During this session we begin looking at how sexual abuse impacts on women. The goals are to:
Begin understanding the variety of activities covered by the term ‘sexual assault'
Begin considering how the impacts of sexual assault are affected by age, previous assault, gender, and other traumatization
Begin identifying how the impacts of assault change over time after the assault, (rape trauma syndrome/ post-traumatic stress disorder)
Begin identifying what resources we can assist women in accessing to meet needs arising from sexual assault
Begin looking at sexual assault as an issue of unequal power and control, rather than as a sexual act
Begin working with our own feelings about sexual assault
Glossary
Criminal harassment or stalking
A person is harassed, followed, watched, and/or phoned and fear for their safety or the safety of others. Usually committed by a partner or former partner.
Traumatization
The process of having adapted to the impacts of psychological and/or physical damage inflicted on one.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Re-experiencing of highly traumatic events through re-occurring nightmares, daydreams, flashbacks and/or intense distress when reminded of the original event.
Rape Trauma Syndrome
Behaviours common in survivors of sexual assault which consists of three stages: acute (immediately after the assault), reorganization (temporary adaptations which enable the woman to resume functioning) and integration (longer-term adaptations in which the woman has incorporated changes and placed the assault within the context of the sum of her experiences-usually occurs in response to having to deal with some event that re-awakens aspects of the assault).
Date rape
Usually committed by boyfriends and male acquaintances of women in high school, college and university.
Spousal assault
Violence perpetrated by a husband or partner that often includes forced sexual activity.
Sexual harassment
Unwanted sexual attention, systemic discrimination and violence, usually in working and learning environments.
FORMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual Assault is any unwanted act of a sexual nature imposed by one person upon another.
TYPES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
Sexual assault involves all forms of non-consensual sexual contact.
Rape / oral, anal or vaginal intercourse
Sexist jokes
Various types of touching
Prolonged eye contact - leering
Being forced to flash/strip
Verbal sexual abuse
Being forced to watch sexual acts
Sexual abuse in media - t.v. / literature
Child sexual abuse
Sexual harassment or observing it
Having someone uncomfortably close
Making light of sexual violence
Medical exams that are unnecessary or without consent
Rapes in war
Gang rape
Incest
Obscene phone calls
Ritual abuse
Peeping tom
Voyeurism
Invasion of privacy
Spousal assault / rape
Stalking
Bestiality
Prison rape
Flashing
Sexual assault is an issue of power which uses sex as a weapon, violating not only the woman’s body, but also her sense of safety and control over many aspects of her life. Accurate information about this crime is still overshadowed by prevailing misconceptions and outdated attitudes which hold the victim of the crime at fault or responsible.
Where?
Occasionally sexual assaults do occur when a woman is out alone at night. However, more than one half of all sexual assaults occurs in private homes, with the majority of incidents being in the victim’s home. Sexual assaults occur in large cities, small towns, urban and rural areas . . . anywhere!
Who?
Women who are sexually assaulted are all ages, from infancy to old age; come from all educational, class, income, and moral backgrounds; and may be any race and physical description.
Offender
A misconception about sexual assault is that sex offenders are strange, unattractive, sexually unfulfilled men who lurk in dark places. In fact, most women are sexually assaulted by men they know and have some familiarity with, such as employers, co-workers, boyfriends, neighbours, or relatives. Many offenders are married or living common-law, have children and are considered responsible members of the community. It is a misconception that sexual offenders can be recognized or somehow "picked-out." Despite the situation, no one asks to be sexually assaulted. The offender is always 100% responsible for the assault.
What is Date Rape?
