This week the BMCC campus community has been fortunate to take part in some educational events surrounding Sexual Assault, including Denim Day. We at the BMCC library want to share some additional resources for your independent learning. Nationwide, 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime (National Sexual Assualt Resource Center). One in every five women experienced a completed or attempted rape, while 24.8% of men experience some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetimes (NSARC). However, sometimes, knowing the numbers doesn’t help you help others who you know have been sexually assaulted. It is important to recognize that someone coming forward to tell you about their assault is an act of trust. They trust you to support them in that moment.
RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, has created a guide called “Tips for Talking with Survivors of Sexual Assault.” Here are some phrases you’ll find on the guide to help you when providing support to a survivor: “I believe you./ It took a lot of courage to tell me about this,” “It’s not your fault./ You didn’t do anything to deserve this,” and “I’m sorry this happened./ This should not have happened to you.” Reading through the guide will help you understand the reasoning behind these phrases and how they each can help a survivor feel validated. In addition to these resources, we have curated a special collection of books for Sexual Assault Awareness Week here at BMCC. This collection contains books on promoting recovery for abused adults, helping male survivors, treatment innovations, and more. Take a moment to review the resources provided in this post and learn more about how you can better support your friends and loved ones.
