True or False?

• A woman cannot be raped if she does not want to be.
• The typical rapist is a stranger to the victim.
• Most rapes occur in a dark alley.

All of the above are false. Physical force is used in 85 percent of all rapes. Eighty percent of all rapists are relatives, friends or acquaintances of the victim. Most rapes occur in the home or office, on a date, or in a familiar environment. According to the Illinois State police, 5,596 persons were raped in 2007. Because two out of three rapes go unreported, the actual figure is much higher. Some assaults may end in serious physical injury or even death. There can also be the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections or disease. But the most common long-term effects of sexual assault and rape are invisible. Shortly after the attack, sexual assault survivors may often feel shock and detached, like being in a dream. They may have difficulty remembering parts of the assault. They may relive the assault through repeated thoughts, memories, flashbacks or nightmares. They have difficulty sleeping and concentrating. Thirty percent of all rape survivors develop Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and may experience:

• Fear (of anything related to assault)
• Eating disorders
• Self-injury
• Self blame
• Flashbacks
• Memory problems
• Panic attacks
• Sleeping problems

In the long term, rape survivors are at an increased risk for suicide and substance use disorders.