equity
Sexual Violence on Campus
A guide for women
What is the problem?
Sexual Assault
Dating Violence
Date rape
Emotional, physical and verbal violence in dating relationships
Sexual Harassment
Incest
The Effects of Sexual Violence on Womens' Lives
Eating disorders
Addictions
Self-injury
Sexually transmitted diseases
Surviving Sexual Violence
Where can I go for help?
What is the problem?
College and university campuses are not safe places for female students because of the problem of sexual violence. For example, in one survey, one in four women has experienced rape or attempted rape while attending university.The most common forms of sexual violence that women encounter on campus are sexual assault, date and acquaintance rape, emotional, physical, and verbal violence in dating relationships and sexual harassment. This violence against women is mainly perpetrated by men they know.
The fact that men and women now participate in equal numbers in campus life should not be translated to mean that men and women participate equally in campus life. Sexual violence limits women's access to and opportunities in the educational system.
This guide is intended to be used by women at Ryerson University to help them name their experience(s). It also gives suggestions for both healing and action. Friends, partners, co-workers, and family members who provide support to survivors may also find this resource valuable.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is any unwanted touch of a sexual nature. Sexual assault ranges from unwanted touching or fondling, to forced kissing, to forced intercourse. Sexual assault is a crime of violence, motivated by a desire to control and dominate. All women can be sexually assaulted - every racial and ethnic background, all classes, ages, and physical types including elderly and disabled women.Most often, women are sexually assaulted by men whom they know such as friends, boyfriends, co-workers, bosses, or relatives. The most dangerous place for women is not the street, but places which are familiar to her, especially her home.
Date rape
The pressure to date on campus is very powerful. Women may be coerced into having sex when they are not ready. They may feel that they have no choice if they want to be in a relationship. No one has the right to force sexual activity on another person, regardless of the nature of their relationship or how long they have been friends.Rape can occur where large groups of men are involved. Fraternities, male clubs, or sports parties are often dangerous locations for women. Women will frequently be in social situations with acquaintances or friends before date rapes occur. The victim and perpetrator may attend the same parties or bars. In a recent study, 75 percent of the men said they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the rape. The new sexual assault law makes it clear that drinking is not an acceptable defense for rape.
"Date" or "acquaintance" rape is the most under-reported form of sexual assault. Less than one percent of all women report date rape to authorities. One reason why date rape is under-reported is because women who have a personal relationship with their attacker may find it difficult to define their experience as rape and may feel responsible and guilty. Women do not provoke rape in any way and they are not responsible for it.
Emotional, physical and verbal violence in dating relationships
Emotional, verbal, and physical abuse can also be part of dating relationships. Women report being hit, pushed, shaken, kicked, yelled at, called names and/or isolated from friends and family. Abusive boyfriends often accuse their girlfriends of being unfaithful when they are late or have other commitments, or force their girlfriends to account for all their daily activities.
The desire for a boyfriend, love, lack of self esteem and/or economic dependence can make it hard to leave an abusive relationship. Women are embarrassed, don't know where to go, or who to talk to when this happens to them. (See the back cover of this guide for support services.)
Women speak out:
"I was taught that girls should always be polite. When he kept making passes at me in his residence room I didn't care that I would embarrass him in front of his roommates by yelling 'STOP TRYING TO TOUCH ME!!' "
Sexual harassment is any behaviour, comment, gesture, or contact of a sexual nature that could be considered objectionable or offensive. Any man ? a professor, a co-worker, a fellow student ? can sexually harass any woman. Whether it occurs on the street, at home, at work, or at school, almost every woman will experience sexual harassment at least once in her lifetime. Sexual harassment is common to the university environment.
It is estimated that between 20 and 30 percent of women are sexually harassed while they are in college. Although all female students are potential targets of sexual harassment, some studies have shown that first year female students, women whose concerns are marginalized on campus (such as lesbians and women with disabilities), and women in male-dominated faculties such as engineering or technology, are the most vulnerable to sexual harassment. Moreover, women of colour, lesbians, and women with disabilities are also vulnerable to harassment that is based on race, sexual orientation, and ability.
Sexual harassment on campus is not harmless. It is not a joke. Women are physically and emotionally affected by men's actions and language. Sometimes, they are forced to switch programs or drop out of courses or college to avoid their harasser(s).
The time that women spend in university is crucial to their future careers and economic livelihoods. When women are sexually harassed at university, their lives and futures can be seriously affected.
Women speak out:
"There was this guy in my program who harassed women. He leered at my friends and me and he constantly made offensive comments. Together we decided to confront him and tell him to stop."
Forms of sexual harassment
- Whistling, leering, or suggestive comments about women's bodies or appearance.
- Displaying pornography.
- Pressure to go out with someone to whom you've said 'no' .
