How to Help Someone Who Has Been a Victim of Sexual Violence
Sexual violence refers to any type of sexual behavior that takes place without a person’s full and voluntary consent. Sexual violence includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse as well as stalking, coercion, and harassment. It also includes sexual assault and rape. Sexual violence can happen to men and women of all ages, races and backgrounds. It can happen in a variety of places including the home, schools, work and social or cultural settings. Sexual violence affects everyone in society, but some groups are at greater risk than others (e.g., women, girls and people with disabilities).
Research has shown that a person’s risk of becoming a perpetrator of sexual violence is complex and involves many factors. These can be at the individual level – biological and personal history; beliefs, attitudes and perceptions of relationships between men and women; alcohol or drug use; impulsiveness; hostility toward women; preference for impersonal sex; and childhood experiences with family violence or sexual violence (PREVENT, 2005c). At the structural level, factors include: societal discrimination against women and sexual minorities; patriarchal role expectations in society; gender-based stereotypes; and socially constructed definitions of masculinity that are linked to aggression (Krug et al., 2002).
When someone has been a victim of sexual violence, it can be difficult to know how best to help them. Some survivors may not want to talk about their experience and can feel shamed or blamed. They can also have difficulty trusting others after being let down by those close to them. Survivors can experience changes in their behavior, such as withdrawal from activities and relationships and unexplained bruises or cuts.
Other people can help by listening, offering support and encouraging the victim to get help. It’s important to avoid asking “why” questions that imply blame and to remember that it is never the victim’s fault that they have been assaulted.
People can also take steps to prevent sexual violence by supporting efforts at the local, community and national levels. This can include advocating for the teaching of consent and boundaries in schools, supporting legislation that supports victims and holds perpetrators accountable, and contributing to local advocacy centers and sexual violence prevention organizations. Individuals can also take action by being more vigilant about their own safety. They can learn to trust their instincts and listen to their body, especially when in unfamiliar situations or with people they do not know well. If they are unsure of their surroundings or are worried about their safety, they can ask trusted friends for help. They can also enlist the help of a friend when going out at night, using public transportation or shopping alone. They can also practice being safe in their own homes by keeping their doors locked, making sure that windows and blinds are closed and locking the door before leaving the house. If a stranger approaches them, they can tell the person to leave them alone or to call the police. They can also write down what they have seen and heard in order to report it later.