Sexual Assault Awareness Month is observed each April. It’s purpose is to bring awareness to sexual assault and provide sexual violence prevention education to individuals and communities.
Sexual Assault Statistics courtesy the
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
- 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives
- In 8 out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the perpetrator
- Rape is the most under-reported crime; approximately 60% of sexual assaults go unreported
Denim Day 2013
In 1999 an Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a 45-year-old driving instructor for the rape of his 18-year-old student. The reason cited was the girl’s clothing. It was determined that because she wore blue jeans the instructor could not have removed them without assistance, therefore she must have consented. People everywhere were outraged and within hours prominent women within the legal community were walking the courthouse in blue jeans to protest the decision. Since that time Denim Day in LA and the USA was born. Peace Over Violence, the agency behind Denim Day, centers this campaign around the fact that a woman’s choice of clothing is no excuse for rape.
Egalitarian says
The “1 in 71 men have been raped” stat from the CDC survey doesn’t tell the whole story. It defines “rape” as the attacker penetrating the victim, which excludes women who use their vagina to rape a man (rape by envelopment) which is counted as “made to penetrate”. The very same survey says “1 in 21 men (4.8%) reported that they were made to penetrate someone else,” which is far more than 1 in 71. Also, the study says that 79.2% of male victims of “made to penetrate” reported only female perpetrators, meaning they were raped by a woman.
The above, lifetime stats do show a lower percentage of male victims (up to 1.4% rape by penetration + 4.8% made to penetrate = 6.2%) than female victims (18.3%) although it is far more than the 1 in 71 you stated. However, if you look at the report’s stats for the past 12 months, just as many number of men were “forced to penetrate” as women were raped, meaning that if you properly include “made to penetrate” in the definition of rape, men were raped as often as women.
Magaly Guerrero says
Education, conversation and compassion, indeed!
Danielle says
Thank you so much for linking up and helping to bring attention to Denim Day and the issue of Sexual Assault!
Carri @ Grace Unveiled says
This is a subject close to heart. I am honored to do it. I know what it is to feel fear every day of my life. If I can help change that for one person, it is worth it. Thank you for doing your part as well. God bless!
Carri @ Grace Unveiled says
Danielle, I am sorry my comment was put in the wrong place … thanks for baring with my early morning mistakes 😉
Carri @ Grace Unveiled says
This is so important. I was one of them that was silent for over 20 years. It eats away at a persons soul and leaves no room for God to heal if it isn’t brought into the light. Thanks for sharing this. I wasn’t aware of Denim Day!