- Sexist jokes by professors, administrators, university staff, or fellow students
- Grabbing, fondling, or unwanted body contact.
- Sex demanded with the promise of a benefit - a good mark from your professor.
- Obscene phone calls.
- Peeping toms or flashing.
The first time and place that many women experience sexual abuse is as young children in their homes. This form of sexual violence is called incest and is usually perpetrated on girls by male family members, including fathers, uncles, step fathers, brothers, and grandfathers. Female family members can also be perpetrators of incest.
Many female university students are survivors of incest. Most of these women have not talked about their experience of abuse. Some of these women may not remember the incest because one way that children cope with sexual abuse is by forgetting.
In adulthood and at university, survivors may have dreams of the incest or flashbacks to the incest. Often, memories of the abuse are triggered by life situations, such as adult experiences of sexual violence, sexual assault, violence in dating relationships, or sexual harassment. The response can be feelings of grief, rage, fear, anxiety and helplessness. Every woman's experience is different, therefore the ways that individual women respond to sexual violence will vary. There are some common responses that many women identify as being related to sexual violence. The intensity of these responses may also vary from one woman to another.
Emotional responses
- Women may experience painful feelings like sadness, anger, fear, shame, and guilt.
- Women may suffer from anxiety and/or depression.
- Women may have difficulty maintaining long-lasting sexual relationships.
- Women may have flashbacks of the abuse.
- Women may have difficulty sleeping because they have nightmares about the abuse.
- Women may experience suicidal feelings. Studies have shown that one in five rape survivors attempts suicide, where as the rate is one in 50 among women who have not been raped.
Every woman's experience is different, therefore the ways that individual women respond to sexual violence will vary.
There are some common responses that many women identify as being related to sexual violence. The intensity of these responses may also vary from one woman to another.
Eating disorders
Women develop eating disorders such as binging, purging or compulsive dieting to cope with the emotional trauma that accompanies sexual violence. When women are preoccupied with food and weight, they do not have to think about their experience of abuse. Sometimes women may become thin to avoid dealing with mature, sexual relationships, or they may binge and gain weight to protect themselves from male sexual attention. In one study, 65 percent of women with anorexia nervosa (restricting eating) or bulimia nervosa (binge eating and purging) had been sexually abused.Addictions
Women may use alcohol and/or prescription or illegal drugs to numb the feelings, rage, terror, guilt, sadness, anxiety and shame that surround their experience of abuse and to forget about the abuse. In one study, 65 percent of female clients receiving treatment for drug or alcohol addiction were found to be survivors of sexual abuse.Self-injury
Women injure themselves by cutting, burning, or slashing themselves. This method of coping with abuse is not an attempt at suicide. Women hurt themselves to displace unbearable feelings and memories and to receive visible proof of the emotional pain they are experiencing. Usually, the cuts or burns are not deep; they heal. Most often, women who self-injure tell no one about their behaviour.Sexually transmitted diseases
Since perpetrators almost never practise safe sex, sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy, and AIDS can be very real health consequences of sexual assault and incest.
Women speak out:
"I started getting nightmares when I left home. At first, I felt dirty and guilty. As if there was anything for me to feel guilty about. I was only six when my father started to abuse me. I trusted him and he took advantage of that. Now I'm learning that it wasn't my fault."
A Check List
- Call a sexual assault centre or crisis line.
- Talk to a supportive friend, teacher, residence don, doctor, or coworker.
- See a therapist to resolve painful feelings and experiences.
- Join a support group of women who share your experience, i.e. an incest survivor group.
- Go for a thorough physical examination after the sexual assault. Visit a clinic or hospital that specializes in sexual assault and ask a supportive person to accompany you.
- If you are going to get tested for AIDS, visit a clinic that guarantees your anonymity.
Women speak out:
"After getting help, I volunteered at the Rape Crisis Centre. I think I really help other women because I know a lot about what they are going through. My counselling work has really helped me to feel better about myself."
INSIDE RYERSON UNIVERSITY
Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services (416) 979-5349
Centre for Student Development and Counselling (416) 979-5195
Campus Safety (416) 979-5001
Ryerson University Security Emergency Number '80'
Ryerson University's Women's Centre (416) 596-9838
RYESAC (Students' Union) (416) 597-0723
OUTSIDE RYERSON UNIVERSITY
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre (416) 597-8808 (416) 597-1214 (TDD)
Assaulted Women's Helpline (416) 863-0511
Stop 86 Women's Shelter (416) 922-3271
Women's College Hospital Sexual Assault Care Centre (416) 323-6040
Bay Centre for Birth Control (416) 351-3700
National Eating Disorder Information Centre (416) 340-4156
Distress Centre (416) 408-4357 (416) 561-9738 (TDD)
Gerstein Center (416) 929-5200
Funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and Ryerson University.
Published October 2000.
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