If You or Someone You Know Needs Help:

Facts About Sexual Assault

• 1 out of every 3 women will be sexually assaulted in her life time.
• 1 out of every 6 men is the victim of unwanted or abusive sexual activity in his lifetime.
• Somewhere in America, someone is raped every 2 minutes.
• Females between the ages of 16 and 24 are 4 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than any other age group (National Crime Victimization Survey, 2000)

If You Have Been Raped…whatever you’re feeling right now is okay. There is no right or wrong way to feel after being raped. Most importantly, though, the rape was NOT YOUR FAULT. There is nothing anyone can do to deserve to be raped or sexually assaulted. If you have just experienced a rape or sexual assault, here are some important tips:

• Go to a safe place and contact a safe person.
• Do not change your clothes, take a shower/bath or brush your teeth
• Seek medical attention immediately
• Call SAC’s Crisis Line for support and help at 1-800-879-1999
• You do not have to decide right now if you want to press charges against the perpetrator or report the crime to the police. You do, however, need to get checked out medically to ensure you are physically okay.

Tennessee State Law
Sexual Battery is unlawful sexual contact with a victim involving one or more of the following elements:

• Force or coercion is used
• Victim did not consent
• Victim is unable to give consent
• The sexual contact is accomplished by fraud

Rape is sexual penetration of any part of a person’s body and involving one or more of the following elements:

• Force or coercion
• Victim did not consent
• Victim is unable to give consent
• Sexual Penetration is accomplished by fraud

Child Sexual Abuse “child sexual abuse” means the commission of any act involving the unlawful sexual abuse, molestation, fondling or carnal knowledge of a child under thirteen (13) years of age
This includes:

• Penetration
• Exposure of genitals
• Exposure of a child to sexually explicit language or materials or exposure to pornography
• Soliciting a child for sexual acts
• Touching of genital area or breasts
• Taking pictures of a child that are of a sexual nature
• An abusive act toward a child for the sexual gratification of the offender

Statutory Rape “statutory rape” is unlawful sexual penetration of a minor who is at least 13, but less than 18 by a person who is at least 4, but no more than 10 years older than the victim. If the offender is more than 10 years older than the victim, it is considered “Aggravated Statutory Rape”

Incest “incest” is committed by someone who engages in sexual penetration with a person, knowing the person to be, without regard to legitimacy:

• The person's natural parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, stepparent, stepchild, adoptive parent, adoptive child; or the person's brother or sister of whole or half-blood or by adoption.
• When this sexual contact is not consensual, the offender can also be charged with another crime such as rape, statutory rape or rape of a child.

Examples of Sexual Assault

• Intercourse
• Penetration
• Fondling
• Masturbating in front of
• Exposure
• Pornography
• Obscene or inappropriate sexual comments
• Kissing
• Obscene phone calls
• Any sexual contact that is uncomfortable for the receiver

Common Reactions to Sexual Assault

• Emotional shock--numbness, calm, doesn’t cry
• Disbelief--Did this really happen? Why me?
• Embarrassment--What will people think?
• Shame--feeling dirty, something’s wrong with me, I’m a bad person
• Guilt--If only I hadn’t…
• Somatic Symptoms--soreness, bruising, tension, headaches, fatigue, sleeping disturbances, stomach pains, appetite change, nausea, pain in pelvic area, sore throat
• Disorientation--having trouble making it through the day, forgetful
• Dissociation--zoning out/spacing out
• Retriggering--smells, places, someone that looks like the perpetrator, flashbacks, can’t stop thinking about the assault
• Denial--having difficulty accepting the assault really happened
• Fear--fear of pregnancy, STD’s, sex, men, embarrassment, being alone, etc.
• Anxiety--panic attacks, nervous, fearful
• Anger--at self, at perpetrator, at God, at family and friends
• Depression--feeling tired, helpless, hopeless, withdrawn from activities and people

Possible Long Term Effects of Sexual Assault

• Feelings of guilt and shame
• Feeling different or alone
• Sadness
• Confusion
• Anger
• Low self-esteem
• Dissociation
• Fear
• Hatred
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS)
• Depression
• Promiscuity
• Eating Disorders
• Body image issues
• Anxieties
• Changes in lifestyle
• Turning to violence
• Using drugs or alcohol
• Other forms of self-harm
• Difficulty forming close relationships
• Trust issues/intimacy issues
• Sexual/relationship dysfunctions

Child Sexual Abuse Symptoms, Indicators and Warning Signs

Child sexual abuse can happen to anyone. National statistics show that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 to 7 boys is sexually abused before his or her 18th birthday.

Child sexual offenders are usually not strangers; 93% of juvenile victims know their perpetrator.

