A rape is reported nearly every five minutes according to a 1997 FBI crime Report.
The sexual assault statistics for Memphis are staggering — an average of 1,232 cases are reported each year to the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center (MSARC). A significant percentage of these reports come from college aged students.
“Overall, the highest risk group is the 12-34 age bracket,” said Carmen Mills, a Community Education coordinator at MSARC. “There is another peak between ages 16-19, where women are four times more likely to experience assault than the general population.”
That is the near the age of college freshmen, who will sometimes refrain from taking any action out of fear of giving themselves a bad name.
An estimated 84 percent, roughly 5 out of every six acts, of sexual assaults go unreported.
According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), victims who have been misinformed about rape may feel responsible for their victimization.
Rape, according to several sources, includes any form of unwanted sexual contact.
Any sexual act performed on someone who is mentally or physically incapable of giving consent can also be defined as rape.
“One of the biggest contributing factors of rape is alcohol, which is prevalent among college-aged individuals,” Mills said.
Alcohol and drug use can prevent the ability to rationally consent to sexual intercourse.
Some may be fearful of the prevalence of rape and sexual assault in the Mid-South. Jamie Zuieback, communications director of RAINN, offered a few notes on ways for students to reduce the risk of sexual assault:
- Don’t leave your beverage unattended or accept a drink from an open container.
- When you go to a party, go with a group of friends. Arrive together, watch out for each other, and leave together.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Don’t allow yourself to be isolated with someone you don’t know or trust.
- Think about the level of intimacy you want in a relationship, and clearly state your limits.
Zuieback encouraged students who have experienced sexual assault to seek professional counseling, even if the attack happened long ago.
According to Zuieback, most victims of sexual assault do not realize that they need help for months or even years after the attack. It is never too late to seek help for an event such as this, she said. Free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day by calling the RAINN hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.