Date rape, or sexual assault in dating and acquaintance relationships, is forced sexual activity committed in a dating or social situation. Although this is most commonly perpetrated by men while in high school, college, and university, date rape, and any form of dating violence can occur in relationships anytime. The assailant might be a co-worker, boss, neighbour, friend of a friend and so on. This is referred toas acquaintance rape. Date rape is when the assailant is a man she is dating. Men who commit date or acquaintance rapes have usually spent time and energy gaining the trust of the women they violate. They gain access to women through social situations and seek and create opportunities to assault through isolation, impairment, coercion and threats. Often the assailant is very presentable, well-liked, and “gentlemanly” until the woman resists his sexual advances. The assailant appears credible in the eyes of the woman’s friends and to the authorities reducing the likelihood of the women being believed.Perpetrators exploit societal beliefs which blame the women they assault, by using societal “myths” about women to excuse their violence. Some of these include the idea that women are responsible for avoiding the actions of potential perpetrators by changing their own behaviour. Victims of stranger rape range from infants to women in their 90's, but the majority of date rapists attack women between the ages of 15 and 25. Most date rapists use just enough force to gain compliance, so severe physical injuries are rare. This may be partly because date rapists see their action as normal sex, not as assault. 1 in 12 male students had committed acts that met the legal requirements of rape or attempted rape, but fully 84% of the men who committed rape said that what they did was definitely not rape. Men who assault women they know often call the woman afterwards to see if she would like to have another “date”. Men’s attitudes towards sexuality and women contribute significantly to these warped behaviours. A recent survey of 114 undergraduate male students in two American universities revealed, among other findings, a disturbing level of agreement with the following statements:
STATEMENT PERCENT WHO AGREED
I prefer relatively small women 93.7%
I like to dominate women 91.3%
I enjoy the conquest part of sex 86.1%
Some women look like their just asking to be raped 83.5%
I get excited when a woman struggles over sex 63.5%
It would be exciting to use force to subdue a woman 61.7%
Sexual assault, in any situation, occurs because the person who assaults has decided that he has the right to impose forced sexual activity on another.
What is Spousal Assault?
Spousal assault, often called “wife assault”, “domestic violence”, “family violence”, or “wife battering” is assault in marriage or other intimate, adult relationships. Spousal assault takes many forms including emotional, sexual, physical and financial. As in other forms of violence, the motivation of the abuser is to gain and maintain power and control. Spousal assault shares characteristics and tactics with other forms of torture including physical violence, coercion, isolation and threats. Sexual violence is often common in relationships where abusers also use other, more recognizable forms of violence, such as battery.
What is Stalking?
Stalking, or criminal harassment, is persistent and menacing unwanted behaviour directed at (usually) a woman by a man. Criminal harassment is behaviour that is intimidating, threatening and persists long after it has been clearly communicated that the behaviour is unwanted. Some examples of criminal harassment include: stalking - following a person, lurking near her home and workplace, appearing at places she usually goes; repeated phone calls, regardless of the content; unwanted contact through other means such as the mail, mutual friends or family members and terrorism - direct physical and sexual violence, criminal acts directed a the property of the victim and sabotage of the victim’s reputation. Most often, the stalker is the former partner of the victim.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is any behaviour, comment, gesture or contact of a sexual nature that could be considered objectionable or offensive by the recipient. Sexual harassment like all other forms of sexual violence, is about power, not sex. It is an abuse of power that, like other forms of violence against women, affects women’s right to fair treatment, equality and safety. Sexual harassment is an attempt by one person to assert power and control over another. (Mutual attractions often occur, without causing discomfort to anyone. Such flirtations and romances are not considered to be sexual harassment.) Sexual harassment is manifest in many ways, but two forms are common: sexist or sexual attitudes or behaviours directed at a woman by a man with some power to affect a woman’s safety or livelihood; and hostile environments created by overt and covert displays of sexism and misogyny such as degrading depictions of women or condoned sexist remarks and behaviours. Sexual harassment can happen almost anywhere, including: the education system, the health care system, the justice system, the social service system, churches, at home, on the street and in the workplace. Often the harasser is someone in a position of authority, but harassers can be anyone: co-workers, peers, colleges, neighbours, as well as those with whom we have professional relationships: doctors, teachers, therapists, landlords, lawyers and others with whom we are required to associate.
Who Is Sexually Harassed?
