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These past few days have been heavy for those of us who care for sexual violence survivors- and even more so for the thousands of survivors in our own community. Sexual assault helplines across the state have seen an uptick in calls from survivors of all genders seeking support in their journey towards healing. Some of them want to press charges, inspired by the courage they’ve witnessed in Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony.

Regardless of your political views, you are surrounded by survivors of sexual violence, and many of them are struggling this week to keep their heads above water. If the #MeToo movement has taught us anything, it is that none of us is untouched by sexual violence. Over the last year, you have no doubt learned uneasy things about people you love. The promise of this movement all along has rested on the proposition that as more and more people who previously thought their lives had been untouched by sexual violence come to realize they, too, have survivors in their families and communities that their compassion will grow. When your sister, brother, daughter, spouse, best friend said “Me too,” they were hoping you might see their pain as valid and deserving of support. The gamble has been whether that support and compassion is transferable- if your survivors deserve support, maybe all survivors do? For those of us who spend our days working to end sexual violence and its impact, this week has been a nail-biting test of this gamble. The question on our minds has not been “Is she telling the truth?” but rather, “Will it matter?”

The answer to this question won’t come from the decisions rendered in this investigation and confirmation vote. There are far too many other complicating factors to muddy the waters here, and in the end I am not particularly hopeful that the partisan motivations of our leaders can be fully outweighed today by the courage and passion of survivors and advocates. Perhaps I’ll be proven wrong. I sure hope so. For me, the answer to this question will be answered in homes across the country, in classrooms and football practices and car rides and family dinners.

I invite you to read this message free from the partisan arguments and analysis that we’ve come to accept as debate, and to consider what we have all just witnessed from the perspective of a young survivor of sexual assault who has not yet found the words to describe what they’ve endured. Or better yet, as that young person’s parent, teacher, or neighbor. If you have found yourself questioning the motivations or veracity of those who come forward to disclose past sexual assaults, that is of course your right. But consider the message it sends to that young person in earshot of you. Will she tell you when she’s been hurt? Will he come to you to recount the horrors visited upon him by his classmates? Or might their memories of this historic moment be marked by clues that despite what they’ve been told in school, at home and in their community, it’s actually not ever safe to name their attacker?

If you find yourself struggling under the weight of silence, doubt, and uncertainty, know that there are whole communities of people ready to receive you and your story. There is a place you can go where you will be believed, you will be supported, and you will be cared for.  You do not need a reason. You do not need to have all the details straight in your memory. You don’t even need to tell us what happened. You can just call.

Rape crisis centers have played a critical role in healing for survivors and communities for decades.  Through the provision of 24 Hour Crisis Helplines, pro bono therapy and support groups, and the promise of being by your side as you navigate whatever steps you want to take next, rape crisis centers provide a lifeline for survivors, even when their families cannot. If you or someone you know needs help, please consider calling us or your local rape crisis center. The North Carolina Coalitions Against Sexual Assault maintains an up-to-date listing of all helplines across the state. Outside of NC, contact the National Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN): 1-800-656-4673.

Perhaps you’re not feeling the need for support, but for action. Consider adding “Support My Local Rape Crisis Center” to your task list. Cash donations matter- it makes it possible for us to do all we do at no cost to survivors and their families. We also always need volunteers– to answer the Helpline, empower kids through education, and help us spread the word.

The answer to the question of whether or not the #MeToo movement has made a difference depends on us. Decide today if you’ll make it count.

Rachel Valentine is Executive Director at the Orange County Rape Crisis Center in Chapel Hill. Rachel can be contacted at rvalentine@ocrcc.org or 919-968-4647.

Help us provide help, hope, and healing to those in our community and across the state, by making a gift to the Orange County Rape Crisis Center today. You can donate via credit card on our donation page or by sending a personal check to P.O. Box 4722, Chapel Hill, NC, 27515.

Myth: If she didn’t say no or fight back, then it wasn’t really rape.

Fact: If the victim was incapable of consent, if they were too scared to say no, or if they were coerced, then it was rape.

This myth assumes that victims will act a certain way during an assault. Many people imagine how they might react to the threat of violence. But without personal experience or an understanding of victim psychology, these imaginings are often not very close to reality. Furthermore, everyone reacts differently to the threat of violence, and there’s no “right” or “wrong” way for a victim to respond.

This myth also assumes that perpetrators are incapable of recognizing whether or not the victim is consenting unless they verbally say no. But people give or withhold consent in a nonverbal way all the time. The perpetrator is capable of recognizing and responding appropriately to nonverbal cues; they just choose to ignore them.

Many victims may be too scared to say no.

