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Sexual Assault and Drinking. Alcohol’s Role in Sexual Assault. UofW Drinking Stats. 86.4% of UofW students report drinking alcohol. 22.1% of UofW students are classified as heavy drinkers, Ontario student average is 18.8%.
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Sexual Assault and Drinking Alcohol’s Role in Sexual Assault
UofW Drinking Stats • 86.4% of UofW students report drinking alcohol. • 22.1% of UofW students are classified as heavy drinkers, Ontario student average is 18.8%. • 25.3% of UofW students have done something they regret after drinking. • 15% of UofW students report having unplanned intimate sexual relations because of alcohol.
Sexual Assault Defined Sexual assault includes any forced or coerced sexual acts. Such as: touching or kissing, verbally coerced intercourse, and physically forced vaginal, oral and anal penetration. Rape constitutes sexual behaviours that involve some type of penetration due to force or threat of force; a lack of consent; or inability to give consent due to age, intoxication or mental status.
Consent and Drinking • A person is legally unable to give consent if they are under age, intoxicated by drugs and/or alcohol, developmentally disabled, or mentally/physically unable to do so. • 50% of sexual assaults that occur involving college students are also associated with alcohol use by the victim and or the perpetrator
Alcohol’s Effects on the Body • Alcohol seriously hinders the ability of the user to think clearly and contemplate consequences of their actions. • When a person is drunk their ability to express themselves and to interpret cues and behaviours exhibited by others is impaired. • This can lead to misreading “friendly” cues as sexual interest and misunderstanding “no” as “try harder”
Victims and Perpetraitors • 82% of victims are female and 98% of perpetrators are male. • 85-90% of the victims knew the perpetrator prior to the attack. In most cases it is an acquaintance or a friend of a friend. • Only 5% of rape victims reported the attack to police. Shame, fear, and self blame were the main reasons given for underreporting.
Bystander Advocacy and Prevention • If you see a situation where someone is too drunk to give consent step in, don’t turn a blind eye. • Recognize the signs that an assault could be imminent. • Recognize comments and behaviours from others that would indicate they were intent on having sex even if the partner was unwilling. • Watch out for potential victims who are unconscious or incapacitated • Notice if someone is getting ready to have sexual intercourse with a partner who is incapacitated.
Bystander Advocacy and Prevention Con’t • Don’t pressure or encourage friends to drink alcohol • Don’t promote having sex often or with as many people as possible. • Don’t joke about sexual assault; comments and jokes that are meant to “ease the tension” or are “just kidding around” can trivialize the severity of the behaviour. • Do make a plan to stay with the friends you went out with and if you choose to drink, do it in moderation.
Resources and Support • Student Health Services (519) 973- 7002 or go online at http://www.uwindsor.ca/health/ • Student Counselling Center offers information on sexual assault at http://www.uwindsor.ca/scc/sexual-harassment-and-assault • Campus Community Police can be reached at (519) 253-3000 ext. 1234 or online at http://web4.uwindsor.ca/police • Sexual Assault Care Center at Windsor Regional Hospital (519)255-2234 or online at http://www.sacc.to/fr/gylb/satc/CentreID=32.htm
References Abbey, A. (2002). Alcohol-related sexual assault: A common problem among college students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol Supplement, 63(2), 118-128. Adlaf, E.M., Demers, A., & Gliksman, L. (Eds.) Canadian Campus Survey 2004. Toronto, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 2005 Benson, B., Gohm, C.L., Gross, A. M. (2007). College women and sexual assault: The role of sex-related alcohol expectancies. Journal of Family Violence, 22(6), 341-351. doi 10.1007/s10896-007-9085-z Stanford University. (n.d). Facts and myths concerning sexual assault. Retrieved on March 16, 2012 from: http://www.stanford.edu/group/svab/myths.shtml The University of Arizona .(n.d). Sexual Assault. Retrieved on March 16, 2012 from: http://www.stepupprogram.org/topics/sexual_assault