Men are sometimes harassed, but most often women are harassed. The harasser is almost always male. Virtually every woman has experienced street harassment - whistles, sexual remarks, or touching by strangers. Surveys of students at Canadian universities have found that about half of the women respondents have experienced some kind of sexual harassment on campus. In a recent national poll, more than 1/3 of the women who have worked outside of the home said that they had been sexually harassed on the job. Women file significantly more sexual harassment complaints than men.
Workplace Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment in the workplace can endanger the continued employment of the harassed individual by negatively affecting her work performance or undermining her sense of personal dignity or in some cases, causing her physical illness. Sexual harassment is bad for employers. It can cause health and safety risks, damage employee moral, lower employee productivity, and damage the corporate image of a company if a sexual harassment case is made public. A toxic environment does not have to contain “centerfolds” or sexist attitudes and jokes. It can simply be created by men who have the attitude that only they properly belong in particular workplace or profession. Common examples of this include the military, police forces and industrial, technical and construction trades.
Examples of Sexual Harassment
Actions that have been found to constitute sexual harassment include:
offensive posters or calenders in a workplace
displaying sexually suggestive items
sexually suggestive remarks or gestures
leering or whistling
unwelcome sexual requests, remarks, jokes or gestures
unwelcome physical contact such as pinching, hugging, brushing up against or patting
unwelcome, persistent invitations for a date
unfair evaluations or reprimands, reduced working hours, overwork, dismissals, discipline or refusal to hire when they are in retaliation for refusal to submit to sexual harassment.
This is not intended to be a complete list of behaviours that constitute sexual harassment.
Sexual Harassment is About Power, Not Sex
Sexual harassment is an abuse of power. When men use their power to treat women sexually in a non-sexual context, they interfere with women's right to work, to learn, to walk on the street without fear and to be treated as equal and respected participants in public life. Like other forms of woman abuse, sexual harassment both reflects and reinforces women's unequal position in our society.
If You Are Sexually Harassed:
Remember that it's not your fault. The harasser is responsible for his own behaviour.
The harassment most likely will not stop if you ignore it; it may get worse.
Find friends or colleagues who will support you. Other women have probably been harassed by the same man.
Protect yourself by keeping a detailed written record of every incident.
Tell the harasser to stop - in person or in writing. Take someone with you as a witness and for support.
If he persists, record the details of every incident, including witnesses if any.
If he continues, find out about other options: Does your union or institution or workplace have a procedure for dealing with sexual harassment complaints? Whom can you count on to support you? Is there a group of women who can act together?
Remember that there is not one right way to handle sexual harassment. Seek advice, find out about your options, and then make you own informed decision about how to proceed. Only you can know what is best for you in your situation.
Contact the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant’s 24 hour Crisis and Support Line (751-3471) to talk to other women who understand your situation.
SOME FACTS ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT
like racial harassment, is illegal in Canada.
like sexism generally, is directed against women by men
has nothing to do with mutual desire, love, attraction or affection between women and men. It is, instead. a matter of power and reflects attempted domination and humiliation of women by men.
is abusive and it is often violent. It causes economic, social, physical and psychological damage to working class women.
is widespread in the Canadian workplace. One study estimates that 83% of working women in this country have experienced one form or another of sexual harassment.
is the single most dangerous occupational hazard for women in the labour force.
usually flows directly from the unequal class relations between bosses and workers. One legal expert on the subject pints out: "in almost all sexual harassment cases which have gone to the (human rights) tribunal so far, the perpetrator of sexual harassment has been the supervisor of the complainants
also happens commonly between co-workers ... creating divisions within the labour movement and creating sisters without brothers.
is not experienced by young, attractive women alone. Studies show that sexual harassment threatens all women, regardless of age, race, marital status or appearance.
MYTHS ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT
MYTH #I:
Sexual Harassment is not very common.
