Comments on: Sexual Assault Awareness: It’s Not Just A Month

By: Maddie

Maddie — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:04:01 +0000

And everything that is involved in the court cases in sexual assault cases makes me sick. We still engage very much in a blame the victim mentality, as if it was somehow her fault that she was attacked. She wore the wrong clothes, she smiled too big, she laughed too loud. The people who spew out that kind of garbage just make me sick to my stomach.

By: Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:17:41 +0000

Yes, me too.

The fact is that it is still “taboo” to talk about, which also allows for the maintaining of secrets about abuse in general.

By: upstatesc

upstatesc — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:39:08 +0000

I am still shocked at how often people choose to push this issue under the rug. It is appalling.

By: Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:02:07 +0000

I’m really glad we are talking about all of these things. I love how much movement this blog started. This, is an of itself, is where change happens. We actually have to discuss that, yes, our communities are impacted by sexual assault.

I used to supervise a government funded trauma treatment program. I do think that community centers and other programs are great sources of education. They are key. The catch is that, as Nikki stated, the prevention programs get huge financial cuts. On top of that, the programs that discuss sexual assault and “secrets” like that, are often seen as viable, but still “taboo.” We used to have a six month waiting list, just because we were the only ones that would talk about what others’ didn’t want to.

I also agree that the home is the place to start. The bottom line is that we start by believing those who say that they have been assaulted, and making there be an atmosphere that allows for open discussion about this very topic.

This links in with listening to our inner voices, and asking for help if we need to heal around this experience as well. I think that we also have to share and become more open to getting help when we have been affected by it as well. Then, it stops being about just others, and the community, but people being open to heal and discuss it. That is where change can begin as well.

By: amyhop

amyhop — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:57:05 +0000

I am appalled that these things are still happening in socirty! I think it is time for us to all make a stand and demand that changes be made. There is no sense in the fact that women still have to worry about things like this happeneing.

By: Nikki

Nikki — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:58:00 +0000

I too think that community centers and the like a good places to start with this form of teaching but many of these programs are so underfunded and short staffed that even they have a hard time remaining viable. Churches need to get involved and the bottom line is that it all has to start in the home.

By: gamecock96

gamecock96 — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:58:45 +0000

Do you think that peograms in places like community centers and Boys and Girls clubs could help? for many kids this is the only positive adult interaction that they receive. maybe this would be a good place to start.

By: stephanie

stephanie — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:55:53 +0000

((hug))

By: Margo

Margo — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:13:59 +0000

But there are so many more people who are right there at home who need to take action too. I do not think it is the fault of media, etc, this is something that must be taught and changed at home and in the communities around the country. This needs to change at the grass roots level to have any kind of positive impact in the long term.

By: Austin

Austin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:57:12 +0000

This is true. Not to blame an entire industry but there are some in the public eye who need to step up and say enough is enough. We are doing all we can behind the scenes and they need to be willing to do it in the face of the public eye.

By: Jeanette

Jeanette — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:26:25 +0000

No one has mentioned this and I am not saying that this is the ultimate root of the problem but it is still extremely troublesome when you see the way women are portrayed in many TV seetings, mjusic videos, etc. They are portrayed as trampy and willing to be taken advantage of and unfortunately this is the image that remains seared into many young minds.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:36:36 +0000

I am so sorry to hear that about your sister but hope that one day she will find the strength to overcome this painful event in her past. There is so much more that we as adults and a community need to do to prevent attacks like this but you feel so frustrated because so much of this really needs to start in the home. And you just can’t go into the homes of strangers and teach these things. The cycle of violence has to somehow be broken and it is up to so many of us to figure out how this needs to be done.

By: Cybthia V

Cybthia V — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:25:22 +0000

My sister was the victim of a sexual assault when she was in college and there are still times when I can call her now twenty years later that I can tell she is having a bad day with it. There is no erasing the horrible memories that this can cause people and I think that maybe if there was more understanding of just how deep wounds like this go then maybe the violence like this would stop.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:40:40 +0000

And so many people still continue to blame the victim so that in court cases they continue to be traumatized over and over again.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:21:52 +0000

As a therapist and one who has experienced abuse, I applaud you on your honesty and tenacity which shone throughout this article. Sadly, the statistics haven’t decreased; sadly, people will continue to keep their heads in the sand. Unless and until we realize and accept the fact that the perpetrator is our brother, father, husband, friend , and do something as a family and community to reduce the attacks on soul and body, nothing will change and the pain and suffering, both short and long term will continue.

By: Jeni

Jeni — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:45:11 +0000

So for people like this how do we address this? Do schools become involved, or is there another level of community outreach which can be successful?

By: Donna

Donna — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:13:07 +0000

This is uch a tough situation because who do these types of assaults do it for control rather than a sexual feeling and how can you control that? Thos eissues have to be identified and addressed early on at home and when there is not stable home life these things are going to continue to happen. It is just a shame that so many women have to suffer the consequences of this cycle of behavior.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:09:07 +0000

This is so scary to me as a female. Recently in my own community a female was out jogging at 9:45 on a Sunday morning in a pretty heavily traveled area and she was assaulted and raped. On a Sunday morning! As an avid exerciser who loves to be outdoors by herself this has scared me half to death! What can we do to prevent these types of things from occuring to one more person?!