Getting raped results in an immense level of trauma for rape survivors. Victims endure the immediate physical and mental trauma of the actual event as well as many ongoing psychological challenges. As if these challenges aren't enough, a strong and significant stigma of being raped persists in American culture. Victims must deal with added shame, arising from the stigma-laden reactions of others that know about the rape.

Getting Raped and the Stigma of Being Raped

The stigma of being raped can make survivors feel as if they're getting raped all over again. The stigma of rape is so ingrained in American culture; people frequently don't even realize that their comments and reactions humiliate sexual assault victims.

Bethany Rivett, a rape survivor who shared her experience with the stigma of rape on Women's Views on News says, "When I told people I'd been raped, I was faced with reactions of utter discomfort. Some people were scared to discuss it, some didn't make eye contact while others said the necessary things in order to move on and change the conversation."

She goes on to explain that these people didn't realize how they made her feel, but that their reactions gave rise to strong feelings of shame and embarrassment. Rivett says even friends and family made comments that implied she could share some blame for the rape. "The questions they asked me suggested I was the one at fault. What time of day was it? What was I wearing? Was I alone? Was I drunk?"

Kristen Bakalar didn't hesitate to report getting raped by a stranger in a wooded area just three weeks after starting college. But, The Post and Courier of Charleston, SC, reports that on the witness stand, she came to understand how the stigma of being raped stops women from reporting sexual assaults. The defendant's attorney asked her to relay intimate details about her current and past sex life and other private details. Melonea Locklair Marek of People Against Rape in North Charleston fears that the insinuation of blame Bakalar and others have endured have diminished recent progress focused on getting sexual assault victims to report their rapes.

Challenging the Stigma of Being Raped

Why does American culture put the stigma of being raped on the victim rather than stigmatizing the perpetrator? Typically, the society insinuates disgrace upon the survivor, whom the perpetrator violated and exploited, insisting on silence. The media, court officials and attorneys must stop feeding the problem and become part of the solution. A move toward challenging the stigma of being raped by these and other high profile citizens could represent the spark that ignites the public at large to reject placing blame on victims.

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Sexual assault refers to any unwanted sexual contact; contact against your will and without your consent. Even though the legal definition varies by state, sexual assault and domestic violence organizations consider any unwanted sexual contact sexual assault.

What Is Sexual Assault, Exactly?

Most people, if asked, "What is sexual assault?" would think the correct answer is rape. While aggravated rape certainly qualifies as sexual assault, many different types of this violent act exist. Perhaps you picture a stranger breaking into a victim's home or jumping out from behind a clump of bushes to attack a woman walking down a street at night. While this type of "stranger rape" represents one form of this criminal act, it's important to realize the wide scope of unwanted sexual contact that many people experience also qualifies as sexual assault.

Most states have adopted a broad sexual assault definition to cover the many types of nonconsensual sexual acts that affect individuals and their communities. Sexual assault takes many forms, but the common thread involves the loss of power and control experienced by victims.

Types of Sexual Assault

There are many types of sexual assault. Some victims may not even realize that they've experienced sexual assault unless they become educated about the different forms of this violent act. Any type of nonconsensual sexual activity or contact qualifies as sexual assault, including:

• Rape – both stranger and acquaintance
• Date rape
• Attempted rape
• Inappropriate touching or fondling
• Incest
• Child sexual abuse
• Vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse
• Exhibitionism
• Voyeurism
• Obscene phone calls
• Sexual harassment

In general, most state sexual assault laws assume that a person did not consent to sexual contact if they were threatened, unconscious, drugged, mentally disabled, or a minor. Any sexual act or contact that makes you feel uncomfortable, afraid, or intimidated could fall in the category of sexual assault.

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Individuals who've been sexually assaulted often have many ancillary challenges to overcome in addition to the sexual violence itself. Although it may sound odd, reporting sexual assault may prove difficult for victims. Sexual assault represents one of the most emotionally charged crimes in society. The general desire of experts, law enforcement, and the public to prevent and prosecute these crimes runs high.