Recent surveys have indicated that 80-90% of women in the paid labour force have experienced sexual harassment at some time in their working lives. In Canada, that represents 3.6 million women. A recent survey of the membership of the British Columbia Employees Union showed 80% report that there is sexual harassment in their workplace.
MYTH #2:
Women invite sexual harassment by their behaviour or dress. Sexual harassment is an expression of power. Physical appearance usually has nothing to do with the selection of a "victim." In fact, the only thing most women "do" to bring on such behaviour is to exercise their rights to work on a job. Harassers may deliberately misinterpret behaviour or dress as being "enticing' to justify their aggressive actions. Women are taught from childhood to appear attractive, and to act pleasantly and passively. Accusing women of inviting harassment by their appearance is like blaming a man who is mugged for carrying a wallet in his trousers. It is blaming the victim instead of the aggressor.
MYTH #3:
Women who object have no sense of humour.
If harassment were funny, then it would be true that women have no sense of humour. But sexual harassment isn't funny, it is degrading, humiliating, and scary. Sexual harassment means being treated as a sex object, not as a worker. It is a reminder that the harasser has higher status and more power than the victim. Harassment can threaten a victim's job, working conditions, training and career opportunities. Any behaviour with such potential is certainly not "harmless." And that is not funny. Sexual harassment in not just an extension of flirting or "courting" behaviour. Office flirtation can be harmless, and it can be fun. And, of course people have social relationships on the job and many romances begin there. Harassing behaviour is different, because it is unwelcome attention, frequently persistent, and may have an element of intimidation. One-sided attention from a person in a position of authority is harassment. If threats to economic security go along with the harassment, the attention is anything but harmless.
MYTH #4:
Sexual harassment doesn't hurt anyone.
Besides the threat to economic security, sexual harassment can severely affect the victim's health. Victims of sexual harassment suffer tension, anxiety, depression, fear, and frustration. These psychological effects often manifest themselves in physical ailments such as headaches, ulcers and other nervous disorders. Some of these ailments become so serious that they require medical treatment, even hospitalization. The effects of harassment often carry over to the victim's family life as well. Co-worker harassment has the additional effect of dividing and weakening workers united in collective action.
MYTH #5:
A firm “no” is enough to discourage any man.
This statement ignores another, more serious myth. "A woman's "no" means "yes". As long as this myth survives, it undermines women's credibility in refusing sexual advances. Even if a woman's refusal is understood as meaning "no", it does not mean it will be respected. Sexual harassment usually does not occur between equals, even if they are co-workers. In most cases, the harasser has greater physical power, social status, and/or economic power. This "authority" may give the harasser leverage against his victim, enabling him to override the firmest "no."
MYTH #6:
Women often make false claims of sexual harassment.
Victims of sexual harassment face a credibility problem. Our society has covered up and made light of sexual aggression against women for so long! Co-workers and supervisors are often uncomfortable when ugly situations come out in the open in the workplace. But false claims are the exception, not the rule. Yet, because false claims get so much attention, legitimate claims are automatically questioned. Women who report sexual harassment are subject to ridicule, disbelief, accusations of entrapment, isolation, and further humiliation. Employers and co-workers may unfairly make reprisals against a woman who complains, ranging from creating intolerable working conditions to firing the woman and black-listing her as a troublemaker. Unfortunately, a woman takes a big risk when she speaks out against harassment. Reprisals are very effective deterrents -- women are unlikely to make false claims.
Conclusion
Myths about sexual harassment are based on outdated and incorrect assumptions and sex role stereotypes. Standards for acceptable behaviour in the workplace are changing to show more respect for women and members of minority groups. Because sexual harassment has such a devastating impact on the victim, we must work to eliminate it. Trade unionists must take action to dispel these myths and ensure a workplace and union free of sexual harassment.
Responses to Trauma
It is imperative that one not make automatic assumptions about the impact of the assault on the woman’s life. Often, assumptions are made about the intensity of the impacts of an event on an individual based on that person’s observed behaviour. Thus, when someone has experienced a traumatic event, it is anticipated that they will appear out of control, or hysterical. If someone shows little or no emotion, and simply continues functioning, assumptions are often made that the event has not been traumatic. Both expressive (emotional/acting out) and controlled (showing little or no emotion) are normal responses to trauma.
