Suggested Education and Materials on Sexual Assault
What You Need to Know About Acquaintance Sexual Assault and Rape
Not-So-Fun Facts:
Most rapes are planned in advance. The perpetrator carefully selects targets who seem distracted, naive, preoccupied, impaired, or have a strong desire he will promise to fulfill. He cultivates their trust, and leads them to circumstances that favor a successful assault. The perpetrator often tries to diminish their target’s decision-making ability (90% of teen sexual assault involve alcohol and/or drugs), as well as their ability to effectively respond or fight back against an assault.
In 75 to 90% of cases, the perpetrator and victim knew each other. Perpetrators are most often friends, friends of friends, family members, classmates, boyfriends, or ex-boyfriends. In fact, the closer the relationship the more likely it is for a rape to be completed rather than attempted.
The after-effects can be profound and long-lasting. Victims of sexual assault are 3 times more likely to suffer from depression; 6 times more likely to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder; 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol; 26 times more likely to abuse drugs; and 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide than their peers.