For twenty-one years of my professional life, I worked as a forensic nurse,
providing sexual assault services to both child and adult victims of sexual assault.
providing sexual assault services to both child and adult victims of sexual assault.
In April of 1990, the city and county of San Francisco sent a group of nurses
to Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, California where two pioneers in the field,Sherry Arndt and Sandra Goldstein provided a forty hour course teaching us
the specifics of adult evidence collection and the myriad components of sexual
assault care. We heard from advocacy, the crime lab, law enforcement, attorneys,
judges, and victims themselves. It was all a bit overwhelming, to say the least.
What was even more overwhelming were the statistics. On the RAINN
( Rape and Incest National Network ) website today, I read the following:
every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. 60% of
sexual assaults are not reported to the police. Approximately 2/3 of
assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.
When I began doing the work, nurses were relatively new in the business
of providing sexual assault care. In 1992, I was one of a group of 72 nurses
that met in Minnesota to form the International Association of Forensic
Nurses. Today that organization has over 3000 members in 24 countries!
Partly because of the work of that organization, the American Nurses
Association officially recognized forensics as an official nursing speciality
in 1995.
In spite of setting standards and ongoing education, providing care to
victims of sexual assault is still very difficult. Why is that? In no other area
are victims of crime treated so horribly. A rape victim's credibility is met
with doubt when she reports. She is often made to feel at fault for what
happened to her. "Why were you wearing that short skirt?" "How come
you were out till 2AM?" "You had HOW MANY drinks?"
There is a wonderful organization which has always been a tremendous
help to me: EVAW ( End Violence Against Women International )
http://www.evawintl.org/. According to their website, their purpose it to
change our response to sexual violence. EVAW International focuses on
connecting professionals and strengthening the community’s response system.
They bring together the many diverse professionals who respond to victims of
violence against women — to communicate, share, learn — and ultimately to
strengthen the whole system by better understanding each component. All of this
collaborative work is focused on creating a more compassionate response for the
victim, a more aggressive prosecution of the perpetrator, and a more secure
environment for communities everywhere.
EVAW has mounted a new campaign called "Start By Believing"! You may
not be aware of it but we all probably have a friend or relative, female or male
( yes, men can be raped ) who is a victim of sexual assault. Be aware and be
enlightened. Your support and understanding can make a world of difference
to a victim. Check out the "Start By Believing" website at:
http://www.startbybelieving.org/ or check out their site on Facebook and do
what you can to support their efforts to stop this most violent of crimes.
I am participating in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday - check out the site and
add your post to join in!
A fascinating post. I admire your skills in that area of nursing.
ReplyDelete60% that aren't reported. I expect it is much the same over here. You have to be really strong to complain in the first place.
ReplyDeleteMaggie X
Nuts in May
One of my good friends was raped and beaten many years ago in Chicago. She was in the hospital for several weeks, and while she was there, several of her friends (I didn't know her then) went out, found her an apartment in a safer neighborhood, moved all her furniture and things into it. Then when she was released from the hospital, they took her there, and several of them stayed with here for a couple of weeks. She has been in therapy for many years because of the rape and extreme battery.
ReplyDeletethank for writing about this, Carmen. It is such a painful topic, and yet remains hidden despite the appalling statistics because of our messed up, entrenched gender norms and social mores. speaking out like this, bit by bit, makes a difference, as do campaigns like the one you shared - thank you!
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of work with sexual assault victims and not being believed is one of the worst parts.
ReplyDeleteWas a victim years ago. Worst exam of my life afterward. Humiliating to have the black light turned on while they search for, well, you know.
ReplyDeleteforgot to add...Visiting from Alphabe-Thursday!
ReplyDeletewell written Thanks for sharing the information
ReplyDeleteI almost had to skip over this post in Alphabe-Thursday because of the title, but I didn't. I gave it a go.
ReplyDeleteSome try to report, but don't get recorded. I've been there....and there wasn't a thing I could do. Statute of limitations has (just recently) passed. Now there will never be anything I can do.
I didn't want anyone to know. Just typing this comment scares me.
