Sexual Assault from A–Z

A is for: Ally is defined as: to unite or form a connection or relation between: ASSOCIATE : to form or enter into an alliance There are many ways to be an ally to; and support a victim of sexual assault: o Allies Never Engage in Victim Blaming: Sexual assault is a criminal act. Sexual assault is never the victim’s fault, but the fault of the perpetrator. See also, “B” for Believe Survivors, and “V” for Victim Blaming. o Allies Listen with Respect: It is up to the victim to decide how they want to proceed, following an assault. It is the victim’s decision whether or not they want to report an assault. A true ally respects the victim’s decision either way, without judgment. o Allies Take Action: Allies may offer concrete support for victims by helping them connect to support, by making phone calls for them, or by driving them to the hospital, police station and/ or rape crisis center. Allies can also offer to stay with the victim during the medical examination and interviews. o Allies Respond with Empathy: Most importantly, allies respond with Empathy (see ‘E’) to the person they are supporting. Allies may offer up key phrases, such as “I believe you”, “it’s not your fault”, and “I’m here for you”. • The Anti-Rape Movement is deeply intertwined with the history of slavery in the United States, and the struggle of African American women against racism and sexism. Pre- Emancipation, it was common and acceptable for white slave owners to rape enslaved women. During the period of Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era, sexual violence, physical violence, and murder were used to terrorize and keep the Black population from gaining political or civil rights. A group of Black women who were gang-raped by a white mob during the Memphis Riot of 1886, became the very first women to testify the details of their assaults before congress. Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, women continued to resist through grassroots efforts, but the next wave of anti-rape activities began in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s on the heels of the Civil Rights and women’s liberation movements. 1972 saw the earliest rape crisis centers, established in major cities. At this time, the second wave of feminism brought more white women into the movement. Although Women of Color (see ‘W’) were still at the core of this movement, “their visibility and efforts had been made largely invisible in the absence of critical attention to racism and Intersectional (see ‘I’) analysis in the movement.” The anti-rape movement in the U.S. in its’ current form is due much in part to the courage and strength of Black women leading the way. Those who currently work within the movement are tasked to pro-actively center the experiences of Women of Color and the voices of other marginalized survivors. See also “I” for Intersectional Feminism, “M” for The “Me Too” Movement, “Q” for Queer Survivorship, “X” for Xenephobia and Sexual Assault, and ‘W’ for Women of Color. • Art Therapy is a “therapeutic process facilitated by an art therapist, a master’s level trained practitioner, that uses art mediums and practices to explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.” When working with survivors of sexual assault, art-based interventions may be used to facilitate the processing and integration of traumatic memories. Art making and the resulting product can act as a container for overwhelming emotions. Art making may be an ideal therapy for trauma survivors because art allows for Non-Verbal (see ‘N’) expression. “The art therapy process engages multiple senses and provides a unique vehicle for expression where words and language can fall short.” For more, see “D” for Dance Movement Therapy, and “N” for Non-Verbal Therapeutic Approaches. B is for: • “Believe Survivors” is a rallying cry. There are many reasons why a survivor of sexual assault may be reluctant to tell their story. Among these reasons may be the fear of being blamed for the assault or not being believed by anyone. Survivors of sexual assault often have to contend with a pervasive and dominant Rape Culture (see ‘R’) that both promotes and tolerates Victim Blaming (see ‘V’). Survivors may also be less likely to come forward if there is a significant power difference between the perpetrator and themselves, such as in the case of prominent political figures or religious leaders. One of the most powerful ways Allies (see ‘A’), can support survivors of sexual assault is to say, “I believe you.” In fact, the simple statement, #BELIEVESURVIVORS has become a viral rallying cry on social media platforms as the anti-rape movement gains momentum, in the wake of the #Metoo Movement (see ‘M’). END NOTES Ally. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/ally?utm_campaign=sd&utm_medium=serp&utm_source=jsonld Taylor, S. R. (2018, April 17). Here are 9 Ways To Be A Good Ally To Sexual Assault Survivors. Retrieved from https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/here-are-9- ways-to-be-a-good-ally-to-sexual-assault-survivors (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.rainn.org/articles/help-someone-you-care-about Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault: English: Home. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.icasa.org/ History of the Rape Crisis Movement. (2009, November 17). Retrieved from http://www.calcasa.org/2009/11/history-of-the-rape-crisis-movement/ Lerner, G. (1992). Black women in white America: A documentary history. New York: Vintage Books. Feimster, C. N. (2018, February 02). How Formerly Enslaved Black Women Fought for Sexual Justice. Retrieved from https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/02/how- formerly-enslaved-black-women-fought-for-human-dignity-and-sexual-justice.html History of the Rape Crisis Movement. (2009, November 17). Retrieved from http://www.calcasa.org/2009/11/history-of-the-rape-crisis-movement/ American Art Therapy Association. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://arttherapy.org/ Talwar, S. (2007). Accessing traumatic memory through art making: An art therapy trauma protocol (ATTP). The Arts in Psychotherapy, 34(1), 22-35. doi: 10.1016/j.aip.2006.09.001 Tripp, T. (2016). A Body-Based Bilateral Art Protocol for Reprocessing Trauma. In J. L. King (Ed.), Art therapy, trauma and neuroscience: Theoretical and practical perspectives. Basingstoke: Taylor & Francis. (p. 174) #believesurvivors, #Ibelieveyou, #believewomen Me too. Movement. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://metoomvmt.org/