Two students happened upon a 14-year old boy sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl on a middle school campus in the United States. They stopped the assault, and while one stayed behind to ensure it didn’t continue, the other ran to get help and report it to the proper authorities. Now two School Administrators are questioning whether the incident was actually an assault, and one of whom is quoted as saying “If she was being raped, why didn’t she scream?” Read the story here.
When in a state of fear, people react in very different ways. Most of us are familiar with the “fight or flight” concept, but few know that to freeze and dissociate are also natural responses to a trauma like sexual assault. People can not choose how the body will respond in times of trauma. At the most basic level, the body’s fear response is about survival and protecting one’s self physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s also never certain how an offender will respond to resistance, or compliance, so there is no “best” or “normal” way to react to, or survive, a sexual assault.
As a result, just because a person doesn’t scream, fight, or say no, that doesn’t mean they consented to the sexual act. Consent must be given willingly and freely, without the presence of threats, intoxicants, or pressure through the use of persistence or authority.
Look for more Mythbusting Mondays in the new year.
