Category Archives

Sexual Assault

woman with half face as mirror of man

Alcohol and Rape Prosecutions: Consent, Intoxication, and Memory

By Kristance Harlow | April 29, 2022 |
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Victim blaming is a defense mechanism for bystanders to feel safe by falsely imagining that it “could be avoided if…” or “that can’t be the real story.” Content Warning: discussions of sexual assault In allegations of sexual assault, if there are no physical injuries and a lack of DNA evidence, the court of public opinion…

Dangerous Words and the Internet

By Kristance Harlow | December 28, 2018 |
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If I was home without a parent, I knew to answer the phone and say mom is in the shower or that dad is mowing the lawn. I knew to not open the door if anyone came knocking. I didn’t know I needed the same cautious self-protection when I logged on.

The Truth About Sexual Assault

By Kristance Harlow | October 28, 2018 |
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Breaking down some of the most devastating and important statistics about sexual violence.

Lack of Resistance is Not Consent, It’s Assault

By Kristance Harlow | January 4, 2018 |
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Sexual assault and harassment boil down to a violation of one basic principle: consent. Never assume consent. Lack of resistance is not consent.

Washington monument and a flag that says #resist

Ten Things Survivors Should Know About the Title IX Rollback

By Kristance Harlow | October 24, 2017 |
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Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos warned that she would not protect the Obama-era guidelines that helped schools establish systems and policies for investigating allegations of sexual misconduct. As early as January, during her confirmation hearings, DeVos said she would not commit to protecting those guidelines.

Silenced Street Art

Retracting Allegations of Abuse is Not Proof – Trauma and Memories

By Kristance Harlow | June 20, 2017 |
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Retracting an abuse allegation is not proof that the abused is lying or that the alleged abuser is innocent. Rape is amongst the most underreported crimes. Victims face enormous obstacles in the aftermath of rape. Not the least of which is deciding whether or not to contact the police. The justice system is designed to be a hostile…

Why Are We Surprised by Leniency for White Rapists

By Kristance Harlow | August 31, 2016 |
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With Stanford rapist Brock Turner being released from prison Friday after a laughably short sentence, it’s time to look at privilege. Again. Widely publicized news stories paint a picture of the powerful (read: white and those benefiting from white male power structures) being protected because of their (imagined, good) intent — while the disenfranchised (read: people of color) are punished for theirs.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. The numbers listed here are the commonly used numbers for the stated region, the numbers can vary greatly depending on where you live. If you don't know your country's equivalent to 911, this wiki page and The Lifeline Foundation have comprehensive listings.

Americas

911

The Americas

Europe

112

Europe

Africa

112 & 999

Africa

Asia

112, 999, 110

Asia

Oceania

112, 911, 999, 111, & 000

Oceania

Find help for a crisis by texting, calling, or chatting online with these free crisis organizations. Looking for one outside of the USA? Check out our support listings.

Crisis Text Line
Text: “HOME” to 741741

Suicide Lifeline
Text: “ANSWER” to 839863
Call: 1-800-273-8255

Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453

The Trevor Project
Text “START” to 678678
1-866-488-7386

These online and international resources may help you anywhere you are located. Looking for local support outside of the USA? Check out our support listings.

DV Support Abroad
Call toll-free worldwide
1-833-723-3833

I'm Alive Virtual Crisis Center
Live chat with trained volunteers

Crisis Connections
24/7 crisis support with interpretation in 155+ languages