Sometimes the perpetrator may verbally threaten violence; sometimes the act itself or the physical size or strength of the perpetrator may cause the victim to fear further violence. Further, many victims may be so afraid that they are incapable of saying no. We often hear about the human “fight or flight” response. These two responses call up extra bursts of energy to either fight off an attacker or flee a dangerous situation. Both of these responses mean the victim has some hope of survival. But when the victim is so overwhelmed that they feel they have no hope of avoiding the danger, they may freeze instead of fighting or fleeing. Some victims may pass out, and others may disassociate, meaning they mentally detach from their bodies in order to avoid processing the trauma happening to them. The freeze response stops the victim from being capable of saying no, fighting back, or running from the attack. It may also prevent them from feeling pain during the attack and may cause them to have incomplete or even no memories afterward. In light of this additional freeze response, most psychologists now refer to the “fight, flight, or freeze” response.

Someone who is incapacitated by drugs or alcohol is incapable of giving consent.

If a person is incapacitated by drugs or alcohol, they are unable to consent to sex— even if they verbally say yes. Oftentimes, we think of “incapacitated” as someone who is asleep or unconscious, but the truth is that sometimes, a person is incapacitated but is still able to walk, talk and retain some basic functioning skills. However, that person is still unable to give consent because they are incapable of making informed, rational judgments. A helpful analogy for this situation is that if a person is too drunk to drive, they are probably too drunk to give clear, conscious consent. Many of us have likely heard the myth that if a person chooses to engage in drug or alcohol use, they are responsible for taking care of themselves and making sure that no one takes advantage of them. This statement is untrue and blames survivors for their own assaults. In reality, the person initiating each sex act is always responsible for obtaining clear consent, regardless of their own or others’ level of intoxication.   

Someone who is coerced into sexual activity is not giving active consent.

If they were bribed, threatened, or blackmailed, then that is not true consent. Additionally, someone who is emotionally manipulated or worn down from repeated requests for sex may not be giving active consent either. The bottom line is that consent to any form of sexual activity is enthusiastic, affirmative, conscious, and freely-made. It is not transferrable from one time to the next—consent must be sought and received every single time. Consent is an ongoing process and is constantly communicated between partners through mutually understandable words or actions. Everyone has a responsibility to make sure their partner(s) feel happy and safe when engaging in any form of sexual activity.

This post is part of a series on Myths & Facts about Sexual Violence:

– Myth #1: “He Didn’t Mean To”
– Myth #2: “She Lied”
– Myth #3: “She Asked For It”
– Myth #4: “It Wasn’t Really Rape”

The OCRCC is deeply saddened and troubled by the recent ICE raids in Orange County. We want to express our solidarity with our Latinx and immigrant community, and our appreciation of the actions that El Centro Hispano has already taken. Raids like these damage individuals and communities and tear apart families- families that are often already disproportionately disadvantaged. Words never seem sufficient in expressing our disappointment and pain as we work to come to terms with the fear and chaos that these raids have created. The OCRCC would also like to reiterate that our services are confidential and that client information is kept private to the full extent allowed by law. If you have any questions about confidentiality, we welcome them. In an effort to minimize misinformation or create unnecessary panic, we encourage you to fact check any information you share and to reach out to El Centro Hispano for updates.

We offer our love and support to all those who have been impacted by these attacks on our community, and we offer the below resources (thanks to the Latino Health Coalition for sharing). Additionally, traumatic events like this may trigger previous traumas, including those resulting from sexual violence. If you or someone you know could benefit from our bilingual, free and confidential services, please contact our 24 hour help line at 1-866-WE LISTEN.

El Centro de Asistencia contra la Violencia Sexual está profundamente entristecido y preocupado por las recientes redadas de ICE en el Condado de Orange. Queremos expresar solidaridad con nuestra comunidad Latina e inmigrante, además de nuestro aprecio por las acciones que El Centro Hispano ha llevado a cabo. Redadas como esta lesionan no sólo a los individuos sino también a la comunidad en general, además de separar a las familias; familias que frecuentemente ya están desproporcionadamente en desventaja. Las palabras nunca son suficientes para expresar la decepción y el dolor que se siente a medida que trabajamos para llegar a un acuerdo con el miedo y el caos que estas redadas han creado. El Centro de Asistencia contra la Violencia Sexual también quiere reiterar que nuestros servicios son confidenciales y que la información de los clientes se mantiene privada a la medida que es permitido por la ley. Todas las preguntas que tenga sobre la confidencialidad serán bienvenidas. En un esfuerzo por minimizar la desinformación o crear pánico, los alentamos a que verifiquen la información que comparten y que se comuniquen con el Centro Hispano para mayor información.  

 Ofrecemos nuestro cariño y soporte a todas las personas que han sido impactadas por estos ataques a la comunidad, y ofrecemos los recursos mencionados más adelante (agradecemos a la Coalición de Salud Latina por compartir estos recursos). Asimismo, queremos reiterar que eventos traumáticos como este pueden detonar síntomas de trauma, incluidos aquellos relacionados con la violencia sexual. Si usted o alguien que usted conoce se puede beneficiar de nuestros servicios bilingües, gratuitos y confidenciales, por favor llame a nuestra línea de 24 horas 7 días a la semana al 1-866-935-4783.

