RAPE/SEXUAL ASSAULT
Our homes are not always the fortresses we expect them to be, and the sad truth is that they can be breached by a rapist looking for a victim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that over one third of all rape/sexual assaults occur at or in the victim's home! Unfortunately, rapists aren't concerned with boundaries. Related numbers tell us that 1.8% of all rapes occur near the home, 1.4% on the street near home, 19.2% at, in or near a friend's, relative's or neighbor's home, 2.5% inside a restaurant, bar or nightclub, 7.3% in a parking lot or garage, 2.4% in an apartment yard, field, park or playground, and 10% on the street. Rape can and does happen just about anywhere.
The rock-solid basis of rape prevention - and indeed, all personal safety - is awareness. Rapists count on the element of surprise to help them succeed in their crime. You can bet they don't suddenly attack someone out of the blue; instead they carefully choose their victim based on their observation of her vulnerability factor. Is she alone? Where is she headed? Is she in a busy area or a deserted parking lot? Is she paying attention or does she seem distracted? Is she concentrating on her inner thoughts or her outer surroundings? What does she have in her hands? A rapist, like every other street criminal intent on a personal attack, is looking for clues - hints that will draw him to a likely victim. It's up to you not to offer him those clues but, instead, present a bad target. In order to do that there are seven rules we have to follow, some overt, some subtle.
1. Keep your head up. Unless you're walking on an icy sidewalk there's really no reason to be looking mostly at the ground. Keep your head moving. Look around you, scan left to right and back again. Don't be afraid to take a look behind you once in awhile; you're not being paranoid, you're using smart tactics. 2. Make eye contact. All of this looking around leads to one thing: seeing and identifying people. Your attacker won't be a two-headed Martian, chances are he'll be the proverbial "regular guy." He could be anyone at any time. Take the time to look at the people around you and make eye contact with them. Let them know that you're aware of them. The last thing a rapist wants is for you to see him coming. 3. Trust your instincts. We all have a built-in sixth sense that we should listen to more often. If you see someone that sets off your internal alarms pay attention to the warning, your sixth sense is trying to tell you something.
4. Keep your distance. Rape can hardly be called a long distance crime. It's as up close and personal as it gets! Never allow anyone to intrude on your personal space - that area that exists within a two to five foot circle around you. By keeping this space clear you allow yourself room to spot and avoid danger. 5. Stay away from dangerous areas. Dark, deserted and desolate equals danger! Keep away from areas that are poorly lighted, sparsely traveled or isolated from activity. Don't travel in these areas, don't park your car in them and definitely don't walk in them. However, if you must be in these areas, take someone with you, preferably a security guard. 6. If you're approached, remember that you have weapons at your disposal. Use your voice to scream, your car keys to jab at the attacker's eyes, your elbows, knees and feet to connect with the attacker's body. Always keep at least one hand free and use it to carry your keys or a canister of pepper spray. Don't be afraid to drop groceries, luggage or anything else you may be carrying that hinders your ability to fight back. You might want to consider taking a couse in self defense.
7. What if he's armed? Only you can decide whether or not to fight against an armed rapist. There is no one in the world who can give you the right answer because every situation is different. If you do choose to fight, use everything you have, because you're fighting for your life.
If you have just been the victim of a sexual assault, call 911, or the emergency number in your area, or call the local rape center or crisis hotline.
If you have been a victim, and are having trouble dealing with it, contact your health care professional or call the local rape center. It wasn't your fault!
If you've been lucky, I'm sure you don't want to become a victim of sexual assault. Prevention is the key. Do everything you can to avoid being vulnerable. Be alert. It can happen to you. It's similar to defensive driving. Have an attitude of caution and awareness.
If you find yourself in the midst of an attack, there are exactly two choices:
TOTAL RESISTANCE:
Fight as if your life depended on it. Scream, kick, scratch, bite. Go totally crazy! The purpose is to end the attack and get away safely.
TOTAL SUBMISSION:
If the first option seems unsafe or isn't working, completely change your behavior. Now the purpose is to survive. Let your body go limp. Begin praying out loud. Memorize the following prayers:
Say them over and over. It may decrease the fury of the attack. If you end up dead, at least you died with the word of God on your lips.
If praying makes him more crazy, just be silent. Pretend to be unconscious. Some or all of this may sound impossible. It's not if your life depends on it.