Even so, sometimes sexually assaulted people have great difficulty overcoming the stigma associated with the crime. Frequently, this stigma inhibits them from reporting sexual assault to authorities. The stigma associated with sexual assault has lessened in recent years but still looms large in the minds of many victims.

Sexually Assaulted?

Sexually assaulted individuals must report the crime to law enforcement as soon as possible. Maybe the assault occurred on a date with someone you know. Maybe a stranger crawled through an apartment window and raped you. Or, perhaps a supervisor or teacher coerced you into sex with threats, date rape drugs, or other forms of intimidation.

You may think others will put the blame on you if your report the crime; or you might just want to keep it to yourself and "get over it" – after all, you seem fine physically for the most part. These thought processes play right into the perpetrator's plan. He/she hopes you'll just fade away and keep quiet. This is absolutely the worst thing you could do.

Here's why you should report sexual assault:

• To seek justice and keep the perpetrator from hurting anyone else
• To start the psychological healing process
• For your physical health – to have an examination to determine if you have any medical issues related to the sexual assault

Steps to Take When Reporting Sexual Assault

Taking certain steps can help you when reporting sexual assault to law enforcement and telling close friends and family. The following steps represent a guideline for reporting sexual assault. Each case is different and some may require a slightly different approach.

1. Report the assault to law enforcement as soon after it happens as possible. You may have many reasons for waiting, but any delay may impair the case against the perpetrator. Tell close, trusted friends and family members at this time too. The support of your personal network can go a long way toward helping the healing process move forward.
2. Document as many details as you can when reporting the sexual assault. Studies show that accurate recall of events fades quickly and authorities view documentation recorded soon after the occurrence of the crime as the most reliable.
3. Preserve all evidence as well as possible. Do not bathe or shower. Do not wipe away any bodily fluids that the perpetrator may have secreted during the assault. Do not launder or change your clothing. Leave any bedding, furniture, and other items involved in the sexual assault in place.
4. Do not succumb to the very strong urge to wipe yourself or clean up after experiencing sexual violence. A specialized health care professional will give you a sexual assault examination. Any specimens collected from the exam may contain DNA evidence that authorities can use to convict and prove the identity of the assailant.

Overcoming the Stigma of Being Sexually Assaulted

One of the biggest challenges faced by victims is overcoming the stigma of being sexually assaulted. According to an April 2010 series on sexual assault in Harvard University's, The Harvard Crimson, "untold numbers of sexual assault cases go unreported each year on college campuses across the nation..." Whether college co-eds, businessmen, or independent adult women, Americans must break the code of silence surrounding sexual assault. Most states now have laws ensuring the confidentiality of those who have been sexually assaulted. Law enforcement authorities will not release the names of victims reporting sexual assault.

Report sexual assault. Call 9-1-1 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE (4673). Break the code of silence.

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Assault on women, in the form of sexual violence, is an epidemic in the United States, according to a government study conducted in 2010. The study, called The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, found that almost one in every five women reported that they had been raped or had been victims of attempted rape at some point in their lives. The effect of sexual assault can persist for decades.

Effect of Sexual Assault

The effect of sexual assault on women takes many forms – some lasting a relatively short while and others lasting for years after the incident occurred. While men can experience sexual assault, assault on women is far more prevalent. The mental and physical effects of sexual assault on women include:

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Victims may experience severe anxiety, stress, and fear as an effect of sexual assault.
• Substance Abuse – Women sexual assault victims may use alcohol or drugs to dull their emotional suffering and pain.
• Self-Harm – Some sexual assault victims may harm themselves by cutting or other means.
• Depression – Depression represents one of the most common effects of sexual assault on women.
• Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) – Perpetrators of sexual violence may infect their victims with STDs.
• Pregnancy – Sometimes, assault on women may result in pregnancy.
• Flashbacks – Some victims become tormented by flashback memories that make it seem as if the sexual assault is happening all over again.
• Eating Disorders – Frequently, victims of sexual assault may use food to control and cope with their negative emotions. Using food in this way can result in the development of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
• Sleep Disorders – Sexual assault survivors may develop sleep disorders characterized by sleeping too much or not being able to sleep.
• Body Memories – Frequently referred to as psychosomatic symptoms, body memories occur in the form of physical problems like headaches, migraines, digestive issues, lightheadedness, or dizziness that medical examinations cannot explain.

