Every Two and a Half Minutes Submitted by darceyw on Sun, 2005-09-25 22:53.Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted.How'd we come up with that number?Here's the math. There are 525,600 minutes in a non-leap year (365 days x 24 hours x 60 minutes = 525,600). That makes 31,536,000 seconds per year (525,600 minutes x 60 seconds = 31,536,000).According to the US Department of Justice's National Crime Victimization Survey — the country's largest and most reliable crime study — there were an average of 200,780 sexual assaults each year in 2004-2005 (the most recent data available).So: 31,536,000 divided by 200,780 comes out to one sexual assault every 157 seconds, or about one every two and a half minutes.Sexual assault vs. rape One more thing we should point out: Notice that we said one "sexual assault," not one "rape." What's the difference? Sexual assault is a broader category that the Justice Department uses to classify rape, attempted rape, and other violent felonies that fall short of rape (which it defines as "forced vaginal, anal or oral penetration").Of the estimated 200,780 annual violent sex crimes, 64,080 were completed rapes. So, if you want a figure that covers only rape and excludes attempted rape and sexual assault, divide 31,536,000 by 64,080. That comes out to one rape every 492 seconds or so, or about one rape every 8 minutes.Feel free to use these figures in your own materials. If you need a source, cite RAINN calculation based on USDOJ NCVS data.
Did you know that the average age of a woman being raped is sixteen to twenty-four years old? That one out of four women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime? That most rapes are committed by acquaintances or dates?
unravel myths about rape
for example, that the woman is a seductive individual asking to be raped.
learn how to avoid becoming potential targets for a rapist.
MYTH VERSUS FACT
Rape Awareness
MYTH: Rape is an act of passion.
FACT: Numerous studies of convicted rapists have revealed that
men have various motives for raping women, yet none of
the studies has shown sexual gratification as a primary motive.
The reasons given most often by rapists are power,
domination, revenge, and humiliation. Rape is an act of
aggression and violence accomplished through sexual
means.
MYTH: Rape is committed by insane, violent sex maniacs.
FACT: As many as 80% of all assaults involve acquaintances. An
assailant might be someone you know intimately. They may
be a coworker, a friend or a family member.
MYTH: Sexual assault is an impulsive act.
FACT: Seventy-five percent of all assaults are planned in advance.
MYTH: Only young, pretty women are assaulted.
FACT: Survivors range in age from infancy to elderly, and their
appearance is seldom a consideration. Assailants often
choose victims who seem most vulnerable to attack: old
persons, children, persons with physical or emotional
disabilities, substance abusers, and homeless persons.
Men are also attacked.
MYTH: If an attacker doesn't use a weapon, it's not rape.
FACT: A weapon is not necessary for rape to occur – physical force,
psychological pressure, and the victim being under
the influence of drugs or alcohol - all count as rape.
MYTH: You cannot be assaulted against your will.
FACT: Assailants overpower their victims with the threat
of violence or with actual violence. Especially in cases of
acquaintance rape or incest, an assailant often uses the
victim's trust to isolate her/him.
MYTH: A person who has really been sexually assaulted will be
hysterical.
FACT: Survivors exhibit a spectrum of emotional responses to
assault: calm, hysteria, laughter, anger, apathy, shock. Each
survivor copes with the trauma of the assault in a different
way.
MYTH: If it is really rape then the victim will report it to the police
FACT: Sexual assault is the most underreported crime. Only one in
three victims report their assault. The most common reasons
given by victims for not reporting these crimes are the belief
it is a private or personal matter and that they fear reprisal
from the assailant.
MYTH: Women frequently "cry rape."
FACT: Women rarely lie about rape. The FBI reports that false
accusations account for only 2% of all reported sexual
assaults. This is no higher than false reports for any other
crime.
MYTH: If your husband or partner forces you to have sex it’s not
rape.
FACT: If anyone forces or coerces you to have sex against your
will, it is rape. Even if the perpetrator is your husband or
partner. In fact, 14% of women are victims of rape
committed by their husbands.
MYTH: Most sexual assault offenders are African American.
FACT: Rape happens to women of every color. Over 90% of all
sexual assaults occur between people of the same race or
ethnic background.
MYTH: If the victim isn't a virgin, then it's not rape.
FACT: The victim's past sexual history has no bearing on whether or
not she was raped. Even if she has had sexual relations with
the rapist before, if she was forced to have sex with him
against her consent, it is still rape.
MYTH: "She asked for it." Women often provoke rape by their own
behavior: wearing provocative clothing or non- traditional
clothing, going out alone, staying out late, being friends
with boys/men, being drunk, etc.
FACT: No one asks to be sexually assaulted. Nor does anyone's
behavior justify or excuse the crime. People have a right to
be safe from a sexual violation at any time, any place, and
under any circumstances. The offender, not the victim, must
be held responsible for this crime.
MYTH: Gang rape is rare.
FACT: In 43% of all reported cases, more than one assailant was
involved.
MYTH: It is impossible to sexually assault a man.
FACT: Men fall victim for the same reasons as women: they are
overwhelmed by threats or acts of physical and emotional
violence. Also, more than 60% of sexual assaults that
involve an adult male victim are gang assaults.