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Working With Special Populations. Kelly Becker Legal Advocate. Describe a Survivor. Gender? Age? Race? Clothing Style? Any other descriptors?. Describe a Survivor. Survivors that meet our assumptions of what they “Should be” often have easier access to services and support.
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Working With Special Populations Kelly Becker Legal Advocate
Describe a Survivor • Gender? • Age? • Race? • Clothing Style? • Any other descriptors?
Describe a Survivor • Survivors that meet our assumptions of what they “Should be” often have easier access to services and support. • Survivors who do not meet these assumptions often face barriers. Please keep these question in mind as we proceed What are some examples of barriers survivors face? What can we do to help survivors overcome them?
Male Survivors • Sexual Orientation • Misnomer that abuse in males causes shift in orientation • Sexual Orientation of offender is often incorrectly assumed based on the selection of victim • Arousal During Assault • Physical arousal and even orgasm can happen even during a tramatic assault • Causes confusion, fear, and self blame for survivors • Often confuses law enforcement
Male Survivors • Traumatic Response • Misnomer that trauma is not as sever for male survivors • Female on Male abuse • Becoming abusers • Misnomer that males who are abused become abusers
Elderly Survivors • Myth: Rape is about sex/sexual desire Fact: Rape is about power and control • This myth often prevents us form recognizing the abuse that the elderly are vulnerable to • Offenders often target the elderly for their vulnerabilities • Physically cant fightas hard • Cognitive disabilities can hinder reporting • Cognitive disabilities often make victims seem unbelievable
Elderly Survivors • Offenders often target the elderly for their vulnerabilities • Physically cant fight as hard • Cognitive impairment can hinder reporting • Cognitive impairment often make victims seem unbelievable • Survivors are often disempowered in their recovery by well-meaning family or caretakers
Incarcerated Survivors • Sexual abuse is common in the corrections system • Jails • Juvenile Facilities • Adult Prisons • Often A form of dominance or method of establishing hierarchy • Offenders can be other inmates • Offenders can be corrections staff
Incarcerated Survivors • Survivors are often reluctant to report • Why???
LGBTQ Survivors Impact of silence exercise
LGBTQ Survivors Anyone who is interested in learning more about SafeZone can contact: BRAVO Kayla Cardenas, Program Assistant email: kayla@bravo-ohio.org phone: (614) 294-7867
LGBTQ Survivors • Victimized by sexual violence at the same rate or according to some sources at an even higher rate than their heterosexual counterparts. • Often victims of hate crimes with a sexual component
LGBTQ Survivors • Unique barrier for LGBTQ survivors • Being “outed” • Discrimination from first responders and others • Additional harassment • Lack of culturally competent services