Most women sexual assault victims suffer from some form of debilitating mental and emotional aftershocks, these often subside. Once these dissipate, the victims often feel like they've gotten past the worst part of the aftermath and try to carry on with their lives as usual. The longer lasting effects of sexual assault then begin to manifest a little at a time; unless the victims seek ongoing help from sexual assault counseling groups and mental health professionals who specialize in helping victims overcome any potential long-term effect of sexual assault.

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Victims of sexual assault typically suffer both acute and chronic effects from their sexual assault experiences and it's essential that they seek sexual assault support. Victims of rape or other types of sexual assault may feel overwhelmed by the intense aftermath of emotions. Finding sexual assault support as soon as possible after the event can empower the victim and help her (or him) begin the healing process.

Why You Need Sexual Assault Support

After a sexual assault, you'll need sexual assault support right away. Doing this may help you avoid some of the devastating long-term effects of this terrible crime. Some long-term effects of sexual assault include, but are not limited to: depression, eating disorders, self-harm, instability in intimate relationships, sleep disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other serious mental and physical health issues.

Many victims need ongoing support, but some need only a few months of counseling in order to go on with their lives. Even those that need fewer sessions may need periodic counseling – sometimes years down the road. Certain events might trigger feelings associated with the assault. You'll need a safe haven, a refuge to which you can go and talk about these feelings and their effect on your daily activities.

Where to Find Sexual Assault Support

RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) represents a good place to begin your quest to find sexual assault support. RAINN maintains a national sexual assault hotline – 1.800.656.HOPE (4673). All calls to the hotline are kept confidential.

When you dial the hotline, a computer uses your phone number area code to rapidly locate and connect you with the nearest RAINN counseling center. RAINN does not keep any record of a caller's name or phone number. The caller then has a choice whether to reveal her name and phone number to counselors.

The hotline will provide:

• Crisis intervention and sexual assault support
• Information about sexual assault recovery
• Facts about possible medical issues
• Guidance and explanations about the criminal justice system and its treatment of sexual assault within the system
• Help for victim friends and families
• Referrals to counseling centers and other resources near you

If you don't want to call the hotline, you can go to the RAINN "Search for a Local Crisis Center" page. There you can enter your state or zip code in the form and click "Find Centers". You'll get a list of the nearest RAINN affiliated sexual assault support centers.

Virtually every state in the country has sexual assault support services available for victims thanks to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which Congress passed in 1994. Victims should take advantage of these resources and break the cycle of sexual violence.

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Sexual assault treatment, including therapy for trauma, is critical following this violent crime.

After reporting the sexual assault to the authorities and obtaining medical attention that includes a forensic examination and preventive treatments, all victims of sexual assault should seek therapy for trauma. The health care provider that performs your medical examination and law enforcement officials you speak to during the reporting process can give you a list of nearby sexual assault treatment centers.

Therapy for Trauma After Sexual Assault

When seeking therapy for trauma after sexual assault, look for a facility with licensed counselors who have experience treating sexual assault victims. The counseling center should provide a safe and supportive environment to augment the process of healing from the sexual assault

Most of these centers have professional counselors that can offer therapy for trauma received from childhood sexual assault or adult survivors of sexual violence. Many even offer services that aim to help friends and family cope with the sexual assault of a loved one. Various types of psychotherapy and cognitive processing therapies are offered to assist the victim in the trauma healing process.