The following may be Yellow Flag behaviors (potential warning signs a child has been sexually abused)

• Any sudden behavior changes are often a sign that something’s not right
• Clinginess, fear of being around a certain person, anxiety about being alone or around certain person
• Preoccupation with sexual themes (especially sexually aggressive)
• Attempting to expose others’ genitals (puling others skirts up or pants down)
• Sexually explicit conversation with peers
• Sexual graffiti
• Sexual innuendo/teasing/embarrassment of others
• Precocious sexual knowledge
• Single occurrences of peeping/exposing/obscenities/pornographic interest
• Preoccupation with masturbation
• Child has feelings of low self-worth
• Simulating foreplay with dolls or peers with clothing on (petting, french kissing)
• Difficulty making friends the child’s own age, ease of befriending adults and authority figures
• Overly restricted social activities
• Confused sexual identity

The following may be Red Flag behaviors (warning signs a child may have been sexually abused)

• Any sudden behavior changes are often a sign that something’s not right
• Extremely needy: incessant demands for attention
• Acting out: the child is restless during class, for example, and tends to become more agitated during discussion of sexual assault material
• Abrupt changes in behavior or attitude
• Depression or withdrawal
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• Any genital injury not explained by accidental cause
• Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
• Sexually explicit conversations with significant age difference
• Touching the genitals of others
• Degradation/humiliation of self or others with sexual themes
• Inducing fear/threats of force
• Sexually explicit proposals/threats including written notes
• Repeated or chronic peeping/exposing; obscenities/obsessive pornographic interest
• Compulsive masturbation/task interruption to masturbate
• Simulating intercourse with dolls, peers, animals
• Complaints of pain, itching or irritation in genital or rectal area
• Child demonstrates regressive behaviors such as wetting pants or sucking thumb
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts

Symptoms and Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

• Feelings of guilt or shame
• Nightmares or other sleep problems
• Trust issues
• Feel different or alone
• Depression
• Sadness
• Running away
• Confusion
• Eating disorders
• Acting out at school or home
• Developing sexual behavior problems
• Develop anxieties
• Turning to violence
• Fear
• Using drugs and/or alcohol
• Anger
  
• Difficulty forming close relationships
• Suicidal thoughts
• Self mutilation (cutting, burning, etc.)
• Low self-esteem and self-worth

Why Children May Not Disclose Right Away

• They are afraid they won’t be believed
• Small children do not have an accurate understanding of what has happened, or the words to use
• They are afraid of getting in trouble, or that it is their fault
• They are being threatened or bribed
• They do not know who to tell
• They may be trying to protect their abuser
• They may be trying to keep another sibling safe from the abuse
• They may think they have already told, in their own words
• They do not know it is wrong
• It may be the only attention or physical affection they are receiving
• They may fear peer or familial reaction
• Some older children are embarrassed to discuss sexual issues, especially with authority figures
  

Why Children Tell

• The child receives sexual abuse prevention training and understands what to do
• The child encounters a caring adult and feels safe to disclose
• Physical problems lead to medical exam
• The abuse escalates in frequency or type of behavior and alarms the child
• The victim’s younger brother/sister is now at the age when the victim was first abused, and the victim does not want him/her to be abused as well
• The child feels safe enough to tell

For Parents and Caregivers:

How to Assist a Sexually Abused Child

• Always reassure the child that you believe him/her and are there to protect him/her
• Always reassure the child that they have done the right thing by telling you about the abuse
• Use care when correcting behavior
• Listen to the child’s stories and be supportive
• Contact a therapist or case worker with specific questions about child’s behavior
• Teach personal safety
• Offer alternative choices or redirect inappropriate behavior
• Remain calm
• Report disclosure to Child Protective Services (1-877-237-0004)
• Don’t force child to talk about the abuse if they appear uncomfortable; respect the child’s boundaries
• Pay attention to your own reaction and body language and how it might affect the child
• Don’t coach the child or put words in his/her mouth
• Don’t try to figure out yourself it the allegations are valid
• Children rarely lie about being sexually abused
• Help is available! SAC is here to help you and your child deal with the effects of sexual abuse. We are here to provide support, therapy and guidance to help you and your child heal from this victimization.
  

Friends and Family: How you can help if someone you know and love has been raped or sexually abused:

• Listen. Be there. Don’t be judgmental.
• Be patient. Remember, it will take your friend/family member some time to deal with the crime.
• Believe
• Offer a safe place
• Respect the survivor’s decisions (how they handled the assault, how they decided to proceed, report, not report, etc., when and if they want to discuss the assault), but gently encourage them to report the rape to law enforcement
• Be gentle and sensitive—do not use derogatory remarks about rape and/or sexual assault or speak negatively about the perpetrator unless the survivor initiates this type of discussion
  Remember, your friend/family member is still the same person she/he was prior to the assault
• Offer love, support, and understanding more than sympathy
• Understand the assault may impact sexual interactions (for partners)
• Let your friend/family member know that professional help is available through SAC
• It’s Never Too Late to Get Help! The Sexual Assault Center is here to help. Please call us if you or someone you know is dealing with the devastating effects of rape or sexual abuse. Whether you are the parent/caregiver of a child who was sexually abused, a rape victim who was recently assaulted, an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse, or a spouse, partner or friend of a sexual assault survivor, the Sexual Assault Center is able to provide the therapy and support you need during this time.
• Remember, your friend/family member is still the same