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| LifeMonday, April 9, 2007 4:25 PM CDT |
Rape culture
Victimology class conducts simulation
The 24-year-old lesbian had been raped by two men who told her they were going to make her straight. "It made me sick to my stomach," said LeAnn Nolan of Pontiac, who was only playing the part of Sammi during Walking the Walk, a sexual violence awareness exercise led by the YWCA's Stepping Stones staff. It never crossed the Illinois State University student's mind that a woman would have to see her rapist again. "I always thought it would be some creep jumping out of the bushes, not a classmate," she said. Eighty percent of the time, it's someone you know, said Vickie Smith, director of the Stepping Stones sexual assault program. Every time Nolan felt uncomfortable during the role-playing, she was supposed to peel off a sticker bandage. As she sorted through the rape kit, she started sticking them on her sweatshirt. "Most of what I felt was fear," she said. Criminal justice major Christopher Long of Danvers felt a rising anger and frustration when playing the role of a supportive friend for a 21-year-old college student raped on the way home from a bar. "Sadly, I wasn't surprised by any of it," he said. Stepping Stones has supported more than 375 survivors since it got under way nearly five years ago at the YWCA of McLean County in Bloomington. Initially, Smith expected a lot of Monday morning calls from women assaulted over the weekend. Instead, the majority of calls were from women victimized years ago. "They thought they'd bury it and just go on with their lives and five, 10, 15 years later, they're reaching out for help," she said. A "rape culture" Among countries that keep statistics, the United States has the highest incidence of sexual abuse, with 100,000 reported cases each year; only one out of seven assaults is reported to police. One out of four women and one out of eight men will be sexually abused. Smith attributes those high numbers to a "rape culture," a view she admits is controversial but one she defends. In a rape culture, violence against women is common and the victim is often blamed. Conviction rates are low. And in a society that tolerates such abuse, there's usually an abundance of images of sex and violence. Also, men and women are not treated equally. "Victim blaming is probably the No. 1 thing we face," she said. "One hundred percent of the time, the victim feels guilty, like she did something wrong. I blame a lot of that on our society. We want our women to be attractive and sexy but when a woman wears a short skirt and is sexually assaulted, it's like, what did she expect?" Sexual assault is about power and control, she said, not fashion or behavior. Only one in 20 rapists is arrested, and conviction rates are low. That's because they're looking for physical evidence of trauma, Smith said, and that doesn't exist in 70 percent of the cases because women are so fearful they often don't fight back. When Smith trains volunteers, she circulates magazine ads that demonstrate how common images are of sex and violence. One shows a woman who looks like a prom date struggling to break free of a man's grasp around her neck. "A lot of these ads are optical illusions. We send out the message that violence is a part of sex and that if a woman fights back, it doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't want it." One way to counter those messages is through education. Stepping Stones focuses its efforts on middle school and high school students but is reaching into elementary schools with messages on how to stay safe and say no. When Smith talks to adults, she asks what makes them afraid. Men usually mention prison but women have a long list, along with details on what they do each day to keep themselves safe, from where they park to avoiding vanity license plates. "There's so many times women feel at risk," she said. Until women enjoy full legal, economic and social equality, they'll be an easy target for violence, she added. "The men are supposed to be strong and in control. When society sends these kinds of messages, you're not going to have an equal relationship." Stepping StonesStepping Stones, the YWCA of McLean County sexual assault service program, provides free and confidential support to survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones, whether the assault was recent or years ago. Advocates are available 24 hours a day through the PATH crisis line, (309) 827-4005. Stepping Stones can be contacted at (309) 662-0461. Stepping Stones also provides: • In-person support at local hospitals and police stations; • Counseling and support groups; • Assistance in requesting a Civil No Contact Order; • Education programs for schools and community groups; • 40-hour training for volunteers (next session begins May 14) Rape statisticsOnly one out of seven rapes is reported to police and only one rapist in 20 is arrested. Here are some other statistics on sexual assault: • Women are most often raped in their own homes. In 75 percent of the cases, they know the perpetrator. • One in four college women were victims of rape or attempted rape while they were students; 84 percent knew the rapist. Fifty-seven percent of the assaults happened while they were on a date. • 12 percent of college men reported they had physically restrained a woman to gain sexual advantage. • A woman is four times more likely to be raped by an acquaintance than a stranger. • Acquaintance rape is rarely reported; less than 2 percent. • A rapist has likely raped seven times before he's caught; a child rapist has likely committed the act 70 times. • Men usually rape women from their own race, ethnicity and social class. • Rapists seem like the everyday guy, except for their attitudes toward women. They typically view women with contempt and sometimes deep hostility. SOURCES: Vickie Smith, Stepping Stones; Illinois Coalition against Sexual Assault Spring programsThe following programs are available during April in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness month. • The Illustrated Woman What it is: Dramatization on childhood sexual abuse and counselor-led discussion When: 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 11 Where: Illinois State University, Bone Student Center Circus Room Cost: Free • Take the Stage Against Violence What it is: Teen performances When: 6:30 to 9 p.m. April 14 Where: Coffeehouse, Normal Cost: Free • Walking the Walk What it is: Sexual violence awareness exercise Contact: Cari Sherman, (309) 662-0461, ext. 249 or csherman@ywcamclean.org Cost: Free • Self Defense and Personal Safety Workshop What it is: Workshop for women ages 16 and older When: 5:30 to 8 p.m. April 12 or 9:30 a.m. to noon April 21 Where: YWCA McLean County, Bloomington Cost: $20 Register: (309) 662-0461 |
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