Very good information. I've heard it, from my social work education (I just graduated) and understand fully. It's a great thing you're doing, sharing information.
~Ashley~
This must have been interesting work. It's hard to believe how our society can doubt when a woman is sexual assaulted just because of what she's wearing or how much has she had to drink or why was she out so late. That imaginary finger of doubt pointing - It's your fault has been around surely breaks a woman's spirit all the more. I can't imagine being in a position like that. No woman should ever be made to feel that way. Do see any change in attitude over the years toward women or is it about the same? Interesting and informative. I enjoyed reading about this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog yesterday!
Informative, and important to bring this subject out into the light, Carmen! This is one of the things that just break my heart.
ReplyDeletethanks for this information Carmen, hopefully, those who are victims will be more informed and would know what to do to help them. I was helping kids back then in the Philippines who are victims of sexual assault, and you are correct, most of them have been raped by a member of family or family friend. it's so sad.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post. One of the most important things we can do is to talk about sexual assault and not try to pretend it doesn't happen. :)
ReplyDeleteGlynis -
ReplyDeleteForensic nursing became the passion of my life. It was really exciting to be in on the beginning of this speciality.
Icy BC -
I don't know when - if - the subject of sexual assault and child sexual abuse - will ever be something which people will be able to talk freely about. It helps when it can be so that people can come forward and receive support and be believed.
Strange -
You are so right. In any forum where these issues are discussed, one finds that the statistics are, sadily, accurate - or under reported!
betchai -
Tragically, no matter what, victims...even children, tend to blame themselves for what has happened.
Cathy Kennedy -
Certainly, I think outreach and education has made a difference. We used to go out, even to the elementary schools and, after each such program, children would make disclosures. I think, when children hear that it is all right to tell and that they have done nothing wrong, they feel safer to make a disclosure.
Programs on college campuses have also been helpful and the rape crisis centers have been instrumental in providing support to rape victims and to seeing that ongoing therapy is provided after a sexual assault.
♥α§ђ£ε¥™♥ -
I'm glad you read my post and replied. California passed a law recently which has been helpful. If a victim does file a police report and DNA is found, even if a perpetrator is not found at the time of the exam, the charge is made against the DNA profile obtained. That takes care of the statue of limitations and is good when/if the perpetrator is later found.
Maggie May -
ReplyDeleteI think, world wide, rape is under reported. In some countries, I'm sure it is RARELY reported. In the US, we, at least have rape crisis centers and forensic examiners who provide more sensitive services to victims than some places in the world.
Judie -
At least your friend had people who were supportive and rallied to take care of her.
secret agent woman -
I am sure, in your practice, you have dealt with so many victims of child abuse and sexual assault - many who never reported and are just now seeking therapy for the first time.
Kerri -
Every time I did an exam - and I probably did a thouaand - either on my own if they were adults - or assisted if they were children - I felt so terrible for the children. I could not imagine what it would be like personally, to have to go through that myself.
beckyp -
I am glad you found the information useful.
Thanks for sharing this very important information! Truly tragic.
ReplyDeleteOn a lighter note, thanks for your visit. So glad that you have the Pacific nearby!
I remember all of the 'Stranger Danger' classes we used to teach in school and always thinking that actually, for many children, the greatest danger is from someone they know. But how do you get past that? We can't teach our children to be distrustful of everyone!
ReplyDeleteCarmen. This was such an informative and important link.
ReplyDeleteI learned so much from what you wrote here.
I admire your special skills in helping people. I can't imagine doing what you do...and I can't imagine the world without people like you doing it!
Thank you for sharing this. It could not have been easy to write.
A+
Thank you for sharing Carmen. I am a victim of rape. Twice. I suppressed the memories for about 11 years. I never got the chance to report because I had no one to go to. Mine came up about a month ago and now I'm trying to find a therapist. I've been thinking about what would have happened if I reported it. But the sad fact for me is that it would have had no outcome. Either time. My word against theirs. And a lot of hurt from unsupportive family. I am now At peace with the fact that my mind went into protection mode. Even if it means they will never pay. I wish they would! I wish it was that easy. But society sucks!
ReplyDelete