April is sexual assault awareness and prevention month, and as the month draws to a close, I think it’s important to acknowledge the reality and magnitude of sexual assault in America. Almost everyone knows about sexual assault. We know it happens, and most people know it’s terrible, but I feel like it’s a subject that deserves way more attention than it gets.

There’s a stigma around rape and sexual assault and it’s survivors, and talking about it can be considered taboo. No one wants to talk about it because it makes people uncomfortable. But it’s time for that to change. The most important subjects of conversation are the ones that cause discomfort.

As a society we like to sweep things like sexual assault under the rug. It’s spoken about in hushed tones, never in public, and god forbid we address the subject with anything other than shame. Oftentimes victims and survivors are shamed for speaking out and seeking help.

I was once told that rape “isn’t something a young lady should talk about”.

Sexual assault is a reality that so many people face. The statistics are terrifying. And it’s the atmosphere around the subject that causes it to thrive in our society. If people aren’t aware of it, or don’t talk about it, and if we don’t have the uncomfortable conversations, we are leaving women so much more vulnerable and susceptible to assault.

Did you know that every 98 seconds someone in America is sexually assaulted? That means that in the eight hours I was asleep last night, almost 300 people were assaulted, violated, and forever changed.

One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18.

Women between the ages of 16-19 are four times more likely to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.

People with intellectual disabilities are sexually assaulted at a rate seven times higher than those without disabilities.

An estimated 50% of transgender people experience sexual violence at some point in their lifetimes.

Sexual assault doesn’t discriminate. It crosses race, gender, sexual orientation, age, class and religion. Many people seem to have the mindset that “Sexual assault will never happen me!”. And I hope it never does, but the chances of it happening are higher than you think.

The biggest way to prevent it is being aware. Know that it happens way more often than it should. Educate yourself on the scope of sexual assault in the United States. If we ignore it, if we just hope that it goes away, if we treat it as something that shouldn’t be talked about, the problem will only get bigger.

Another important part of sexual assault awareness is acknowledging the survivors. Listen to their stories, let them know that you believe them. Don’t make them feel ashamed for what they went through. Victim-blaming is a major problem in society and it’s a reason that 63% of sexual assaults go unreported. Some victims would rather suffer in silence than face the ridicule and humiliation that often comes with speaking out about being sexually assaulted.

I saw a statistic that said that one in five women will be sexually assaulted while in college. And as I glance around the table that myself and four of my friends are studying at, I can’t help but wonder which one of us it will be that becomes part of that statistic. Or when I pass a group of girls on my way to class, or in the dining hall, or on the bus, that statistic reads over and over again in the back of my mind, and it’s terrifying.

There are many ways to get involved with sexual assault awareness. The most important is educating yourself and those around you. These websites contain information about sexual assault that can be helpful:

https://www.rainn.org

https://www.nsvrc.org

http://endrapeoncampus.org

https://nomore.org

Your voice has power. Use it to raise awareness, support survivors and fight against the culture of sexual assault in America.