Initial Responses (Acute Stage)
Immediately following an assault, many are in a state of disbelief and shock. Yet, it is at this time that many difficult decisions must be made:
does she want police involvement?
does she want to have/is it appropriate to have a forensic kit done?
does she have injuries which require medical treatment?
does she need medical treatment to protect against STD's or pregnancy?
does she feel safe returning home, or is there some where else she will feel safer?
who is safe to tell?
What the Survivor Needs
During this period, women need to know that what they have experienced creates great stress in most people. It is important that they be given room to accept the reality of what has happened to them, and reassured that their responses are normal. Often women need reassurance that looking after themselves at this time is not selfish, but rather important to their healing process. A critical part of the crisis worker’s role is to help women look at their lives. What responsibilities can be put aside for a short time? What responsibilities (i.e., child care for an isolated single mom) must be fulfilled regardless of what else is happening in the woman’s life? What other resources/supports are available to the woman.
Intermediate Impacts
The initial responses may last for a few hours or continue for a few weeks. Eventually, however, the woman works hard to return to her regular schedule. Outwardly, her life might look similar to the pre-assault life, but usually a variety of impacts continue, especially a generalized sense of fear which will be heightened by any stimuli which trigger memories of the location/context within which the assault took place. Nightmares and flashbacks are common at this stage. During this stage, women commonly feel very frustrated by the continuing intrusion of the assault on their lives. It is not uncommon for women to change jobs, residences, phone numbers and normal activity patterns during this period. Many women identify some act or behaviour within their control which was responsible for the assault. These are mechanisms designed to regain control over their lives. Within a few months of the assault, many women will indicate that the assault is behind them, and really has little impact on their lives. They may not want to talk about the assault any more and may be receiving a great deal of support from those around them for their 'courage' and 'strength of character’. Given the issues around control relating to sexual assault, it is critical to be supportive during this process. However, it is also important to let women know that many women go through a period where issues around the assault seem resolved, only to find themselves overwhelmed with the memories of how they were feeling immediately after the assault. Frequently, it is some related or unrelated crisis to which the woman reacts with these older feelings. A woman may feel very frustrated with herself, and it is common to hear the following statements:
"I don't understand why I am behaving this way. Everything was going alright for awhile.”
"I am over-reacting.”
"This is so weak.”
"I shouldn't be like this, there must be something wrong with me.”
Survivors need to know that healing is not a linear, straight-forward process. Rather, it is a series of repeatedly re-integrating the assault into other experiences of one's life. Normal is feeling and expressing some of the confusion, anger and frustration from the assault. Normal is feeling as if one’ life is returning to the pre-assault state, only to feel pulled back into the depths of despair, fear and anger.
Long-Term Integration
Some period after the survivor feels that she has regained her life, a crisis may occur which feels very traumatic to the survivor. At this point, when the woman has some distance from the initial event, and has regained a stronger sense of self, the woman may be ready to finally work through the painful feelings associated with the assault. In reality, this is an opportunity for the woman to really put the assault behind her, and to integrate helpful new behaviours. Often, the woman does not feel ready, and the sense of shame that she is having difficulty dealing with the assault may regain prominence in her life. It is very common for women to call the crisis line at this stage, querying their sanity, and blaming themselves for being so weak. It is very important that crisis line workers help her to identify the work she has done, in continuing to function, despite the immobilization which accompanied the assault. Women need to take the opportunity to celebrate their victories, and to realize that the worst is over.
