November 20, 1998
Dispelling myths about rape and sexual abuse
By Cathy Willoughby
|Staff Writer
According to figures from the Seneca County Sheriff's Department, there were only four rapes in Fostoria and just nine in Tiffin in 1997.
Lori Nichols, a public health nurse at the Seneca County Health Department, shared her frustration with the under-reporting of these crimes with a group of Heidelberg College students at a Rape and Sexual Assault Prevention program sponsored by Delta Sigma Chi sorority on the campus.
She said that the Health Department was awarded a grant last year to educate the public on rape prevention.
''I'm talking to anyone who will sit and listen to me,'' she told the students. She shared ''tips'' and ''myths'' with the 40 students in attendance.
''Sometimes a victim feels that they did not say 'no' enough,'' Nichols said.
She asked the group what a rapist looks like.
''How are they dressed? Most people think of someone in a big city, a shady-looking stranger in a dark alley,'' she said. ''Eighty percent of the time it is someone that you know. That could have a big impact on why you don't see as many reports.''
She shared the results of a survey taken of a group of sixth graders.
''Fifty one percent of the boys and 41 percent of the girls said that forced sex was acceptable if the boy spent a lot of money on the girl,'' she said. ''Thirty one percent of the boys and 32 percent of the girls said that it was acceptable to rape someone if they had previous sexual experience. And 79 percent of the girls said it was acceptable if the man and woman were married.''
A similar survey of college men also was revealing.
''Thirty-five percent of the boys said that they would commit rape if they thought they could get away with it. One in 12 admitted participating in sexual activity that could be considered assault. Eighty-four percent of those who committed rape did not perceive it as rape,'' she said.
Nichols tried to dispel some myths that men and women hold about rape and sexual assault.
''One is, 'When a woman says no, she really means yes.' You need to be assertive with your answers,'' she told the college women. ''Think about risks. When you are out alone at night, especially if you are under the influence of something, you are increasing those risks.''
Common behaviors of abusive men and women, such as jealousy, isolation and quick involvement in the relationship, were shared.
''It takes the average person seven to 10 times to get out of an abusive relationship,'' she said.
She said that when someone is raped, they react to it differently, just as someone reacts to stress in their own way.
''They may be emotionless or be someone who is shaken and pale, crying hysterically. The mind has a neat way of protecting yourself; the mind will block a traumatic event,'' she said.
''They may have undirected anger. A feeling of a loss of control and usually they will never have that control back. And prosecution is difficult,'' Nichols added.
To aid the collection of evidence which enables law enforcement agencies to convict at a higher rate, the county is starting a Sexual Assault Response Team. Nurses are to be trained to collect evidence for a rape kit correctly. They also are to be able to testify before a courtroom and help to educate the jury on what happened in situations in which sexual assault occurs.
She warned students of date-rape drugs, including the drug of choice, alcohol. She warned of ''ruffies,'' or rophinol, used to treat people with insomnia; or GHB &emdash; ''easy lay'' &emdash; a drug which, if made correctly, is colorless and tasteless.
''When you are out, don't leave drinks unattended. Don't accept drinks from open containers or from strangers. And if you feel ill, get help immediately. Any kind of beverage can be drugged,'' Nichols said.