, we can suggest local resources to help the survivor. Beacon of Hope Crisis Center offers free services like protective order filing, safety planning, employment and financial assistance, emotional support, referrals for housing, jobs, and much more. Our victim advocates are here to support you. Speak with a victim advocate by calling our confidential crisis line at (317) 731-6140. If you are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1. By: Savannah Tipton Sexual assault often results in no physical injuries to the victim, but this doesn’t make their experience any less traumatic. After an assault, victims may experience significant short-term and long-term effects.
Effects of Sexual Assault:
Sexual assault is often perpetrated by someone the victim knows (acquaintance, friend, family, etc.). The majority of assaults occur at or near a victim’s home (RAINN). Many of us were taught about “stranger danger” in the past and some people may still believe that no one they know “could do something like that.” Unfortunately, we do not get to live in a world free from danger. However, together we can raise our voices to make a change. Start by believing survivors. If someone discloses they have been sexually assaulted, listen and believe them. If they disclose shortly after an assault, encourage them to get an exam done at the hospital. Sexual assault exams are done for free in Indiana and an experienced SANE nurse (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) can collect evidence that may not be available later on. This is also an opportunity for survivors to get medical care, testing, and ongoing support. Referring survivors to community resources is another way to help and you can encourage them to speak with a victim advocate. Victim advocates offer free support, education, and community referrals. Advocates can also answer questions about protective orders and reporting to law enforcement. Want to get more involved? Get out in the community and start volunteering! There are a variety of volunteer opportunities to help survivors near you. Volunteers opportunities generally include fundraising, events, volunteer advocacy, and more. Visit the career tab to learn more about volunteer and internship opportunities at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center. Finally, show survivors you stand with them as an ally by sharing resources, statistics, and other information from services providers. The simple act of sharing a post has the potential to reach someone who may need help. Your voice has power, use it to support survivors. #AllyToSurvivors If you or someone you know is a victim or survivor in need of services, please contact our confidential crisis line at 317-731-6140. Advocates are a confidential source of support available to help survivors. |
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This blog is about our domestic and sexual violence crisis center, Beacon of Hope. We hope you find it full of helpful information, motivation, creativity, serious facts and positivity. We hope that it will help you know what is happening in our center, in our community and with our events. We hope you follow our blog in support of our organization and our mission. Archives
October 2024
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