It's Sexual Assault Awareness Month; Here Are 5 Stats You Need To Know

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. You’ve probably noticed an uptick of events, locally and nationally, that aim to increase awareness to that effect, such as Walk A Mile In Their Shoes, poetry and dance performances that shed light on sexual violence, book clubs dedicated to understanding experiences of sexual violence, concerts that benefit anti-violence organizations, and educational workshops. Despite an entire month being reserved for raising awareness and understanding of the horrifying act of sexual assault, there are still misunderstandings about how and why sexual violence happens. As a society, we have a lot of work to do to recognize how commonplace sexual assault is. Myths surrounding sexual assault continue to cloud our vision, place blame on victims, and ultimately prevent us from holding accountable those who perpetrate sexual violence.

Examples of these myths include that victims: provoke sexual assault by dressing or acting provocatively, assume the risk of sexual assault by going to someone’s house or a bar, cannot claim sexual assault after drinking or taking drugs, and cannot claim sexual assault unless it’s perpetrated by a stranger. These are just a few examples of the types of myths this month aims to correct.

Personally, I know a startling number of women who’ve been raped and/or sexually assaulted. This number doesn’t even include the incessant sexual harassment nearly every woman experiences at work, at the grocery store, at a bar, walking down the street, leaving the house at all, standing still, or just breathing. (It happens so frequently, I barely go a day without experiencing it. That’s not an exaggeration.) Part of eradicating sexual violence requires knowing the facts surrounding sexual violence. Understanding the facts surrounding sexual assault helps to foster an environment where survivors feel safe reporting the assault and seeking the help that they need -- whatever that is.

Here are five astonishing stats about sexual violence you should know this Sexual Assault Awareness Month:

#1 Every ninety-eight seconds, another American is sexually assaulted. While sexual assaults have fallen by 63% since 1993, they are still a major problem in the United States. Over 300,000 people per year experience sexual assault, not including inmates or members of the military. Sexual assault happens so often, it reaches every corner, family, and friend group in our nation.

#2 Twenty percent of women and four percent of men will be sexually assaulted while at college. Young people, between the ages of 16 and 24, are particularly at risk of sexual assault. Campus rape culture, underreporting, a lack of comprehensive sex education (particularly regarding consent), and a tendency to disbelieve victims are contributing factors to the shockingly high sexual assault rate on university campuses.

#3 One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Most of these assaults will be perpetrated by people the victims know, including spouses and partners.

#4 Rapes result in 32,000 pregnancies a year. As if the resulting trauma from rape/sexual assault isn’t enough, many victims must also deal with pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases in the aftermath. Please tell that to former U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, who moronically said: “From what I understand from doctors, [pregnancy from rape] is really rare ... If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

#5 Trans men and women are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. Some studies show that transgender survivors may experience rates of sexual assault up to 66%. This means: most transgender people have experienced some type of sexual violence during their lifetime and are living with the resulting trauma.

This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, take some time to familiarize yourself with the data surrounding sexual violence. If you can, get out there and participate in an event hosted by your local anti-violence organization. Consider participating in the Bonded Book Club; we’re reading Bastard Out of Carolina: A Novel by Dorothy Allison in conjunction with a local anti-violence organization, SCCADVASA. Join us Wednesday, April 26th for a Facebook Live discussion of the book with SCCADVASA Community Change Coordinator, Page Chilton. If you’re a victim of sexual assault, and want someone to talk to, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are resources. Try these hotlines:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1.800.656.HOPE (4673)

For general information on sexual assault statistics, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is a great resource.

For South Carolina-specific information, check out the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) and Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands (STSM). Both of these organizations have tons of great educational, rehabilitative, and outreach services regarding sexual violence.