TRAUMA SYNDROME
from:
Working with Survivors of Sexual Assault
Victoria Women’s Sexual Assault
Acute Phase (short-term)
First few hours- first few weeks
Emotional Reactions
fear
humiliation
embarrassment
anger
self-blame
Reorganization Phase (Long-term)
Nightmares
can range from replay of original rape to gaining of situation by overcoming or killing rapist
fear of further trauma
indoors
outdoors
people behind her
alone
crowds
sexual fears
DISCLOSURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR INCEST
(Adapted from Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre)
Disclosure of a sexual assault, especially for adult survivors of child sexual abuse, is the beginning of a long healing process with many difficult stages. The first stage, the initial disclosure, can be very stressful for the woman.
Disclosure is a frightening act for the woman, for several very legitimate reasons. She may be afraid that she will fall apart if she starts to tell someone about the assault: she will need to know that she has enough support to get through the disclosure and put herself "back together" again, at least enough to continue to the next step in this process. The woman has developed protective barriers and behaviours that have allowed her to function up until this point. When she discloses, those protective shields go down, and she becomes very vulnerable. She may feel unstable and out of control. This is a normal reaction to her situation, and she needs to be reassured about this. It is also important for her to understand that the disclosure may surface feelings and reactions that affect other parts of her life. She simply cannot close the door on it when she leaves her interview. She may be afraid that she will not be believed, or that she will be blamed for the attack. Certainly, self-blame is a common reaction among women who have been assaulted, and messages from society around her will tell her that the risk of not being believed by others is very high. Consequently, she will need to be reassured, and will need messages from the professional that she is not to blame. In addition, she may want to discuss the fact that others in her life (family, partner, etc.) may not believe her, and how to cope with this. She may be afraid of repercussions in several different ways. First of all, there is the real fear among sexual assault survivors that the men who assaulted them will find out that they talked, come back to repeat the assault, and possibly even kill them, or hurt their children or families, as many assailants threaten to do. The legal repercussions of reporting the assault may also be weighing on her mind. She may want to discuss the assault and deal with the emotional and psychological impacts, but not want to go through the extended process of police questioning and a trial. She needs to know that she has the right to make this decision, and she needs the information to make it in an informed manner. The woman may also experience physiological reactions to the disclosure process, especially if the assault happened quite awhile in the past, and she has been coping with it by "burying" it. For example, she might become ill, suffer from severe migraine headaches or abdominal pains, or might have difficulties breathing.
50 REASONS WOMEN DON'T LEAVE THEIR ABUSIVE LOVERS
The children
Money
Fear
Relatives blame her
Therapist blames her
Police blame her
Clergy blame her
Her barterer blames her
She blames herself
No one believes she's being abused
She doesn't think she's being abused
Her partner says "I love you"
Her partner says "I'm sorry"
Her partner says "I'm the best thing that's ever happened to you"
Her partner says "I'll never do it again"
Her partner says "I'll kill you if you leave"
Her partner says "I'll take the children"
Her partner says "I'll kill myself if you leave"
She'll be homeless
The shelters are full
She believes the welfare system will abuse her worse
She loves her partner
Her partner loves her
The children loves them both
Her father abused her
Her mother abused her
Her partner is an alcoholic
Her partner is a drug addict
She's an alcoholic
She's a drug addict
Her partner's a pimp
She's tried to leave before
Her partner found her before
She can't speak English
She doesn't have papers to be in this country
She's in a wheel chair
She's deaf
She's developmentally challenged
She's blind
Her partner is her personal care attendant
Her partner is a public figure
She’s a public figure
She can’t read
She’s afraid of the unknown
She’s isolated
She’s depressed
Her partner threatens to expose her as a lesbian
She’s never told anyone
It’s not the right time yet
Bibliography
Video:
“Without Fear”
“Twice Condemned”
“Keepers Of The Fire”
"Beyond Rape”
“Bridging The River Of Silence”
“Crime Check”
“Killing Us Softly”
“Still Killing Us Softly”
Books:
Sexual Assault - Information for families
Responding To The Abuse of People With Disabilities
Facing Codependance
Beyond Survival
Guilt - Battered Women
Get Smart
Keeping The Faith - Questions and Answers
The Courage to Heal
Females
Rape and Representation - Book
Males
The Sexually Abused Male Lew, Mike
Victims No Longer: Men Recovering From Incest and Other Sexual Child Abuse
Cameron, Grant What About Me? - Men helping female partners deal with child sexual abuse
McEvoy, Alan W. If She Is Raped: A Guidebook for Husbands, Fathers and Male
J.B. Brookings Friends, Learning Publications, Holmes Beach, Florida
Forman, Bruce D. “Reported Male Rape,” Victimology: An International Journal, 7, (1), 1982 pp 235-236
Date Rape
Warshaw, Roben I Never Called It Rape, Ms. Foundation/Sarah Lazin Books, Harper Row Publishers, New York, 1988
Dating Violence: An issue at any age
Dating Violence: Awareness information for people in the workplace
Some important things for men to know about sex and dating.
