Fighting the Misconceptions of Sexual Assault

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In honor of this occasion, the Sexual Assault Center is arranging special programs for community youth in our schools and day cares. They are also planning on having radio spots and other media coverage for all ages as well as distributing teal ribbons throughout the county.

It is important to remember that sexual assault affects everyone, regardless of their age, race, sexual orientation or gender. The elderly are a population of victims often forgotten about in our society. It is unfortunate, but many people still believe that most victims are beautiful young women and young children. This misconception is prominent in our county as well. In an effort to dispel this myth, a team of individuals including, Connie Schuster, representatives of the Door County Sheriff’s Department and I, recently spoke about personal safety and sexual assault at several meal sites in Door County.

It is important that we spread the word and help people to understand that this crime is never the victim’s fault. Sexual assault is about power and control, not sex. Only 30 percent of people age 65 or older who are victimized, report the sexual assault to police, which allows the perpetrator to assault again. Unfortunately, in the case of elder sexual assault an offender is often someone well known to the victim, someone the victim trusts or depends on including caregivers, partners, adult children, and fellow facility residents. We believe that every person – every man, woman, and child – deserves to be treated with respect and with caring. Every person no matter how young or old deserves to be safe from harm by those who live with them, care for them or come in daily contact with them. We can all work together as a team making our community a safer place for all ages young and old. We look forward to bringing you more educational information at our upcoming events in April.

This article is brought to you in part by the Door County Coordinated Community Response (CCR) to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Teams and the Door County Elder and Adult-at-Risk Interdisciplinary Team.