During my time in college, I attempted to volunteer at a local rape crisis center, but I quickly realized I wasn’t prepared for the emotional demands of the role. My roommates and I signed up with the good intention of making a difference, but I soon learned that sitting with someone who has just endured such trauma requires a depth of emotional resilience I lacked.
The training was extensive, spanning six weeks and encompassing statistics, hospital visits to understand the survivor’s experience, and personal counseling to confront any emotional challenges we might face. At the end of the training, I was given a pager with instructions on responding if it went off. If it buzzed, I was to take a cab and meet a survivor at the hospital, offering support and guidance through a harrowing process. We were reassured that initially, we would be paired with experienced advocates—a relief, indeed.
When I clipped that pager to my belt for the first time, an unsettling dread settled in my stomach. I felt as though I was waiting for an inevitable tragedy to occur. It was a chilling thought: somewhere, someone was preparing for a night out, blissfully unaware that their life would soon be shattered by an act of violence. The numbers we learned were staggering; 1 in 6 women experience attempted or completed rape in their lifetime, and in 70% of cases, the attacker is someone known to the victim, particularly prevalent on college campuses.
It is profoundly disturbing when law enforcement officials, like Captain James Greene from the NYPD, trivialize acquaintance rape by labeling it as less severe than random assaults. They dismiss the profound violation of trust that occurs when a friend or acquaintance commits such an act, as if the pain and trauma suffered by the survivor are somehow less valid. Rape is rape is rape—there should be no debate. Whether inflicted by a stranger or someone known, the impact is devastating.
When my pager first went off at 3 AM, I found myself on my way to the hospital, filled with anxiety yet determined to provide comfort. That night would become the last call I ever responded to. The experience was heart-wrenching, filled with sadness and the constant urge to cry. The woman I met had been assaulted by a friend, someone she trusted. It was a betrayal that cut deep, and witnessing her pain was unbearable.
While being attacked by a stranger is indeed horrific, being violated by someone you know can be equally traumatic. Minimizing the experiences of survivors who are assaulted by acquaintances only perpetuates shame and silence, making it harder for victims to seek help. Statements like those made by Captain Greene serve only to push survivors further into isolation. The focus must shift towards holding perpetrators accountable and providing compassion and support to victims.
We must collectively strive to foster a culture that supports survivors rather than shames them. There is no room for excuses or victim-blaming in our society. We need to ensure that no more individuals like Brock Turner receive leniency for their crimes.
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In summary, rape is an issue that transcends the boundaries of acquaintance and stranger. We must confront the stigma surrounding these experiences and advocate for the respect and support that every survivor deserves.
Keyphrase: Rape awareness and support
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