Sexual Assault
Rape and Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is when a person really doesn’t want any touching or sex, but is forced. Sexual assault or abuse is what happens when somebody does something sexually that the other person does not agree to. Sexual assault can be someone touching your breasts or private parts without your permission, intercourse or oral sex that you say “no” to, or rape. Sexual assault can also be having sex with a minor (under age 16) or with somebody who is drunk, high or cannot say “no.”
Sexual assault is not about sexual satisfaction. It is about violence, power and too much control over someone else. The number of rapes and sexual assaults are high.
- Every day two people are raped or sexually assaulted in Austin.
- One in eight adult women in Texas has been raped sometime in her life.
- Every 5.7 minutes someone is raped in the United States.
- 11.7 million women and 2.1 million men have been forced to have sex during their lifetime.
Only 20% of rape victims actually report rape or sexual assault. This means for every 100 rapes reported 80 more women, children or men did not report. The survivor can call the SafePlace Hotline to get information and help in deciding if reporting a rape or assault is something they want to do. If you have just been hurt or raped or assaulted, someone from SafePlace can help you and meet you at the hospital if you want.
Acquaintance or Date Rape
Acquaintance rape happens when a date, friend, co-worker, teacher or someone known by the victim uses physical force, threats, makes you feel scared or uses drugs and alcohol to force sex or a sexual assault.
Young people may be at higher risk of acquaintance (friend) rape. As they are learning about relationships and testing out personal space and not respecting personal space for themselves, they may be afraid to say “No” or to fight back. They may also feel it is their fault. It’s important to remember that if someone forces sex on you, you didn’t do anything wrong. SafePlace has a program called Expect Respect that helps young people learn about healthy relationships and how to stay safe.
Male Rape
Many people don’t believe that there is a male rape. Many men are afraid to report to police because they are embarrassed. Thousands of men are sexually assaulted and raped every year. SafePlace offers all programs and services to male victims. SafePlace doesn’t look down at males who experience rape.
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Abuse includes touching a child's private parts (vagina or penis), forcing a child to play with themselves in a sexual way, or oral sex or sex through the vagina or anus with a child. However, it is not only physical contact between an adult and child. Child sexual abuse can also mean an adult showing their private parts to a child or touching or playing with their own private parts in front of a child.