There probably isn't a woman in the world who has never thought about rape. It has likely crossed the mind of every one of us, at some stage or another, and many times.
Walking to your car after a late class, a midnight run to the grocery store for a colicky child or even a solo hike on a sunny day has occasionally given us mind to think about the dreadful possibility.
Rape statistics are high. One in six women will be sexually assaulted in her life. Some sources say the number is closer to one in four. Men are not immune : the number is one in thirty three for men.
There were well over a quarter of a million sexual assaults, rapes or attempted rapes in the United States in 2006, not including children under age 12.
Every two minutes in this country, someone is sexually assaulted.
What if you had to pay for your own rape kit?
Rape kits are a necessary tool to gather evidence when someone has been assaulted. The victim is also tested for disease and usually given medication to guard against diseases or infections. This evidence is usually gathered by a forensic nurse who is specially trained to deal with these circumstances. These tests are difficult for the victims who have been raped since a pelvic exam is required. Nobody likes a pelvic exam at the best of times. Now imagine one after the horror and violence of a rape?
Alaska has a rape rate that is two and a half times that of the national average. And several towns there have elected until recent years to charge a rape victim for a rape kit, to the tune of up to $1000 in order not to 'burden the tax payer'.
Even the most ardent of fiscal conservatives would surely balk at this grossly insensitive practice?
It was not until 2000 that Alaska finally passed legislature to end the practice of billing a rape victim for collecting evidence.
Remember, it's not always a stranger in an alley who rapes or sexually assaults. It is often someone you know - including a relative or spouse/intimate partner. If you are forced to have sexual intercourse against your will - no matter who the person is - that is rape. And unwanted touching, groping, penetration or attempts at any of this are all assaults. No-one ever deserves this illegal treatment, no matter what the perpetrator says.
And as much as you may want to crawl away and isolate yourself, it's important to get to a hospital and get treated (you will not be charged for a rape kit!) if you have been the victim of assault, as well as given medications to guard against disease and pregnancy. Staff are trained to take care of you in a sensitive and dignified manner and you can request a female staff, including female police officers, who are also trained to help you in a supportive manner.
For more information (and support) on rape and sexual assault, including free telephone numbers, here are some links:
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
www.rainn.org
Women's Health has a website that includes a toll free hot-line if you are looking to talk with someone directly:
http://www.4woman.gov/faq/sexualassault.htm
To find a support group near you, including support groups for male victims of sexual assault, click here:
http://www.rapeis.org/support.html
Tell Us
Are you surprised that as recently as 2000, some areas in our country charged sexual assault victims for gathering evidence?
Is sexual assault taken as seriously as you'd like?
Do you have a story you feel comfortable sharing? Please feel free to write anonymously if you like or under a pen name. We'd love to hear from you and offer support.