This month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Please show your support for survivors in the UNC community by attending the events hosted by UNCs Assault Survivors Advocacy Program (ASAP). The attached social media card and email signature line can also be used to show your support and bring awareness to SAAM 2021. Everyone is affected by sexual violence. For a greater understanding of sexual violence, please see the statistics below from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and RAINN:
- “Approximately 1 in 5 (21.3% or an estimated 25.5 million) women in the U.S. reported completed or attempted rape at some point in their lifetime, including completed forced penetration, attempted forced penetration, or alcohol/drug-facilitated completed penetration. About 2.6% of U.S. men (an estimated 2.8 million) experienced completed or attempted rape victimization in their lifetime.
- About 1 in 14 men (7.1% or nearly 7.9 million) in the U.S. was made to penetrate someone else (attempted or completed) at some point in their lifetime.
- Approximately 1 in 6 women (16.1% or an estimated 19.2 million women) and approximately 1 in 10 men (9.6% or an estimated 10.6 million men) experienced sexual coercion (e.g., being worn down by someone who repeatedly asked for sex, sexual pressure due to someone using their influence or authority) at some point in their lifetime.
- A majority of female victims of completed or attempted rape first experienced such victimization early in life, with 81.3% (nearly 20.8 million victims) reporting that it first occurred prior to age 25.
- The majority of male victims (70.8% or an estimated 2.0 million) of completed or attempted rape reported that their first experience occurred prior to age 25.”(Smith et al., 2018, p. 2)
If you need to explore the services ASAP offers, please know they are a confidential resource. ASAP contact information is 970-351-1490 or Crisis Line: 970-351-4040.
For additional education and personal development related to diversity, equity and inclusion, please find other sources located under DDEI Education and Resources on the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion site as well as UNC Libraries under DEI & Antiracism Resources and the Colorado Department of Higher Education Equity Toolkit.
