Adolescent Survivors

Sexually Active v. Sexually Knowledgeable

Youth and Sexuality

Reality Television

A nationwide study by Seventeen Magazine showed that 87% of teen girls were having oral sex. What percentage said they enjoyed it? (10)

Prime time television?

Zero.

Grand Theft Auto

If girls are not having oral sex for sexual pleasure, why are they doing it?

• In a 2003 study, 89% of girls reported feeling pressured by boys to have sex, while 49% of boys reported feeling pressured by girls. In contrast, 67% of boys felt pressured by other boys, while 53% of girls felt pressured by other girls. (7)
• 42% of boys and 33% of girls ages 15-17 have had intercourse. (6)_
• In grades 7-12, 23.4% of first sexual relationships are one-night stands. (7)
• 55% of teens ages 13-19 admitted to engaging in oral sex. (8)
• 24% of adolescents ages 15-17 (18% male and 33% female) reported having had oral sex to avoid intercourse. (9)

What does this say about consent?

What is the relationship between culture and teen rape?

Sexuality and Alcohol

• Language
• Video games
• Movies
• Television/Videos
• Advertisement

• The media undeniably links sexuality and alcohol.
• Ads aimed at men illustrate that alcohol consumption will increase social status.
• Ads aimed at women present a double-bind of feminine identities about who they can be when they consume alcohol.
• 75% of acquaintance rapes involved alcohol.

No means yes?

What makes this population vulnerable?

How have we kept this population silent?

Violence and Youth

• 32% of rapes happen to young women between the 12-17.
• 86.2% experiences their first sexual assault before their 18 birthday.
• 49% of violent crime victims are under the age of 18.

Tying it all together

Teenage Rape

• 15% of sexual assault and rape victims are under the age of 12.
• 29% are age 12-17.
• 12-34 are the highest risk years.
• Girls ages 16-19 are 4 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
• 93% of juvenile victims know their attacker (34.2% were family members, 58.7 were acquaintances).
• 78% of teenage victims do not tell their parents about the incident.
• 71% tell a friend they were raped/assaulted
• 6% report to the police.

How will this change the way you advocate for teenage survivors of sexual assault?

Advocacy Tips

Learning Objectives

Endnotes

Resources

(1) National Violence Against Women Survey, 1990.

(2) National Crime Victimization Survey, 1997.

(3) Ibid.

(4) US Department of Health and Human Services

(5) R & Weiner, N. " Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada and Mexico." University of Penssylvania, 2001.

(6) Let's Talk About Sex, Melissa Daly. Seventeen Magazine, July 2003.

(7) Jo Anne Grunbaum, Ed.D., et al., "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2001.

(8)Facts & Statistics on Teen Dating Violence & Sexual Assault

(9) Warshaw, Robin. " I never called it rape: The ms. report on recognizing, fighting and surviving date and acquantinace rape" July 8, 1994.

• Learn statistics
• Discuss culture and teen sexual violence
• Explore unique concerns for this population
• Discuss mandatory reporting and age of consent
• Advocacy tips

• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence/Teen Dating Violence Project www.ncadv.org
• Treating Adolescent Survivors of Sexual Abuse http://www.athealth.com/consumer/disorders/adolescentsurvivors.html
• Teen Health and Advice http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/safebasics/rape_what_to_do.html
• Facts and Statistics on Teen Dating Violence and Sexual Assault http://www.dvsac.org/prevparstats.html

Signs of Abuse in Adolescents

• Match style, language and tone
• Explore support systems
• Know resources for teens-which require parent signature, which don't
• Name the crime
• Don't assume the teen hasn't already thought of ways to help her/himself
• Listen
• Allow the client to make as many decisions as possible
• Resist mothering
• Don't assume rape is the teen's only problem
• Don't assume the teen is a virgin
• Don't assume they know what it takes to get pregnant
• Don't assume the attacker was another teen

• Sexualized behavior & acting out
• Promiscuity and/or prostitution
• Defiance or compliance to the extreme
• Obsessively clean/poor hygiene
• Pseudo-mature
• Eating Disorders

• Isolation
• Fearful/Anxious
• Self-mutilation
• Suicidal gestures
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Delinquent behavior
• Running Away
• Pregnancy

Barriers to Disclosure

Medical Care

Providing Realistic Assistance

• Their sexuality or sexual activity
• Breaking of parents (or others) rules
• Still care for the offender
• Concerns about whether or not parents and others will treat rape as a crime
• Confidentiality
• Forced marriage/relationship
• View assault as pre-marital sex not rape
• Abusive parents/family
• Parents/Family have other problems

• Survivor can refuse any part of the rape exam.
• When advocates have name, address or phone number and age, a report is necessary.
• Treatment for STI's as well as reproductive health is available confidentially.

• Listen
• Keep the promises you make and make the promises you can keep
• Provide enough information for informed decisions
• Know available resources; hotlines, teen shelters, counseling, job placement and other youth resources

Mandatory Reporting

• If a person is under the age of 14, reporting is mandatory.
• If a person is 15-18 age of sexual consent varies as well as when offender's age may play a factor.
• When in doubt ALWAYS check with law enforcement.

Adolescent Survivors