As the school year begins, let us take a moment to think about the importance of education. Education is present all over our society. Without a good education, it is harder to succeed in life. What does this good education include? In school students learn how to count, how to read, and many other important lessons. What about the lessons most applicable to real life? Most children are taught very young about the importance of “Stranger Danger.” Ask any child over 7, and most will tell you that they are not allowed to talk to strangers. Stranger Danger is a good lesson to teach our children. However, it is not the most valuable. As mentioned in previous blogs, most sexual violence is committed by someone that the victim knows, and this is especially true with children (see our blog about grooming techniques used by perpetrators). So the question remains: if sexual violence is a major issue in our society, and our children continue to be victimized, why is there not more education about sexual violence in school?
Sexual violence education is NOT sex ed. The lack of knowledge about program content creates a lot of hurdles with the school administrators. Administrators are reluctant to even return a phone call if the word sexual is mentioned at all. When approaching new schools about starting our Personal Body Safety program, our educator has seen the look of disgust that shows on the administrator’s face. “That’s an issue to be discussed at home.” “I don’t want to open up that can of worms.” What do these comments tell us? Sexual violence education is not a priority in the schools, and that needs to change. Yes, this is an issue that should ALSO be discussed at home. But what if it is not happening? What if the violence is occurring AT home? The perpetrators do not want their victims to hear that it is wrong and the child can say No and get help. And that is exactly why the education has to be included at the schools. Sexual violence education should be as easily included in the curriculum as any other safety or awareness campaign.
Yes, sometimes tough issues are hard to talk about. But by keeping sexual violence shrouded in silence, it perpetuates the secrecy surrounding the violence itself. We must break that silence and make sexual violence an issue that people DO discuss. Without discussion, how can we teach our children the skills they need to help prevent it? Without prevention, the violence will only continue. No one wants to learn that their child has been a victim. So let us empower them through education and teach them that they have a voice. We just have to help them find it.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Since April of every year is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we felt it would be appropriate to post some statistics regarding sexual assault to help raise awareness of these staggering numbers. The following statistics were published by the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault in By the Numbers: Sexual Violence Statistics.
Sexual assault is non-consensual sexual contact. Women and men of all ages, as well as children, can be victimized by sexual assault. A rapist may be a stranger, an acquaintance or a relative of a victim.
There is no boundary for who might be raped. Almost 18%, or 17.7 million women, in the United States have been victims of rape or attempted rape sometime in their lives. Of the 12.1 million who have been raped, 39%, or 4.7 million women, were raped more than once.
Victims of sexual assault might take years to recover from the physical and psychological effects caused by the rape. Victims may suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Victims often experience a sense of shame, humiliation and self-blame, which may lead them to keep rape a secret.
Below are some interesting data regarding sexual assault in the state of Illinois.
• Adult child abusers have 10 times more victims than offenders who rape adults. Child abusers have an average of 76 victims; a rapist has an average of seven.
• According to recent data from the U.S. Justice Department, there were no significant differences in the rate of rape/sexual assault among racial groups.
• Persons with disabilities are at 1.5 to 5 times the risk of sexual abuse and assault as are members of the general population.
• 61% of rape victims were sexually assaulted before the age of 18.
• 90% of rape victims under age 13 knew their attacker.
• One third of rape victims have seriously considered suicide, and 13% actually attempt it.
• 25% of incest survivors become pregnant as a result of the incest.
• 74% of women who excessively use alcohol experience sexual abuse.
• 50% of women treated for substance abuse were sexually abused as children.
• Most men who sexually abuse boys define their sexual orientation as heterosexual.
• 66% of all prostitutes are victims of child sexual abuse; 2/3 of these are sexually abused by fathers, stepfathers, or foster fathers.
• 40% of child sexual abuse victims seek mental health treatment after reaching adulthood.
• Psychological effects of child sexual abuse often last into adulthood. Adult survivors of child sexual abuse may exhibit depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, dissociation, and low self-esteem.
• Emotional and behavioral symptoms exhibited by adult survivors of child sexual abuse can include: major depression, adjustment disorder, alcohol or other substance abuse, personality disorders, multiple personality disorder and psychosexual dysfunctions.
• Ritual abuse is often initiated by family members who abuse their own children. These abusers may have been abused children themselves.
• More than 70% of rape or sexual assault victims knew their attackers, compared to about half of all violent crime victims.
Unfortunately, these are the facts. Hopefully, with heightened awareness of sexual assault, we can eradicate the problem by not avoiding the issues.
Sexual assault is non-consensual sexual contact. Women and men of all ages, as well as children, can be victimized by sexual assault. A rapist may be a stranger, an acquaintance or a relative of a victim.
There is no boundary for who might be raped. Almost 18%, or 17.7 million women, in the United States have been victims of rape or attempted rape sometime in their lives. Of the 12.1 million who have been raped, 39%, or 4.7 million women, were raped more than once.
Victims of sexual assault might take years to recover from the physical and psychological effects caused by the rape. Victims may suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Victims often experience a sense of shame, humiliation and self-blame, which may lead them to keep rape a secret.
Below are some interesting data regarding sexual assault in the state of Illinois.
• Adult child abusers have 10 times more victims than offenders who rape adults. Child abusers have an average of 76 victims; a rapist has an average of seven.
• According to recent data from the U.S. Justice Department, there were no significant differences in the rate of rape/sexual assault among racial groups.
• Persons with disabilities are at 1.5 to 5 times the risk of sexual abuse and assault as are members of the general population.
• 61% of rape victims were sexually assaulted before the age of 18.
• 90% of rape victims under age 13 knew their attacker.
• One third of rape victims have seriously considered suicide, and 13% actually attempt it.
