APRIL 30, 2009 ISSUE
Survey: 81 Percent of Wataugans Know Victim of Sexual Violence
A recent community assessment conducted by OASIS found that 81 percent of survey respondents say they know at least one person who has been a victim of sexual violence. OASIS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault in Watauga County.
OASIS conducted the assessment to take a snapshot of the community and help OASIS create effective prevention programs, said Jenny Rowh Fairchild, prevention coordinator for OASIS. The organization began collecting secondary data in February 2008 and collected surveys from May through October in 2008. The surveys, which gathered information about the prevalence of sexual violence and the general attitudes and beliefs about sexual violence, were completed by 552 people in Watauga County. OASIS also interviewed six key community informants as part of the assessment, Fairchild said.
OASIS conducted the assessment using grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. The grants fund OASIS’ primary prevention program, which is helping to create a comprehensive plan to prevent sexual violence from occurring in the Watauga County community, said Fairchild.
While 81 percent of respondents indicated they knew a sexual violence victim, 73 percent said they knew at least one person who has been a victim of intimate partner violence.
“So, even though statistics show that there are only a handful of sexual assaults reported to the authorities and OASIS serves approximately 36 new sexual assault clients each year, there is obviously a gap in data,” Fairchild said. “This is likely because of the stigma and shame often associated with sexual violence.
“One way we can work to prevent sexual violence is by creating a culture where victims feel no shame and are able to report this crime,” she continued. “The occurrence of sexual violence has reached epidemic proportions and OASIS looks forward to the day that public data accurately reflects the crime rates.”
The survey was based on the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, a valid tool that asks participants if they agree or disagree with common rape myths such as “it is usually only women who dress suggestively that are raped,” Fairchild explained.
Overall, the survey found that rape myth acceptance was low in Watauga County.
“We find this very promising, as it implies that Watauga County citizens are ready to embark on this mission to end sexual violence,” Fairchild said.
However, two rape myths had a high report rate, she said. Twenty-four percent of survey respondents agreed with the statement that “if a woman is raped while she is drunk, she is at least somewhat responsible for letting things get out of control,” and 25 percent of survey respondents agreed with the statement “men don’t usually intend to force sex on a woman, but sometimes they get too sexually carried away.”
“While we are dismayed that these rape myths are so prevalent, we are certainly glad that we’re aware of these attitudes,” Fairchild said. “That way, we can design strategic programs that address these rape myths in particular. For example, we can share messages that help people understand that the perpetrator is solely to blame in instances of sexual violence and that rape is about power and control, not an uncontrollable sexual urge.”
For more information about OASIS, call 828-264-1532 or click to www.oasisinc.org. If you are in crisis, call the 24-hour crisis hotline at 828-262-5035 or 800-268-1488.
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