sexual assault month - how should YW help raise awareness?

[sandra]

on april 21st, we're all supposed to wear jeans to make the statement that wearing tight jeans is not an invite for a sexual assault (kinda an obvious and therefore - imho - a lame statement, but i guess it's not so obvious for some guys/judges out there. see get involved forum for more info).

but is there something that us YW women can do to raise awareness this month?


maybe, for starters, post here about incidents of rape that you are personally aware of (if you feel comfortable enough).

poems?

thoughts?

does rape terrify you or control your life?


for me - i feel very angry at times because i'm not free to walk around at night without the fear of some random man pulling me into some alley and raping me. the scary thing about rape, imo, isn't so much the rape itself, but rather the fact that you have to live with it for the rest of your life. it's worse than murder, i feel, b/c there's no escape. what's worse is if you belong to a ethnic or religious group that may believe that you are "sullied" once you have been raped. where could one find support in that situation? how can one convince herself that she is not, in fact, "dirty"? just some thoughts.

[robotic]

this is a good site for those that have suffered sexual assault, harrassment etc. with a message board, a 'rapist profile', poems, personal stories, statistics and general information on how you can help. (see 'articles' and 'writings')

http://www.shout-out.org

[rice cracker]

The thought of being raped terrifies me, so I try no to think about it. Awareness is very important. Although many of us probably know these things already, I thought I'd post these safety tips to avoid rape taken from this site http://members.cox.net/aplaceforyou/preventing.htm:

Safety Tips

Carry items that can be used as weapons, such as, mace, keys, a whistle to attract attention. A gun or knife can be used against you. Be careful when carrying such items.

Think about the level of intimacy you want in a relationship, and clearly state your limits.

Keep your doors dead-bolted and if possible have a security system installed.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

When in your vehicle keep all of your doors locked and your windows up.

Keep your home windows closed. Many assailants will cut a screen to gain access to your home they may not want to the window.

Use only your fist initial on your mailbox, phone listing, etc. Using your first name can identify you as a single woman living alone.

Don't allow yourself to be isolated with someone you don't know or trust.

Get a dog. I personally decided to get my dog because I was finding it difficult to leave my home. I have suffered with bouts of agoraphobia for quite some time now. My dog helps me to feel safer in and out of my home. Not many people want to approach me when I am with my 85 pound (and still growing) German Shepherd.

Never open a door for a stranger. Before opening the door ask to see ID through your chain-lock or peep-hole before allowing a policeman, fireman, etc. to enter.

While driving, never pull over in a secluded area for the police. Call the 911 dispatcher, inform he/she that you are being pulled over by the police, ask him/her to notify the police car pulling you over that you will in fact pull over once you reach a populated area. The police will respect your right to safety.

When you go to a party, go with a group of friends. Arrive together, watch out for each other, and leave together.

Take a self-defense course.

Don't leave your beverage unattended or accept a drink from an open container.

Edit: this site also has resources for rape victims, including a book list, stories, webrings, a forum and poetry.

[sandra]

thanks, kim, for the info. stranger rape probably terrifies me more than anything, but stats show that date rape is the usual occurence. out of curiosity - and maybe i should post this in the men's forum, but it is a women's issue - how often are frats lectured to about date rape?