Sexual Assault & Rape / Question
Published: March 13, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
How many girls get raped (appromixmately) a year? I would like to know so that I am forewarned about these kind of things. I'm 15 and really scared about being raped. And I don't even know why. I think it might be a psychological problem. But thats okay.
Signed: Rape Stats & Fears
Dear Rape Stats & Fears,
Although you do not say that you have been raped, if this is the case (or it has been in the past), get help. You can call The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAIN) at (800) 656-HOPE (4673). Lots of women are nervous about being attacked, either because they have been a victim in the past, know someone who was a victim, or have been scared by what they have seen in the media. There are different definitions of rape and sexual assault depending on where you live, but anytime someone forces someone else to engage in sexual activity against their will is considered a violent act.
Here are just a few statistics for information only, not to scare you. The numbers may vary in your community, and if you want specific numbers you can call your local police department or county prosecutor's office.
According to the US Dept. of Justice:
- someone in America is raped every 2 minutes.
- 2/3 of rape victims are under the age of 18.
- 29% of female victims reported that they were attacked by a stranger, which means that about 70% of female victims knew their attacker.
- Women annually report about 500,000 rapes.
Something to remember about rapes is that every attack is not reported, there may be many women and men who either do not realize they are getting raped, or choose not to report the incidents.
The short and long-term effects of a sexual assault can be devastating to the victim, her family, and friends. Besides potential physical injury, sexually transmitted diseases, or pregnancy, there is a lot of emotional hurt that occurs when a person uses intimidation and physical strength to carry out an attack. Many victims benefit from speaking to a counselor, either in the community, or through a rape crisis center. The most important thing for a rape victim to remember is that she is not at fault. A woman does not ask to be raped by wearing a certain style of clothes, talking a certain way, or by accepting gifts.
If you feel that you are overly concerned about rape, then you should talk to a trusted adult, like a parent, teacher, guidance counselor or therapist. If you live in northern NJ find a therapist by calling the Access Center for Behavioral Health at (888) 247-1400. Check out our answer to "Info on Date Rape" for information on prevention tips.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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