Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month! Help us spread the word and educate men and women.

National Sexual Assault Hotline: [phone]-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: Many who commit rape are sick, they suffer from mental issues, or they cannot control themselves.
Fact: Very few perpetrators are mentally ill, the majority of them are completely sane.

The myth that many individuals who commit rape are mentally ill or unable to control their actions is a common misconception that often arises from a desire to explain or rationalize the behavior of perpetrators. While it's true that some individuals who commit sexual violence may have underlying mental health issues, research indicates that the majority of perpetrators do not fit this profile.

Source:https://t.co/Ax3M5UppC7

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: Sexual responses such as a climax or natural lubrication prove that the victim was enjoying themselves.
Fact: Sexual responses are strictly related to stimuli, not one's personal feelings or thoughts. This means someone can be completely against it and their body will still have a response.

it's crucial to recognize that physical arousal does not equate to consent or willingness to engage in sexual activity. Regardless of whether someone experiences physiological arousal, consent must always be given freely and enthusiastically for any sexual activity to be ethical and legal. Ignoring or dismissing a person's lack of consent based on their physiological response is a dangerous misconception that contributes to the normalization of sexual violence.

Source: https://t.co/yQHIj67O6w.

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: A woman can't rape a man.
Fact: While it is rare, people of all genders can be perpetrators of sexual violence.

A common misconception is that women cannot rape men. While it is rare, men have been raped by women. This misconception often revolves around the belief that men are always willing and eager for sex, and that they cannot be victims of sexual violence perpetrated by women. In a traditional sense, it doesn't seem possible for women to rape men, however, it is more common than one might think.

Source: https://t.co/hySVcIZdIA

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: Rape occurs due to a man's inability to restrain his sexual desires.
Fact: Rape is about power and control, not one's inability to control their urges.

Rape is driven by the perpetrator's need for dominance and control rather than simply being unable to control their sexual desires. It's a violent expression of power, where the assailant seeks to assert authority and inflict harm on their victim. Understanding rape through this lens underscores the importance of addressing issues of power dynamics, consent, and gender inequality in efforts to prevent and combat sexual violence.

Source: https://t.co/Qpa42syxdf

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: Most people are assaulted by an ominous stranger waiting in an alley
Fact: Only 23% of victims are raped by a stranger

Contrary to popular belief, not all assaults are committed by a stranger. A large majority of the time assaults are committed by an acquaintance -- a friend, family member, or someone the victim knows.

Source:https://t.co/tW2qGbujul

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Absolutely! When a person experiences the fawn response during a traumatic event like rape, they may exhibit behaviors such as compliance, appeasement, or submission as a way to try to mitigate the threat. This can involve attempting to cooperate with the perpetrator, pleading for mercy, or even going along with the assault without resisting.

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: If a victim of sexual assault does not fight back, they must have thought the assault was not that bad or they wanted it.
Fact: Many survivors experience tonic immobility or a “freeze response” during an assault where they cannot physically move or speak.

Have you heard of fight or flight, the body’s response to moments of fear or high pressure? There is another response called freeze. The freeze response causes a survivor to be frozen, unable to speak or move. When this occurs, people often struggle to believe that the sexual acts were unwanted as the survivor did not fight back.

Source: https://t.co/hQwTSiNFBa

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

If you have been a victim of sexual violence and need assistance seeking help, feel free to DM us. We'd love to help guide you to support services.

Or if you just need someone to talk to, we are here too :)

National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: People who have been sexually assaulted will be hysterical and crying.
Fact: Everyone responds differently to trauma- some may laugh, some may cry, and others will not show any emotion.

Everyone processes trauma differently. It is okay to be emotionless and it is okay to be hysterically crying. Either way, a survivor’s situation should be taken seriously no matter how they respond to the incident. Unfortunately, those who are not visibly distraught over the incident are thought to be less believable in the eyes of law enforcement and society. This diminishes their credibility both in and out of court.

Source: https://t.co/hQwTSiNFBa

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: A lot of victims lie about being raped or give false reports.
Fact: Only 2-8% of rapes are falsely reported, the same percentage as for other felonies.

People who deny the occurrence of rape often argue that a majority of rapes are falsely reported. In reality, for every 100 cases only 2-8 reported are false. This mentality is why survivors don’t get the support they need and deserve.

Source: https://t.co/hQwTSiNFBa

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: Getting help is expensive for survivors.
Fact: Services such as counseling and advocacy are offered for free or at a low cost by sexual assault service providers.

States and counties often have non-profit organizations to advocate for men and women who have fallen victim to sexual violence. If you are from Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania and are a survivor who seeks help, reach out to the @blackburncenter.

Source: https://t.co/hQwTSiNFBa

Post Ending: If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: Wearing revealing clothing, behaving provocatively, or drinking a lot means the victim was “asking for it.”
Fact: The perpetrator selects the victim- the victim’s behavior or clothing choices do not mean that they consent to sexual activity.

Society often argues that the way a woman dresses is equivalent to consent. For example, if a woman wears low-cut or tight clothing, then she is “asking for it.” In reality, we are naive to believe that it is anyone but the perpetrator's fault for acting upon their desires.

Source: https://t.co/hQwTSiNFBa

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: Rape does not happen that often.
Fact: There is an average of 293,066 victims ages 12 or older of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States. This means one sexual assault occurs every 107 seconds.

Many people believe that rape is a rare occurrence, but the truth is, it's more common than you think. Unfortunately, rape occurs at a rate that almost seems impossible. The more informed we are about sexual assault and rape, the better we can handle the cases that arise.

Source: https://t.co/hQwTSiNFBa

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: People with disabilities are at low risk for sexual assault.
Fact: People with disabilities are victims of sexual assault twice as much as people without disabilities.

Many people believe that physical or mental disabilities are a deterrent to sexual violence however, it is the opposite. Many offenders see the disabled as easy targets and because of this are twice as more likely to experience sexual abuse than people without disabilities.

Source: https://t.co/hQwTSiNFBa

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Lifestyle/career choice DOES NOT mean consent.

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: Sex workers cannot be raped because they are selling sex.
Fact: Sex workers have the right to give and withhold consent to any sexual activity

Historically, sex workers who have been victims of sexual assault or rape are not taken as seriously due to their career choice. Defenders of the offender often use a sex worker’s choice of lifestyle against them, arguing that this is a regular occurrence for them.

Source: https://t.co/hQwTSiNFBa

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: Men are not victims of sexual violence.
Fact: 1.5% of all men have been raped and 47% of bisexual men have experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime.

Contrary to popular belief, men can be raped. While it is less common for the survivor to be male rather than female, sexual abuse can occur no matter how the survivor identifies.

Source: https://t.co/hQwTSiNFBa

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

[Sexual Assault Awareness Month @SAAwarnessMonth]

Myth: A person cannot sexually assault their spouse or partner.
Fact: Nearly 1 in 10 women are sexually assaulted by an intimate partner.

Before the reformation of the definition of sexual assault or rape, a man could not be tried for the sexual assault or rape of their wife. Now, spouses, no matter their gender, are considered when investigating cases of sexual assault or rape.

Source: https://t.co/hQwTSiNFBa

If you are experiencing sexual assault, abuse, or violence and need help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).