SEXUAL ASSAULT: MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND MYTHS
March 23rd, 2009 | Posted by admin | Category: Women's HealthNo Comments
No one deserves to be sexually assaulted. Children do not provoke advances from offenders. Women do not deserve to be raped because of the clothes they wear, or because they accept a lift in a car. Women do not ‘ask for it’ by participating in social or physical contact. A woman has the right to refuse sexual advances at any stage of any encounter.
Incest can happen in any type of family. Families which appear from the outside to be functioning normally can be homes affected by incest. They may be from any level of society, with wealthier families being no less likely to be affected.
Women and children who claim to have been sexually abused are rarely lying. Victims do not tend to make up stories about being sexually abused. In fact it seems that only a small proportion of victims ever tell anyone about their experiences. For most victims it is a difficult and painful process. The consequences of telling someone, such as legal action being taken against the offender (who may be a family member or friend), perhaps the possibility of having to give evidence in court, or the fear of not being believed, can make disclosing sexual abuse an even more difficult dilemma for some victims.
You can get help. If you have been sexually assaulted, there are people who can help you at a time of crisis, like immediately following the assault, or any time, even years later.
Depending on the circumstances, geographic location and age of the person who has been sexually assaulted, there are several different agencies who could help. A good first contact is a sexual assault centre, or information service. A person can be given advice about options specifically suitable for her or his situation, and decide how to continue.
*233\52\4*
