Working Together to End Rapes

* How do we end rape? Do we let social service agencies, law enforcement, the courts or legislatures take care of the problem? Or do we, as socially conscious citizens, start to open our eyes to the violence suffered by one in every four women in our community?

Maybe a single community member is not capable of ending the epidemic of sexual violence, which affects women, children and men. But citizens can and should start to look at the typical responses about rape and sexual violence.

For example, the idea that rape victims “asked” to be assaulted because they wore provocative clothing, were in the wrong place at the wrong time or had a sexual history with the perpetrator. Another myth that society often buys into is the thought that rapists are sexually deprived strangers who jump out from the bushes and attack their victims. We even hear that rape is just rough or bad sex and therefore should not be taken seriously as a crime. All these attitudes take the blame off sexual offenders and place it on innocent victims.

In reality, rape and sexual violence are crimes--deliberate acts in which the perpetrator uses sex to overpower and control another human being.

We must stop pretending that ending rape is the victim’s job and instead start holding perpetrators responsible for their violent acts. Although there are ways women, children and men can protect themselves, in the end the only people who can put a stop to the violence are the perpetrators themselves.

April is sexual assault awareness month. Let’s get real about rape. Join concerned community members tonight from 7 to 9 at Mission Park in downtown Ventura for the second annual Take Back the Night rally. There, community leaders will discuss ways we can work together to end rape. The rally is also a wonderful time to support and empower survivors, letting them know that they are not to blame for the violence they experienced.

For more information, call the Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence at 654-8141 or call our 24-hour crisis hot line at 656-1111.

AMY ZUCCHERO

Rape Crisis Program Manager

Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence

Ventura