If you need medication to assist in trauma healing, certain licensed providers may have the ability to prescribe it for you. Others may need to refer you to a psychiatrist or other physician with prescribing rights. They may prescribe antidepressants for the first six to 12 months after the occurrence of the sexual assault. These medicines can help with intrusive thoughts, sleep problems, flashbacks, and anxiety.

Sexual Assault Treatment

Some counseling techniques involve role-playing, group sharing (moderated by a licensed therapist), and individual sexual assault treatment sessions. Your counselor may ask you to keep a thought and dream journal where you record any thoughts that come up about the sexual assault during your everyday activities. He or she may also want you to record:

• time of day
• what you were doing at the time
• who was around
• any television shows you watched or music you heard

This is because certain environmental triggers can set off the negative thought patterns associated with the trauma of sexual assault. By reviewing your journal, the therapist can gain insight into these triggers and develop a strategy to remove their detrimental effect on your thought patterns.

Many sexual assault treatment counselors and therapists were once victims of sexual assault themselves. By seeking help and healing your emotional wounds, the effects of sexual assault won't play a prominent role in your life. You may also find you're able to provide this priceless help to another victim of sexual assault. (See: Sexual Assault Support: Why You Need It, Where to Find It)

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The term, statutory rape, refers to sexual intercourse between two people that is deemed illegal because one of the participants is below a statutorily designated age. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the statutory rape definition is "characterized as non-forcible sexual intercourse with a person who is younger than the statutory age of consent".

The age of consent varies widely by state, as does statutory rape punishment for perpetrators. Please note that when one participant in a sexual act is an adult and the other is below the legal age of consent, the act is considered statutory rape even if the minor consented to the sex. In fact, if the underage party did not consent to the sexual act, or evidence exists that he or she was forced into sex, the crime is no longer considered statutory rape, but aggravated rape – a far more serious offense in most cases.

Understanding Statutory Rape Laws

To understand statutory rape laws, it's important to know that each state sets its own criteria and punishments regarding the crime. A quick glance at a table entitled Statutory Rape: A Guide to State Laws and Reporting Requirements, published by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department indicates that most states set their age of consent at 16, but several have theirs set at 17 or 18 years of age.

Each state also sets a minimum age for victims of statutory rape, below which the state considers the act child sexual assault. Further, several states take into account the age difference between the victim and the adult as well as the minimum age for the perpetrator. If the perpetrator is below this minimum age, these states will not prosecute the offense.

Nowadays, many states have abandoned the term "statutory rape" in favor of broader titles for the crime, such as "unlawful sexual penetration," "rape of a child" or similar phrases.

Statutory Rape Punishment

Like criteria for the crime itself, the statutory rape punishment set forth for offenders in each state varies greatly. Some states set statutory rape sentences at life in prison, 10 to 99 years, or two to 20 years of incarceration. The state court will consider evidence, such as:

• age differential
• whether the minor actually consented to the sexual act
• the criminal record of the defendant
• any other pertinent details

when meting out a sentence.

Frequently, due to changing societal mores, law enforcement and related authorities do not charge and prosecute statutory rape cases where evidence of clear consent exists or when the victim refuses to cooperate with authorities.

Statutory Rape and You

If you need legal advice regarding statutory rape charges, sexual activity to which you are a material party, or other criminal charges, please consult a private attorney in your area immediately. You can find an attorney that is right for you by using the free LegalMatch.com online lawyer matching service.

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Date rape refers to sexual assault by someone you know. It doesn't even have to be someone you're dating. Most of the time, dating, friendships, and other types of acquaintances never become tainted by a crime as violent as rape. But it does happen.

Date Rape Definition

Here's a simplified date rape definition: if someone you know (but not family), forces you to have sex, experts refer to this as date rape or acquaintance rape. Rape happens overwhelmingly more often to women and girls. Ninety six percent (96%) of all rape victims are women; but men and boys can be victims too. When men experience sexual assault, it's usually by other men.

