Sexual Assault Editorial

Sexual Assault Prevention Month

For the past month this paper has been promoting April as Prevention of Child Abuse Month. Every cause seems to have a week or a month these days and we can't promote all of them or our paper would be nothing but multi-colored ribbons.

It was brought to my attention that April was also Sexual Assault Prevention Month. As this paper is sent to our press, the IP and the Gulf Coast Women's Center (GCWC) is hosting an event designed to raise money and entertain while bringing awareness to the issue of sexual assault.

When hearing the words, sexual assault or rape, most people think of the anonymous crime of a bad person lurking in the night, attacking a stranger and physically forcing them into sexual activity. Unfortunately, that scenario happens all too often. It's easy to distance yourself from that kind of image, either as someone in danger of experiencing it, or as someone who would cause it to happen.

But as Sandra Morrison, director of the GCWC points out, sexual assault is more than that. Statistically one in four women are sexually assaulted some time in their lives. That number comes from the women who tell someone and report the crime. Sexual assault is the most under-reported crime. The Center for Disease Control defines sexual assault as any sexual act that is forced on someone against their will. That force can be physical, psychological or through threats or manipulation.

Growing into adulthood, I've realized that within my own circle of female family, friends and acquaintances almost all of the women I knew had experienced some form of a negative, unhealthy or not completely consensual sexual experience in their lives.

Whether it was the woman who was convinced at a too-young age by an overbearing and persistent boyfriend that if she loved him, she would have sex with him or others who had been abused by family members and worse, I was surprised to find out that few women make it to their 30s without enduring some sexual event that in some way or another scars them either physically or psychologically or both.

Morrison said that to change the level of incidences of sexual assault we have to change our society and the way we think about sex and the way we view sexual assault. She points out the continued blaming of victims, saying that, even in 2008 people are far too quick to blame a woman or other victim for dressing inappropriately, being in the wrong place under the wrong circumstances or even shopping after dark, as if there were such a thing as a legitimate cause for forcing someone to do something they don't want to do.

She also sees the unhealthy and prevalent combination of violence and some television, movies and video games as contributing to an overall attitude or myth about sexuality. Such imagery can desensitize people into accepting behavior as normal or acceptable that they might have otherwise rejected.

I think prevention and education begins with each individual. How many of you reading this has allowed someone to convince you to do something you didn't want to do? How many have used the forces of persuasion and pressure? How many teach their sons and daughters at an early age how to respect the opposite sex ad what is appropriate behavior? How many of us would be brave enough to come forward and report any and all inappropriate behavior whether it be drastic and obvious or subtly manipulative? Whether it be as young children, teenagers at school or adults in the workplace?

The Gulf Coast Women's Center provides educational services for children in schools and for adults through its many programs. The Center provides a comprehensive approach to meet the needs of both children and adults. If you have any questions or would like to help call the Center at 800-800-1396.