The effects of sexual assault are devastating, life altering and lifelong. Sexual assault is an “everyone problem.” Embrace zero tolerance. Be a part of the solution. Learn how at: https://www.nsvrc.org/friends-family
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), “Sexual violence continues to be a major public health problem affecting millions of adults and children in the United States.”
The consequences of sexual assault are considerable and include:
- sexually transmitted infections
- mental health disorders (anxiety, depression)
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- unintended pregnancy
- sleep disorders
- sexual dysfunction
- substance abuse
- suicide
As reported by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, some of the sobering statistics are:
Sexual Assault in the United States
- One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives
- 51.1% of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance
- Almost half (49.5%) of multiracial women and over 45% of American Indian/Alaska Native women have been subjected to some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime
- 91% of victims of rape and sexual assault are female, and nine percent are male
- In eight out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the perpetrator
- Eight percent of rapes occur while the victim is at work
Cost & Impact of Sexual Assault
- The lifetime cost of rape per victim is $122,461
- Annually, rape costs the U.S. more than any other crime ($127 billion), followed by assault ($93 billion), murder ($71 billion), and drunk driving, including fatalities ($61 billion)
- 81% of women and 35% of men report significant short- or long-term impacts such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Child Sexual Abuse
- One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old
- 30% of women were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of their first completed rape
- 12.3% of women were age 10 or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization
- 27.8% of men were age 10 or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization
- 96% of people who sexually abuse children are male, and 76.8% of people who sexually abuse children are adults
- 34% of people who sexually abuse a child are family members of the child
- The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution is 12-14 years old, and the average age at which boys first become victims of prostitution is 11-13 years old
- Only 12% of child sexual abuse is ever reported to the authorities
The effects of sexual assault are devastating, life altering and lifelong. Sexual assault is an “everyone problem.” Embrace zero tolerance. Be a part of the solution. Learn how at: https://www.nsvrc.org/friends-family
Reference:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist, 2019. Committee Opinion: Sexual Assault. Online [available at]: https://www.acog.org/Search?Keyword=sexual+assault Accessed April 1, 2019.
National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 2019. Statistics. Online [available at] : https://www.nsvrc.org/statistics Accessed April 1, 2019.