Some important things for women to know about sex and dating.
Rape
Anonymous Definitions of Sexual Assault
Anonymous “Rape Crisis Centres” (List) If She Is Raped
Anonymous Lindsay’s Story, 1989
Anonymous Sexual Assault Biography, 1985
Aftermath Family Support Kit Manual, Toronto, 1989
Bass, Ellen “Healing is Possible,” The Courage to Heal: A Guide for women L. Davis, Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, Harper, Perennial, 1992, pages 19-49
Bass and Davis “For Family Members”: from Courage To Heal, 1989
Bass and Davis “For Counsellors “: from Courage To Heal, 1990
Bass and Davis “Coping: Honouring What You Did To Survive,” The Courage To Heal,1992
Gruber, Kenneth, J.“Does Sexual Abuse Lead to Delinquent Behaviour? A Critical Look at the Evidence,” Victimology: An International Journal, 6(1-4), 1981, pp 85-91.
Katz, Judith The Healing Process After RAPE, 1990
McEvoy, Alan W. If She Is Raped, Learning Publications Inc, Holmes Beach, Fl,
Brookings, Jeff B 1991
Mobilia, M., Boumil, J.D., Sex Crimes 1993
Vachss, Alice, Sexual Assault : Annotated bibliography of sexual assault literature
Sexual Assault Fact Sheets
Have you been Sexually Assaulted by a Health Professional?
Supporting Patients who disclose sexual exploitation.
Correctional Services Canada
Brainstorming Session: Understanding Violence by Women and Dealing with Women’s Anger
Literature Review on Women’s Anger and Other Emotions
Paying the Price: Federally Sentenced Women in Context
Report on Self-Injurious Behaviour in the Kingston Prison for Women
Understanding Violence by Women: A Review of the Literature
Women’s Way of Knowing: The Development of Self, Voice and Mind
Aboriginal
The Healing Lodge: Final Operation Plan
What is Their Truth?: Listening to the Voices of Aboriginal Federally Sentenced Women
Disabled Women’s Network Ontario (DAWN)
Women with Disabilities Talk About Sexuality
EXERCISES
Sex Attitude Survey
It is right for a male to force a female into sexual contact when:
Agree Disagree
1. He spent a lot of money on her.
2. He is so turned on he thinks he cannot stop.
3. She has a reputation for having sex with a lot of guys.
4. She is drunk or high.
5. She agrees and begins to have sex but changes her mind.
6. She lets him touch her above the waist.
7. They have dated for a long time.
8. She has had sex with him before.
9. She led him on or teased him.
10. She is wearing revealing clothing or acting seductively.
11. She is hitchhiking.
12. She is out late by herself.
13. She is living with him but they are not married.
14. She is married to him.
15. She is married to him but they are separated.
Who Would You Tell
Who would you tell if you were sexually assaulted?
1. Why would you tell this person?
2. How do you think the person would react?
3. Who else would you tell?
4. What would you do if the person didn’t believe you?
5. Would you tell anyone else about it?
6. Why or why not?
7. Would you tell someone if the sexual assault happened a long time ago and was bothering you now?
8. How would you find someone to tell if you did not want to tell a friend or relative.