Even though rape involves forcible sex, it has absolutely nothing to do with intimacy or passion. Rape, even date rape, is a violent and aggressive act performed by a perpetrator to exert power and control over his victim.

Date Rape and Acquaintance Rape

Who might commit date rape and acquaintance rape? Males aged 17 to 30 represent the largest group of sexual offenders, although someone of any age could commit rape. Read the list below about some of the types of people that can commit date rape and acquaintance rape:

• Boyfriend
• Ex-boyfriend
• Ex-husband
• Co-Worker
• Supervisor
• Friend
• Someone you just met

Date Rape Prevention

You may hear others talk about people they know, or that they've heard of, who are date rape victims. You may hear them blame the victim and say things like, "She asked for it," and "She should have known better than to go off with him." Don't listen to this idle talk.

Rape is never the victim's fault. If you are date raped, there is nothing you did to cause it. The full responsibility falls on the perpetrator. But, there are steps you can take to protect yourself:

• When dating someone new, go on a double date or go out with a group of friends.
• Organize alternative transportation home in advance of the date, just in case you decide not to stay out with him.
• Take your cell phone with you. Make certain it's charged up.
• Do not invite a date into your home or go into his (the majority of date rapes happen in homes)
• Trust your instincts. Do not feel pressured to spend time alone with a person that makes you feel uncomfortable.
• Choose to drink soda or water rather than alcohol.
• Never leave your drink unattended. Rapists frequently put drugs in drinks to make women pass out. (read about: Types and How Date Rape Drugs Work)
• Know your sexual rights and establish physical and intimate boundaries from the start. A potential rapist won't like this and won't hang around long.
• Use firm language if things start to go too far. Stay close to friends. Watch out for them and ask them to watch out for you.

Stay aware of the activities around you. Don't overindulge in alcohol. Set your personal limits and boundaries before going out and stick to them. It may prove challenging to say no to a guy you really like, but if he doesn't respect your wishes, he's not the person you think he is. The right guy will respect your wishes; will not start anything that makes you uncomfortable; he will stop any sexual activity that has begun if you change your mind. Choose the men you date wisely; be picky.

Never forget, sexual assault is a serious crime – a felony. Break the silence and report sexual assault.

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Date rape drugs are substances that people sometimes use to assist them in carrying out a sexual assault. These drugs usually have no odor, color, or taste and perpetrators mix them into victims' drinks. Because you can't taste or smell these drugs, you may not realize you've been drugged until it's too late. When ingested, date rape drugs rapidly make you become weak and disoriented. You might even pass out. In this state, you're not able to defend yourself from unwanted advances or refuse sex.

Types of Date Rape Drugs

Some types of date rape drugs have an amnesic effect, so that you may not even remember being sexually assaulted. There are three primary date rape drugs:

1. Rohypnol
2. gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB)
3. ketamine

People sometimes refer to these drugs as "club drugs" because they're used at dance clubs, bars, and raves.

In some cases, perpetrators use the drug known as Ambien®, which has a very strong amnesic effect and slows brain activity to allow sleep. Ambien is a prescription sedative that people take to alleviate symptoms of insomnia. Authorities have found traces of the drug in the blood of women who have been date raped.

Offenders crush the tablets and slip the powder in the drink of target victims when they aren't looking or when they go to the restroom, leaving their drinks unattended. Ambien can cause serious side effects for some people, making it very dangerous to take without a doctor's supervision.

Perpetrators sometimes purchase these and other prescription drugs over the Internet from companies outside of U.S. borders. These drugs often contain illegal or dangerous ingredients. For example, authorities have found haloperidol (Haldol®), a powerful antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects, in Ambien formulations purchased from overseas pharmacies.

