Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month with RAINN
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, so the Lemons team sat down with Jennifer Simmons Kaleba, the vice president of communications at RAINN, to discuss sexual assault, how someone can find help, tips for helping a loved one who has experienced sexual assault, and more.
We hope you find our conversation with Jennifer informative and insightful!
What is sexual assault?
“Sexual assault, sexual violence, and sexual abuse are all variations of terms that ultimately mean it is an unwanted, non-consensual act that someone has perpetrated on another person. You might hear people wonder what's the difference between sexual assault and sexual abuse. At RAINN, our difference is that sexual assault is when we're talking about something in a legal context. Sexual abuse and sexual violence are all-encompassing terms. Then from there, there are different kinds of sexual assault depending on the age, child sexual assault, military sexual abuse, etc. So when asked “What is sexual assault?”, it is ultimately unwanted and nonconsensual contact.”
How can sexual assault look different?
“Sexual assault or sexual abuse can look very different from person to person. Ultimately, every survivor's story is unique based on their circumstances, their situation, where it happened, when it happened, and who it was perpetrated by. When we think about a survivor's journey, which is their unique, nonlinear journey, so too is a sexual assault and how it can occur.”
How can you help a loved one who has experienced sexual assault?
“We have a handy acronym. We call it the ‘TALK’ acronym. If somebody is telling you their story for the first time, start to Thank them for sharing their story with you. It's a very important moment, and in many cases, it may be the first time in a survivor's journey that they've disclosed something like that.
Then Ask how you can help. It's important not to say “You should do this and I have the solution for you”. Ask what you can do to best aid them.
Listen without judgment. Make sure that when you're hearing their story, you're taking their story in at face value. Believing in survivors is so important.
Lastly, Keep supporting them. That disclosure moment when they tell you about their story and their survivor journey…that's just one moment in time. Continue to check in with them. You can repeat the TALK acronym as many times as you like. It's an important piece to let them know that you're there and that they're supported.”
Where can someone find support if they don’t have someone to talk to?
“Anybody that's looking for support can turn to RAINN. We have the National Sexual Assault Hotline. It's free, confidential, anonymous, and available 24/7 in English and Spanish. You can also call 1-800-656-HOPE or find us at rainn.org.”
What are some things people can experience after sexual assault?
“After a sexual assault, as with any traumatic event, you can experience an array of emotions. You can experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), agoraphobia (a fear of going outside or of being out in public), depression, etc.
In child sexual assault cases, you may not remember or connect to being sexually assaulted until many, many years later when something triggers you. Maybe it's a song playing or seeing a particular color, but these are the sorts of triggers that can suddenly bring back these repressed memories. You can also have the kind of disorders that may come right after the trauma, especially in those older. There are many ways that trauma can manifest itself, so be aware and alert.”
What is bystander intervention?
“We go to airports and we say “If you see something, say something”. We’re told this as a way to act if we see something suspicious. But there are countless cell phone videos, TikToks, and reels of people being sexually harassed or assaulted in public, while people surrounding them are not doing anything. The important thing to note as a bystander is that you have a role and you can intervene.
We have a CARE acronym. Create a distraction. Let's say that I'm seeing somebody in a situation and it's clear that they are being harassed or there's abuse going on. You can say to the person “Hey, is that your car alarm going off?” or anything that can break the moment.
Then you want to Ask the person directly during that distraction if they are okay and if there is something you can do.
You can then look for Resources of authority. This can look different in different places. It can be a teacher, a bartender, etc…you're looking for someone who has some sort of authority to get additional resources.
And lastly Enlisting the help of others. You can say to the people around you “Hey, come on, let's get this person away from this situation”. That simple act of thinking about CARE is a huge act in terms of prevention and safety.”
How can survivors step into their power?
“Survivors have power, too. They have their voice. They have their story. During Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, which happens every April, RAINN was on Capitol Hill for our Congressional Day of Action, and we were joined by survivors from all across the country. They met with representatives in the Senate and the House sharing their story, ranging from people who experienced singular sexual assault, people who experienced child sexual assault, incest, or sexual assault by a family member.
We're able to relate their story to legislation that RAINN is working on to pass that would protect survivors, prevent future assaults, and open up avenues for justice. Many survivors that work with us have found that they can step into their power and stand there with their stories and experiences, then create change so that these kinds of things don't happen to more people.”
We want to thank Jennifer and RAINN for shedding light on these incredibly important topics. Be sure to check out RAINN at their website rainn.org and on Instagram!
