Sexual Assault Prevention

According to college surveys, one in four college women reported they had been raped or had survived attempted rate at some point in their life (Fisher, 2000). This frightening statistic could easily represent someone you know and love. This is why preventing sexual assault is so important. There is much debate and confusion on the topic of sexual assault and what that really means. From the United States Department of Justice, sexual assault is defined as “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape (Sexual Assault).” A topic that is closely related to sexual assault is consent. There are many laws that dictate what consent is and when it can or cannot be given legally. For example, at Truman State University, consent cannot be given if the person is “incapacitated by drugs, alcohol, mental deficiency, or other disability (Definition of Sexual Misconduct).” Therefore, anyone who has been drinking alcohol cannot legally give consent for sexual acts. One way to prevent sexual assault it to use applications such as Circle of 6 or a system with friends to alert them when you are in a dangerous situation. Other ways include educating the population on what sexual assault is, how it arises, and on consent.

References:

Definition of Sexual Misconduct. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2014, from http://police.truman.edu/services/definition.asp

Fisher, B. S., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G. (2000). The sexual victimization of college women. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, US Department of Justice.

Sexual Assault. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2014, from http://www.justice.gov/ovw/sexual-assault