What is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is harmful behavior that uses sex or sexuality to control, intimidate or violate another person. These behaviors can include harassing jokes and comments, inappropriate touching, rape, incest, assault, date rape, sexual exploitation, misconduct and abuse. Sexual violence can happen anywhere.
What should I do?
Reporting to Police:
It is normal to be hesitant about making a report to the police. If you’d like to talk with someone about the pros and cons of reporting and what to expect from an exam, contact your local sexual assault agency to discuss your concerns with an advocate. You will not be judged and it is your decision whether to or not to report.
If you choose to report the crime, you can help officers in investigating the case by preserving valuable evidence. Officers are trained to assist victims in obtaining an exam administration by a trained sexual assault nurse.
Inspiring Quotes
“Today I wore a pair of faded old jeans and a plain grey baggy shirt. I hadn’t even taken a shower, and I did not put on an ounce of makeup. I grabbed a worn out black oversized jacket to cover myself with even though it is warm outside. I have made conscious decisions lately to look like less of what I felt a male would want to see. I want to disappear.”
Sierra D. Waters, Debbie
“Making someone feel obligated, pressured or forced into doing something of a sexual nature that they don’t want to is sexual coercion. This includes persistent attempts at sexual contact when the person has already refused you. Nobody owes you sex, ever; and no means no, always.”
Miya Yamanouchi, Embrace Your Sexual Self: A Practical Guide for Women
“People want this to be an anomaly. We can handle monsters, we can’t handle our neighbors doing these things. We can’t believe these are the same people we see at Christmas parties, and basketball games.”
T.E. Carter
“When a toxic person can no longer control you, they will try to control how they see you. The misinformation will seem unfair, but stay above it, trusting that other people will eventually see the truth, just like you did.”
Jill Blakeaway