As a young woman in college, I have always been told, “Don’t go out at night anywhere by yourself,” or “Always watch your drink!” I know that the myriad of warnings and pieces of advice are given to me with good intentions, but it has come to the point where I am scared to ever be alone with a guy I don’t know or to go places without any of my friends. Why is it that I cannot even walk down the street without fear that I will be attacked by a man?
In today’s society, rape culture has become a commonality for young adults. Students on college campuses are educated on how to report incidents of sexual assault and rape, but even then 68 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to the police and even if they are reported, 98 percent of rapists will never spend a day in jail.
So as women, what can we do to better our odds? What can we do to make ourselves heard?
Speak up and look out for each other!
If you or someone you know has been raped or a victim of sexual assault, please report it right away and get help! I know the chances of justice seem slim, but there is a 100 percent chance of the rapist getting away with it if no one reports it.
For some reason, women are always competing with each other. Always wanting to be the skinniest, the prettiest, the most liked, etc. But as women, we should know the struggles and insecurities we all have and should support each other instead of try to tear each other down and along with that we should be looking out for fellow women when we are out at parties or at the bar.
If you see another girl that looks like she’s in a tough situation where she might need help, help her or make sure she's ok! Even if you don’t know her, you could be saving her from a bad situation. Maybe take her home or pull her away from the guy that’s bothering her, just don’t let her be alone. Also, never let your friends walk home alone! Be there for each other and make sure everyone is safe and sound. If your friend is going home with a guy after a party, make sure that she trusts the guy, knows her limits, and ask her to text you when she gets home or if she needs anything.
As someone who knows people who are victims of rape and sexual assault, please realize that rape is real. Never let anyone feel like it is their fault that this happened to them or that they were “asking for it.” “No” means no. “Stop” means stop. There should never be a second guess when someone says that during sex.
I wish there was a way to teach people “Don’t rape” instead of “Don’t get raped”, but for now empower one another and speak up against sexual assault and rape.
