The voice of teen sexual abuse victims

• 40% of women who had been raped were 14-17 years old at the time of attack
• Nearly all victims know there attackers.
• 60% of teenage girls who are rapes are raped by a date.
• 30% of teenage girls are raped by a friend.
• 15% of teenage girls are raped by a boyfriend.
• 80% of teenage victims do not tell their parents about the incident.
• 71% tell a friend that they were raped.
• 6% of teenage rape victims report the assault to the police.
• 3 million American teenagers aged 14-17 are considered problem drinkers.

Facts for rape on college campuses

• One in four college women are victims of rape or attempted rape.
• Only 27% of the women raped actually thought of themselves as a rape victim.
• 85% of those rapes were a victim of attackers they know..
• 84% of rape victims are a collgee campus acquaintance.
• 45% of college women who are raped tell no one about their assault.

At least eighty-percent of all rape victims know their attacker at least casually. That fact that you may know your attacker does not mean it is not a rape. You may be looking for a date, a friend, someone to talk to or attention from this person, it is not your fault it is still rape. Please report it.

Fifty-percent of all rapes take place in the woman's home, often ofter the rapist was invited in and many times during the course of a date. Just because you invited them to come over and come in, does not mean you were "asking for it" or "that it is your fault" any unwelcome advances or touching, are an intrusion on your body, mind and spirit. It is not your fault, you did not ask for it. Please report it and save another teenager from going through the same thing.

Rapists seek power and control, period. It is not about how you are dressed, even elderly ladies and small children are attacked. Rapists look for victims who are vulnerable in some way. Children from dysfunctional families and surviors of sexual abuse are vulnerable to sexual assault. The victim does not fight back. She is either scared of being hurt and does not know what to do, she is in a state of shock. Boys can be raped also.

The vast majority of teenage babies are fathered by adult men. The teen mothers feel guilty or responsible because it was someone they knew that was responsible for the abuse and they are afraid to tell, feel betrayed, question their judgement or have difficultry trusting people,and are even afraid of getting the man in trouble.

Adult men should not be watching pornographic movies with a teenageer it is a form of sexual abuse and can lead to an assualt.

Part of the reason rapes are so high in this age group is because of dating, the girls are away from family and friends and in a vulnerable position.

Teen years are a difficult time for males and females, and many males are angry about what is going on in their own home, with their own families and feel out of control. This does not make sexual assault O.K..

With teen victims the blaming is widespread, "You were dressed that way, why were you hanging out with those kids, why were you drinking in the first place," it is no wonder why so many fail to come forward.

• 62% of teen pregnant and parenting mothers had experienced contact molestation, attempted rape, or a rape prior to their first pregnancy.
• 74% of women who had intercourse before the age of 14 report a history of forced sexual intercourse.

Girls who were victimized prior to their first pregnancy were more likely that girls not abused to:

• Have volunteer intercourse ealier.
• Use drugs or alcohol or have sex partners who use drugs and alcohol.
• Have sex partners who were older.
• Have a had an abortion.
• Have second and third pregnancies.
• Have been in a violent relationship.
• Have experience emotinal abuse or physical maltreatment in childhood. Have experienced repeated victimization in the past year.
• Have had a sexually transmitted disease.



May teens pretend to be the authority on sex, these young women have a great deal of misinformation.

They are frequently taught at home by watching their own parent or guardian and in the media, that the basic sex role by the teen female is submissiveness, and their partners' needs are allowed to dominate. Men's desires are seen as more important that women's desires.

Many teens are confused about proper dating etiquette, do I kiss on the first date, when is it O.K. to touch, and what about sexual intercourse?

Teenage girls often do not know what the difference is between a touch that is friendly and caring and a touch that is intended as a pass.

Now add drugs and alcohol, because you are stressed out or worried about dating or issues at home, this makes you more vulnerable.

Many teenagers feel insecure about their own bodies and may hate them.

Many girls that are victims of sexual abuse, are often sexually abused as children and do talk about it. Many girls carry the blame and guilt, and feel ashamed for years and so they do not talk about it to anyone. and It spills over into many other areas of their life.

Healing can begin by talking to someone honestly and openly, and talking and learning about sexuality in an honest and oepn way.

Girls have the right to say No to sexual contact or Yes and have their bodies respected. What girls want is every bit as important as what boys want.

It's O.K. to be confused about dating or whether to have a sexual relationship. It's O.K. to ask questions from a trusted sibling, or adult if you have questions.