Although anyone - men, women, and children - can be assaulted,
this fact sheet will focus on adult female victims of sexual
assault.
What is sexual assault?
Sexual assault is defined as any sort of sexual activity between
two or more people in which one of the people is involved against
his or her will.
The sexual activity involved in an assault can include many
different experiences. Women can be the victims of unwanted
touching, grabbing, oral sex, anal sex, sexual penetration with an
object, and/or sexual intercourse.
There are a lot of ways that women can be involved in sexual
activity against their will. The force used by the aggressor can be
either physical or non-physical. Some women are forced or pressured
into having sex with someone who has some form of authority over
them (e.g., doctor, teacher, boss). Women can be bribed or
manipulated into sexual activity against their will. Others may be
unable to give their consent because they are under the influence
of alcohol or drugs. In some cases, the sexual aggressor threatens
to hurt the woman or people that she cares about. Finally, some
assaults include physical force or violence.
Who commits sexual assaults?
Often, when we think about who commits sexual assault or rape,
we imagine the aggressor is a stranger to the victim. Contrary to
popular belief, sexual assault does not typically occur between
strangers. The National Crime Victimization Survey, conducted by
the U.S. Department of Justice, found that 76% of sexually
assaulted women were attacked by a current or former husband,
cohabitating partner, friend, or date. Strangers committed only 18%
of the assaults that were reported in this survey.
How often do sexual assaults happen?
Estimating rates of sexual violence against women is a difficult
task. Many factors stop women from reporting these crimes to police
and to interviewers collecting statistics on the rate of crime in
our country. Women may not want to report that they were assaulted
because it is such a personal experience, because they blame
themselves, because they are afraid of how others may react, and
because they do not think it is useful to make such a report.
However, there are statistics that demonstrate the magnitude of
this problem in our country. For instance, a large-scale study
conducted on several college campuses found that 20% of women
reported that they had been raped in their lifetime. Another
national study found that approximately 13-17% of women living in
the U.S. have been the victims of completed rape, and an additional
14% of women were the victims of another form of sexual assault.
The National Crime Victimization Survey estimated that 500,000
sexual assaults occurred in the U.S. from 1992 to 1993. Of those
assaults, about one third were completed rapes and an additional
28% were attempted rapes.
What happens to women after they are sexually assaulted?
After a sexual assault, women can experience a wide range of
reactions. It is extremely important to note that there is no one
pattern of response. Some women respond immediately, others may
have delayed reactions. Some women are affected by the assault for
a long time whereas others appear to recover rather quickly.
In the early stages, many women report feeling shock, confusion,
anxiety, and/or numbness. Sometimes women will experience feelings
of denial. In other words, they may not fully acknowledge what has
happened to them or they may downplay the intensity of the
experience. This reaction may be more common among women who are
assaulted by someone they know.
What are some early reactions to sexual assault?
In the first few days and weeks following the assault, it is
very normal for a woman to experience intense and sometimes
unpredictable emotions. She may have repeated strong memories of
the event that are difficult to ignore, and nightmares are not
uncommon. Women also report having difficulty concentrating and
sleeping, and they may feel jumpy or on edge. While these initial
reactions are normal and expected, some women may experience
severe, highly disruptive symptoms that make it incredibly
difficult to function in the first month following the assault.
When these problems disrupt the woman's daily life, and prevent her
from seeking assistance or telling friends and family members, the
woman may have Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). Symptoms of ASD
include:
Feeling numb and detached, like being in a daze or a dream,
or feeling that the world is strange and unreal
Difficulty remembering important parts of the assault
Reliving the assault through repeated thoughts, memories, or
nightmares
Avoidance of things (places, thoughts, feelings) that remind
the woman of the assault
Anxiety or increased arousal (e.g., difficulty sleeping,
concentrating, etc.)
What are some other reactions that women have following a
sexual assault?
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Depression is a common reaction following
sexual assault. Symptoms of MDD can include a depressed mood, an
inability to enjoy things, difficulty sleeping, changes in patterns
of sleeping and eating, problems in concentration and
decision-making, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and decreased
self-esteem. Research suggests that almost 1/3 of all rape victims
have at least one period of MDD during their lives. And for many of
these women, the depression can last for a long period of time.
Thoughts about suicide are also common. Studies estimate that 1/3
of women who are raped contemplate suicide, and 17% of rape victims
actually attempt suicide.
Anger
Many victims of sexual assault report struggling with anger
after the assault. Although this is a natural reaction to such a
violating event, there is some research that suggests that
prolonged, intense anger can interfere with the recovery process
and further disrupt a woman's life.
Shame and guilt
These feelings are common reactions to sexual assault. Some
women blame themselves for what has happened or feel shameful about
being an assault victim. This reaction can be even stronger among
women who are assaulted by someone that they know, or who do not
receive support from their friends, family, or authorities,
following the incident. Shame and guilt can also get in the way of
a woman's recovery by preventing her from telling others about what
happened and getting assistance.
Social problems
Social problems can sometimes arise following a sexual
assault. A woman can experience problems in her marital
relationship or in her friendships. Sometimes an assault survivor
will be too anxious or depressed to want to participate in social
activities. Many women report difficulty trusting others after the
assault, so it can be difficult to develop new relationships.
Performance at work and school can also be affected.
Sexual problems
Sexual problems can be among the most long-standing problems
experienced by women who are the victims of sexual assault. Women
can be afraid of and try to avoid any sexual activity; they may
experience an overall decrease in sexual interest and desire.
Alcohol and drug use
Substance abuse can sometimes become problematic for
women who are the victims of assault. A large-scale study found
that compared to non-victims, rape survivors were 3.4 times more
likely to use marijuana, 6 times more likely to use cocaine, and 10
times more likely to use other major drugs. Often, women will
report that they use these substances to control other symptoms
related to their assault.
PTSD
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) involves a pattern of
symptoms that some individuals develop after experiencing a
traumatic event such as sexual assault. Symptoms of PTSD include
repeated thoughts of the assault; memories and nightmares;
avoidance of thoughts, feelings, and situations related to the
assault; and increased arousal (e.g., difficulty sleeping and
concentrating, jumpiness, irritability). One study that examined
PTSD symptoms among women who were raped found that 94% of women
experienced these symptoms during the two weeks immediately
following the rape. Nine months later, about 30% of the women were
still reporting this pattern of symptoms. The National Women's
Study reported that almost 1/3 of all rape victims develop PTSD
sometime during their lives and 11% of rape victims currently
suffer from the disorder.
What should I do if I have been sexually assaulted? Where can I
go for help?
If you were sexually assaulted and are experiencing symptoms
that are distressing to you, or symptoms that are interfering with
your ability to live a fulfilling and productive life, we urge you
to talk to a mental-health professional. Depending on the nature of
the problems that you are having, a number of therapeutic
techniques may be extremely helpful to you.
The treatment you receive will depend on the symptoms you are
experiencing and will be tailored to your needs. Some therapies
involve talking about and making sense of the assault in order to
reduce the memories and pain associated with the assault. Attending
therapy may also involve learning skills to cope with the symptoms
associated with the assault. Finally, therapy can help survivors
restore meaning to their lives.
Unfortunately, sexual assault is fairly prevalent in our society
today. Survivors of sexual assault can experience a wide variety of
symptoms, but they do not have to suffer in silence. Mental-health
professionals can offer a number of effective treatments tailored
to the individual woman's needs. We urge you to seek help
today.
