About Intimate
Partner Violence
How You Can Help & Safety Tips
Our Resale Store
A Second Season
What is Teen Sexual
Assault?
Sex between consenting partners means both individuals agree to engage in sex, but sexual assault is different. Sexual assault is committed by force or threat. Since most abused teens are assaulted by someone they know, it’s more commonly called date rape or acquaintance rape. It occurs both in dating and while “hanging out”. Research indicates that one third of sexually abused females assaulted were between fourteen and seventeen years old. Police records show that two out of three reported rapes were committed by an acquaintance.
What to do if someone you know is sexually abused…
It is important to remain calm.
Do not show disgust or alarm. Assure the person that it took lots of courage to talk about the abuse. Let the person know that you believe his/her story. (Individuals seldom lie about being abused)
Tell the person that what happened was wrong, and that it was not their fault.
Encourage the individual to report the abuse to the police. Explain that failing to report an abuser allows the abuse to continue and places others at risk. If it seems too overwhelming for the individual to tell more than one person what happened, offer to go with the individual while they disclose the abuse.
Be a good friend.
Be supportive, accepting, and as nonjudgmental as possible. Ask your parent or other trusted adult for advice or help as well.
Safety Rules
All of the safety rules make good sense. Whether you follow any or all of them depends on how well you recall safety rules, your past experience, and how well you can help protect yourself from potentially dangerous situations. Safety rules don’t guarantee that you will be safe, but they do increase your awareness of potential problems.
- Always let someone (preferably your parents or other adult) know where you are going, with whom, and when you will return.
- Never allow yourself to wind up in a situation alone with any person you do not know really well.
- Never engage in behavior that will put you at risk
of being physically injured or getting hurt in any way.
- If you find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation, get away from there as quickly as possible.
- If something harmful, scary or confusing happens, or almost happens, tell your parent or another adult that you trust immediately.
- Always carry coins to make emergency calls to parents, friends, police, or anyone else you trust.
Liz Claiborne Study
33% of 16-18 year old girls are concerned about
being in abusive relationships.
20% of girls in serious relationships
admit to being abused.
Over 20% report being pressured by partners
to engage in sexual activities.
Web sites for teens :