Some attorneys recommended by El Centro/Algunos abogados recomendados por El Centro:

• Jack Rockers – 919-688-1788 – http://hatchrockers.com/contact/
• Beckie Moriello – 919-376-2933- https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckiemoriello/
• Yesenia Polanco – 919-294-8032 – https://www.polancolawpc.com/

Additional Resources/ Recursos adicionales:

Emergency Planning Guide for North Carolina Immigrants (English/Spanish)/ Guia de emergencia para los inmigrantes de Carolina del Norte: http://www.ncjustice.org/sites/default/files/EMERGENCY%20PLANNING%20GUIDE%20for%20IMMIGRANTS–final-web.pdf

Red Cards (English/Spanish)/tarjetas rojas: https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards

Know Your Rights (Various Languages)/ conoce tus derechos:
https://www.aclu.org/feature/know-your-rights-discrimination-against-immigrants-and-muslims?redirect=feature/know-your-rights-immigration#immigration

NC Justice Center has a website they designed to inform individuals about their rights when detained by police and/or ICE.  It’s available in English and Spanish, and has links for certain available resources. Este sitio esta diseñado para informar a los individuos acerca de sus derechos cuando son detenidos por la policía y/o ICE. Está en inglés y español y tiene links para otros recursos:  http://pickedupnc.com/en/

In honor of Relationship Violence Awareness Month, we bring you the first in a blog series by our resident expert on high school students,  Trinity Casimir.

What does an abusive relationship look like? When having conversations in school health classes or watching a movie, an abusive relationship conjures up certain images: a woman taking her children and escaping her husband on a Greyhound bus, broken dishes on the floor, a child carefully choosing outfits to conceal bruises, yelling in the night. While these scenarios are real and devastating, they do not encompass the full definition of abuse. What about the people suffering when no one has laid a finger on them? What about the men and boys pressured to appear invincible when they are hurt? What about high school students, whose relationships are fundamentally different from those of married couples, or even adults in general?

While most students are taught how to identify abuse, they may only be taught to see a narrow set of signs.  According to stoprelationshipabuse.org, relationship abuse includes a wide variety of tactics used to create a power imbalance in the relationship. Behaviors like emotional coercion, isolation, and intimidation can be used in any relationship at any age. A primary reason many teenagers in abusive relationships struggle to name that reality is because they do not identify with the victim that they see portrayed in media or that they learn about in health class. Likewise, teenagers who engage in abuse excuse their behavior because they have never seen themselves as the abuser. What abuse looks like in a high school relationship has yet to be illustrated, and toxic behaviors are quickly becoming normalized. In my school, it is almost commonplace for a partner to prevent their significant other from talking to groups of people or wearing certain clothes, to guilt trip and threaten them. These are all real forms of abuse but are often dismissed simply as childish behavior or as a result of hormones.

Another primary reason abusive relationships in high school go unaddressed is a failure on the part of adults to take teenagers’ relationships seriously. Adults who do not consider the gravity of teenagers’ romantic lives will fail to recognize the severity of abuse when it happens, which in turn deters high schoolers from reporting abuse. By seeking help, a student risks retribution, and when the adult takes no action, a student is left even more vulnerable. When students feel that they have no adult support or advocacy, they are severely limited in their options to escape an abusive relationship.

Some resources do, however, center teen lives and provide insight into how to help teens cope with relationship abuse. The website loveisrespect.org demonstrates the obstacles that youth in particular face in abusive relationships, and goes further to highlight the ways that identity matters with an exploration of special issues for certain cultures, LGBT+ couples, and immigration status that can further hinder someone from seeking help or addressing the toxicity of their relationship. For the more visually-minded, the One Love Foundation has created a series of videos on Youtube clearly contrasting healthy and unhealthy behaviors in a relationship. These videos give scenarios that allow for a difficult topic to be easily understood and are an excellent teaching tool for parents and teachers. The foundation also produced a film called “Escalation” that is recommended for a high school workshop.

So to answer the question, “What does an abusive relationship look like?”, it takes many different forms- all of which are valid and important to identify. Abusive relationships in high school remain underrepresented in the media, so we must take it upon ourselves to question “normalized” behaviors and encourage teenagers to do so in their own lives. Pushing for authority figures in schools to become educated on various types of abuse is also fundamental to create a supportive community that can ensure a safer environment for high schoolers.

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Trinity is is volunteer at the OCRCC and a student at East Chapel Hill High School. She is interested in sociology and the intersections between gender, race, and sexual assault as well as the presence of rape culture among youth. She is also a member of the Youth Against Rape Culture club at East.