• 25% of incest survivors become pregnant as a result of the incest.
• 74% of women who excessively use alcohol experience sexual abuse.
• 50% of women treated for substance abuse were sexually abused as children.
• Most men who sexually abuse boys define their sexual orientation as heterosexual.
• 66% of all prostitutes are victims of child sexual abuse; 2/3 of these are sexually abused by fathers, stepfathers, or foster fathers.
• 40% of child sexual abuse victims seek mental health treatment after reaching adulthood.
• Psychological effects of child sexual abuse often last into adulthood. Adult survivors of child sexual abuse may exhibit depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, dissociation, and low self-esteem.
• Emotional and behavioral symptoms exhibited by adult survivors of child sexual abuse can include: major depression, adjustment disorder, alcohol or other substance abuse, personality disorders, multiple personality disorder and psychosexual dysfunctions.
• Ritual abuse is often initiated by family members who abuse their own children. These abusers may have been abused children themselves.
• More than 70% of rape or sexual assault victims knew their attackers, compared to about half of all violent crime victims.
Unfortunately, these are the facts. Hopefully, with heightened awareness of sexual assault, we can eradicate the problem by not avoiding the issues.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Keeping Children Safe
The occurrence of sexual abuse among children is more prevalent than many suspect. Unfortunately, most children know their offender(s) and often times are related to them. Considering all the myths surrounding child sexual assault, many studies have shown that social class does not factor in the risk for child sexual abuse.
Northwest CASA would like to share the following information published by the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center in Renton, Washington.
HOW TO IDENTIFY GROOMING TACTICS AND PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT
Parents and caregivers are the number one resource to protect children and prevent sexual assault. The majority of sexual assaults are not random incidents. Nine out of ten children who came to King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) last year knew their abuser; a family member victimized almost half of those children.
Before assaults occur—especially those committed by someone known to the victim—offenders “groom” victims and families to gain their trust and confidence. This grooming process is a critical time for parents and caregivers to identify the potential risks to children.
1. Understand the grooming process used by offenders. The basic steps are:
• Gaining the trust and confidence of future victims and their families
• Introducing the child to sexual types of touch, with escalating inappropriate behavior
• Manipulating children with trickery or threats to keep the assault secret
2. Know who your child spends time with, and watch for warning signs that grooming is taking place, It is important to look for patterns of behavior involving several of the characteristics below. A potential offender may be someone who:
• Is exceptionally charming and/or helpful
• Attempts to obtain immediate “insider” status
• Consistently prefers the company of children to adults, rather than looking for age-appropriate companionship
• Attempts to establish peer relationships with people much younger than themselves
• Fails to honor clear boundaries set by parents
• Roughhouses, wrestles or tickles children after being asked to stop
3. If you think a child is being groomed, trust your “gut feeling” and act on it:
• Listen for statements or questions from your child that would support your suspicions
• Encourage our child to tell you more about the time he or she spends with the person
• Assert yourself and end questionable behavior
• Be willing to stop all contact between your child and the potential abuser, even if it makes you the “bad guy”
4. Give your child the prevention tools to help identify inappropriate behavior:
• Explain your words and actions to your child as a personal safety skill
• Talk regularly with children about safety skills and help them become more aware of their environment
• Make sure children understand that they can and should say “NO!” to anyone who makes them feel uncomfortable
Resources are available such as books, that parents can read to their children to prompt discussions. “My Body is Mine, My Feelings are Mine” by Susan Hoke is one that contains an adult guide book in it to assist parents. We hope this informative outline helps you to recognize potential dangerous situations. Keeping our children safe is always a number one priority!
Northwest CASA would like to share the following information published by the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center in Renton, Washington.
HOW TO IDENTIFY GROOMING TACTICS AND PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT
Parents and caregivers are the number one resource to protect children and prevent sexual assault. The majority of sexual assaults are not random incidents. Nine out of ten children who came to King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) last year knew their abuser; a family member victimized almost half of those children.
Before assaults occur—especially those committed by someone known to the victim—offenders “groom” victims and families to gain their trust and confidence. This grooming process is a critical time for parents and caregivers to identify the potential risks to children.
1. Understand the grooming process used by offenders. The basic steps are:
• Gaining the trust and confidence of future victims and their families
• Introducing the child to sexual types of touch, with escalating inappropriate behavior
• Manipulating children with trickery or threats to keep the assault secret
2. Know who your child spends time with, and watch for warning signs that grooming is taking place, It is important to look for patterns of behavior involving several of the characteristics below. A potential offender may be someone who:
• Is exceptionally charming and/or helpful
• Attempts to obtain immediate “insider” status
• Consistently prefers the company of children to adults, rather than looking for age-appropriate companionship
• Attempts to establish peer relationships with people much younger than themselves
• Fails to honor clear boundaries set by parents
• Roughhouses, wrestles or tickles children after being asked to stop
3. If you think a child is being groomed, trust your “gut feeling” and act on it:
• Listen for statements or questions from your child that would support your suspicions
• Encourage our child to tell you more about the time he or she spends with the person
• Assert yourself and end questionable behavior
• Be willing to stop all contact between your child and the potential abuser, even if it makes you the “bad guy”
4. Give your child the prevention tools to help identify inappropriate behavior:
• Explain your words and actions to your child as a personal safety skill
• Talk regularly with children about safety skills and help them become more aware of their environment
• Make sure children understand that they can and should say “NO!” to anyone who makes them feel uncomfortable
Resources are available such as books, that parents can read to their children to prompt discussions. “My Body is Mine, My Feelings are Mine” by Susan Hoke is one that contains an adult guide book in it to assist parents. We hope this informative outline helps you to recognize potential dangerous situations. Keeping our children safe is always a number one priority!
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