Date Rape Drug Names

People, who abuse these drugs and those who use them to assist them in sexual assault, call them by a variety of names:

Street Rohypnol names:

• Circles
• Forget pill
• Roofies
• Mind erasers
• Mexican valium
• Trip-and-falls

Street names for GHB:

• Cherry meth
• Liquid X
• Liquid ecstasy
• Easy lay
• G juice
• Gamma juice

Street names for ketamine:

• Special K
• Black hole
• Bump
• Purple
• Psychedelic heroin
• K hole
• Green

Drug assisted sexual assault, also called date rape, is the fault of the perpetrator. No one "asks" for rape and no one "deserves" to be sexually assaulted. But you must take measures to protect against any predatory people when you're out. Do not take drinks from other people. Avoid overindulging in alcohol. Do not leave a public venue, such as a club or even a private party, with someone you don't know or just met. If your date pressures you to drink too much, call a cab, family member, or close friend to pick you up and take you home.

If you do begin to feel dizzy, confused, or overly sleepy after one drink or two, someone may have spiked your drinks with a date rape drug. Call a friend or family member outside of the club or party environment to come to get you and take you to an emergency room. These are very dangerous drugs and may cause death if you've ingested too much. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

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The effect of date rape can be very traumatic. Date rape victims react differently after being sexually assaulted for a number of reasons: upbringing, personality, past sexual assaults, and reactions of others around them. Some women have an "expressed" way of showing their emotions, such as crying or weeping; whereas, others may have a more "controlled" manner of expression, appearing calm and subdued. Both styles of expression have a common thread: fear.

Effect of Date Rape – Rape Trauma Syndrome

Intense fear represents the first common effect of date rape. Victims of drug-assisted sexual assault also frequently feel shocked, confused, and shame once they realize what has happened. While it's normal to experience these emotions, victims bear no responsibility for what occurred, so shame is an unproductive emotional side-effect of this crime of power and control.

Another effect of date rape is that psychological coping mechanisms come into play almost immediately following the assault. Many women know they must remain in control of themselves in the face of this incredibly stressful event. It's important to report the crime and this involves several tasks:

• providing a statement of events to the police (as well as she can remember if the perpetrator drugged the victim)
• undergoing a forensic medical examination
• identifying the perpetrator
• other things related to the proper and efficient prosecution of the case

When these date rape victims act calm and collected during this period of time, others may view them as not being traumatized or deeply affected by the event. This is highly unlikely. Most likely, their bodies and minds have put coping mechanisms in place that are equally as powerful as the intense stress of the rape. Experts often refer to this as rape trauma syndrome.

Unfortunately, the family and close friends of these women may not believe her due to the common perception that date rape victims and victims of other types of rape should react hysterically to the event.

Date Rape Victims and Their Reactions

But date rape victims usually have an incredible amount of turmoil going on inside them. Many experience somatic reactions to the date rape. These include:

• Physical injury
• Digestion and eating problems
• Musculoskeletal pain and issues
• Sleep disorders
• General malaise or fatigue

Emotional reactions, which will manifest at some point, include:

• Humiliation and shame
• Anger and rage
• Depression
• Feeling powerless and degraded
• Need for vengeance
• Uncharacteristic mood swings

This illustrates the deep and traumatic effect of date rape and that drug-assisted sexual assault, or acquaintance rape, is still rape – a serious crime and a felony in the United States. Some date rape victims lash out in anger at their counselors, feeling powerless over what has happened and may express an intense desire to exact revenge upon the perpetrator, especially if he is still free and on the street.

Other date rape victims blame themselves for the sexual assault, saying that they should have known better or not drank so much alcohol. For some, the fear may intensify, causing the victim to shy away from making decisions for herself, or to stop socializing with friends and family.

It is essential that date rape victims seek counseling and continue counseling for as long as it takes to return to their healthy psychological state. An experienced counselor or therapist can help reduce the unproductive emotions associated with sexual assault. They also help victims learn healthy coping skills and equip them with tools to overcome destructive thought patterns that may have cropped up since the incident. (more information on: Rape Therapy: A Treatment for Rape Victims)

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