Public Safety
Sexual Assault
One out of four women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime.
How do you avoid becoming a shattered statistic? Unfortunately, there are no foolproof methods to counter sexual assault. But there are precautionary measures that can significantly reduce your chances of attack.
Help yourself and others develop a sixth sense about rape awareness. It's the best weapon you have.
AT HOME ALWAYS...
- Lock your doors and use the peep hole.
- Pull curtains at night.
- Ask service and delivery men for required identification. If you have doubts, check their company, or call the police.
- Hang up immediately on obscene phone calls.
- Know your neighbors. Watch for strangers in the area.
AT HOME NEVER...
- Open your door to strangers or admit them inside. If they need assistance, offer to make phone calls for them.
- Leave doors or windows unlocked.
- Hide a key outside.
- Leave notes about your whereabouts or you planned return.
- Reveal to telephone callers that you are alone, or give out personal information. Call out to an imaginary person.
- Enter an elevator occupied by an unknown man. Wait for the next elevator. If you're on the elevator and an unknown man enters, stand by the control panel, then leave.
Most people imagine a rapist as a stranger waiting behind bushes. But most often, rape victims are raped by someone they know or are familiar with. Regardless of who the rapist is, rape is a crime. It is a violent act that can cause great emotional and physical damage.
What is Date Rape?
More appropriately referred to as non-stranger rape, occurs when someone you are familiar with forces you to have sex. Non-stranger rape is very serious, and it's common. It has nothing to do with love or a healthy sexual relationship-- It's a violent crime.
Why does non-stranger rape happen?
- Sex Role Stereotypes. Many people believe that men should be competitive and aggressive, and women yielding and passive.
- Mixed Messages. Non-stranger rape can occur when a man, thinking a woman is "playing hard to get" believes she really means "yes" when she says "no." Mixed messages may be communicated verbally or through body language. It is important and appropriate to ask before touching or kissing another person.
- Poor communication. The potential for non-stranger rape exists when two people do not have a clear understanding of each other's sexual intentions and expectations.
- Learned violence. Violence is often seen as an acceptable way to solve problems, so some men feel it is okay to use force to get what they want from a woman.
