Issues Specific to Women
Sexual Assault against Females
Although anyone - men, women, and children - can be assaulted,
this fact sheet will focus on adult female victims of sexual
assault.
What is sexual assault?
Sexual
assault is defined as any sort of sexual activity between
two or more people in which one of the people is involved
against his or her will.
The
sexual activity involved in an assault can include many different
experiences. Women can be the victims of unwanted touching,
grabbing, oral sex, anal sex, sexual penetration with an object,
and/or sexual intercourse.
There
are a lot of ways that women can be involved in sexual activity
against their will. The force used by the aggressor can be
either physical or non-physical. Some women are forced or
pressured into having sex with someone who has some form of
authority over them (e.g., doctor, teacher, boss). Women can
be bribed or manipulated into sexual activity against their
will. Others may be unable to give their consent because they
are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In some cases,
the sexual aggressor threatens to hurt the woman or people
that she cares about. Finally, some assaults include physical
force or violence.
Who commits sexual assaults?
Often,
when we think about who commits sexual assault or rape, we
imagine the aggressor is a stranger to the victim. Contrary
to popular belief, sexual assault does not typically occur
between strangers. The National Crime Victimization Survey,
conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, found that 76%
of sexually assaulted women were attacked by a current or
former husband, cohabitating partner, friend, or date. Strangers
committed only 18% of the assaults that were reported in this
survey.
How often do sexual assaults happen?
Estimating
rates of sexual violence against women is a difficult task.
Many factors stop women from reporting these crimes to police
and to interviewers collecting statistics on the rate of crime
in our country. Women may not want to report that they were
assaulted because it is such a personal experience, because
they blame themselves, because they are afraid of how others
may react, and because they do not think it is useful to make
such a report. However, there are statistics that demonstrate
the magnitude of this problem in our country. For instance,
a large-scale study conducted on several college campuses
found that 20% of women reported that they had been raped
in their lifetime. Another national study found that approximately
13-17% of women living in the U.S. have been the victims of
completed rape, and an additional 14% of women were the victims
of another form of sexual assault. The National Crime Victimization
Survey estimated that 500,000 sexual assaults occurred in
the U.S. from 1992 to 1993. Of those assaults, about one third
were completed rapes and an additional 28% were attempted
rapes.
What happens to women after they are sexually assaulted?
After
a sexual assault, women can experience a wide range of reactions.
It is extremely important to note that there is no one pattern
of response. Some women respond immediately, others may have
delayed reactions. Some women are affected by the assault
for a long time whereas others appear to recover rather quickly.
In
the early stages, many women report feeling shock, confusion,
anxiety, and/or numbness. Sometimes women will experience
feelings of denial. In other words, they may not fully acknowledge
what has happened to them or they may downplay the intensity
of the experience. This reaction may be more common among
women who are assaulted by someone they know.
What are some early reactions to sexual assault?
In
the first few days and weeks following the assault, it is
very normal for a woman to experience intense and sometimes
unpredictable emotions. She may have repeated strong memories
of the event that are difficult to ignore, and nightmares
are not uncommon. Women also report having difficulty concentrating
and sleeping, and they may feel jumpy or on edge. While these
initial reactions are normal and expected, some women may
experience severe, highly disruptive symptoms that make it
incredibly difficult to function in the first month following
the assault. When these problems disrupt the woman's daily
life, and prevent her from seeking assistance or telling friends
and family members, the woman may have Acute Stress Disorder
(ASD).
Symptoms of ASD include:
Feeling
numb and detached, like being in a daze or a dream, or feeling
that the world is strange and unreal
Difficulty remembering important parts of the assault
Reliving the assault through repeated thoughts, memories,
or nightmares
Avoidance of things (places, thoughts, feelings) that remind
the woman of the assault
Anxiety or increased arousal (e.g., difficulty sleeping, concentrating,
etc.)
What
are some other reactions that women have following a sexual
assault?
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Depression
is a common reaction following sexual assault. Symptoms of
MDD can include a depressed mood, an inability to enjoy things,
difficulty sleeping, changes in patterns of sleeping and eating,
problems in concentration and decision-making, feelings of
guilt, hopelessness, and decreased self-esteem. Research suggests
that almost 1/3 of all rape victims have at least one period
of MDD during their lives. And for many of these women, the
depression can last for a long period of time. Thoughts about
suicide are also common. Studies estimate that 1/3 of women
who are raped contemplate suicide, and 17% of rape victims
actually attempt suicide.
Anger
Many
victims of sexual assault report struggling with anger after
the assault. Although this is a natural reaction to such a
violating event, there is some research that suggests that
prolonged, intense anger can interfere with the recovery process
and further disrupt a woman's life.
Shame and guilt
These
feelings are common reactions to sexual assault. Some women
blame themselves for what has happened or feel shameful about
being an assault victim. This reaction can be even stronger
among women who are assaulted by someone that they know, or
who do not receive support from their friends, family, or
authorities, following the incident. Shame and guilt can also
get in the way of a woman's recovery by preventing her from
telling others about what happened and getting assistance.
Social problems
Social
problems can sometimes arise following a sexual assault. A
woman can experience problems in her marital relationship
or in her friendships. Sometimes an assault survivor will
be too anxious or depressed to want to participate in social
activities. Many women report difficulty trusting others after
the assault, so it can be difficult to develop new relationships.
Performance at work and school can also be affected.
Sexual problems
Sexual
problems can be among the most long-standing problems experienced
by women who are the victims of sexual assault. Women can
be afraid of and try to avoid any sexual activity; they may
experience an overall decrease in sexual interest and desire.
Alcohol and drug use
Substance
abuse can sometimes become problematic for women who are the
victims of assault. A large-scale study found that compared
to non-victims, rape survivors were 3.4 times more likely
to use marijuana, 6 times more likely to use cocaine, and
10 times more likely to use other major drugs. Often, women
will report that they use these substances to control other
symptoms related to their assault.
PTSD
Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) involves a pattern of symptoms that
some individuals develop after experiencing a traumatic event
such as sexual assault. Symptoms of PTSD include repeated
thoughts of the assault; memories and nightmares; avoidance
of thoughts, feelings, and situations related to the assault;
and increased arousal (e.g., difficulty sleeping and concentrating,
jumpiness, irritability). One study that examined PTSD symptoms
among women who were raped found that 94% of women experienced
these symptoms during the two weeks immediately following
the rape. Nine months later, about 30% of the women were still
reporting this pattern of symptoms. The National Women's Study
reported that almost 1/3 of all rape victims develop PTSD
sometime during their lives and 11% of rape victims currently
suffer from the disorder.
What should I do if I have been sexually assaulted?
Where can I go for help?
If
you were sexually assaulted and are experiencing symptoms
that are distressing to you, or symptoms that are interfering
with your ability to live a fulfilling and productive life,
we urge you to talk to a mental-health professional. Depending
on the nature of the problems that you are having, a number
of therapeutic techniques may be extremely helpful to you.
The
treatment you receive will depend on the symptoms you are
experiencing and will be tailored to your needs. Some therapies
involve talking about and making sense of the assault in order
to reduce the memories and pain associated with the assault.
Attending therapy may also involve learning skills to cope
with the symptoms associated with the assault. Finally, therapy
can help survivors restore meaning to their lives.
Unfortunately,
sexual assault is fairly prevalent in our society today. Survivors
of sexual assault can experience a wide variety of symptoms,
but they do not have to suffer in silence. Mental-health professionals
can offer a number of effective treatments tailored to the
individual woman's needs. We urge you to seek help today.
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