April is sexual abuse awareness month. Here are some good resources to share with teens about relationships. Click on the link below for a teen quiz and more information.
Teen Sexual Assault and Abuse-- Let your kids know what it is so they can recognize it if ever happens to them.
Sexual violence is any act (verbal and/or physical) which breaks a person’s trust and/or safety and is sexual in nature.
Victims/survivors of sexual assaults are forced, coerced, and/or manipulated to participate in the unwanted sexual activity.
Adolescent women are at a higher risk for sexual violence than any other age group.
Part of the reason for this is the large number of date/acquaintance rapes, which occur at this age.
This is coupled with the fact that many adolescents are victims of sexual abuse and incest as well.
Due to past or ongoing sexual abuse, teens with these experiences are more likely than their non-abused peers to participate in “delinquent” teenage behaviors including those which result in social problems, conflict with authority, early sexual behavior, and eating problems.
These behaviors may help the teen escape from jeopardy and/or to serve as a cry for help.
Date/acquaintance rape is sexual assault perpetrated by someone known to the victim such as: a friend, an employer, a date, or someone the victim/survivor recently met.
It is almost entirely perpetrated by males against females.
It is NEVER the victim/survivor’s fault no matter what she wore, where she was, whether or
not she fought back, or whether or not she was drinking.
The perpetrators are 100% responsible for their actions.
Rape, including date/acquaintance rape, is violence where sex is used as a weapon. Date/acquaintance rapists often believe myths such as: women owe men sex if they spend money on her; some women play hard to get and say “no” when they mean “yes;” and women enjoy being pursued by an aggressive male.
Individuals who have been assaulted and/or abused by someone they know may feel guilty or responsible for the abuse, feel betrayed, question their judgement, or have difficulty trusting people.
Recovery from an assault can be assisted by contacting an advocate who understands the needs of sexual assault victims.
Many communities have rape crisis centers with 24-hour counseling and advocacy services. Adolescents who are being sexually abused can contact the 24-hour National Child Abuse
Hotline for assistance and referral: 1-800-422-4453.
http://www.loveisrespect.org/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/apr/03/april-sexual-abuse-awareness-month/http://www.gadugisafecenter.org/
