"Rape victims feel dirty’

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 21

"Rape victims feel dirty’

Many calls to the group are from women who were raped 20 to 30 years ago and who have never spoken about it.

“Rape victims feel dirty. They suffer massive loss of confidence and self-esteem, which lasts for a long time. They have been treated like an object, so they feelless than human. They feel guilty because people may tell them they must have been in the wrong place or Wearing the wrong clothes,” she says.

There is plenty of evidence to show that rape victims are frequently left with disastrous. psychological scars. So ends the “she’ll get over it” myth. A United States study of 400 victims found that 60 per cent suffered long-term sexual problems, fear, and depression. About a third eventually recovered, but the rest were left with the same or growing problems. The N.O.W. study found that a third of rape victims had recurring nightmares, a third thought about committing suicide, and 20 per cent sought psychiatric help. .Women suffer these problems even if their attacker did not use other forms of violence. Heather Brown believes that victims find it more difficult to recover if they knew their attacker — it takes them a long time to regain their trust of men.

“Each case' is different. But if someone, leaps out and attacks you, it is obviously not your fault. The closer the relationship, the harder it is for the victim,” she adds.

Not all rape counsellors agree, but both Linda Mitchell and Heather Brown believe victims who go to the police cope better with being raped.

“We have found that

women recover more easily once they can talk about it,, They can put it in a realistic perspective and can say ‘I . :was not guilty. Tam a victim of rape’.” . Many women now go to ' self-defence classes, determined to defend themselves against, possible attack. Heather Brown believes it-is a good way of boosting selfconfidence, but she is not sure whether it will help.’. Some rape victims who have had self-defence trainzing report that they just. . “freeze up” with, terror when attacked. If the attack is premeditated, the victim is very likely to be caught unaware. Resisting the attack may lead to more violence. Women must learn to be wary of men even in social situations, Rape can happen any time, but many occur late at night or early in the morning, after parties or when the pubs have closed. “Some 1 women are naive and get themselves into situations where unscrupulous males try to take advantage of them,” says Mr Dwight. He warns that women should know l “the company they keep.” They should be aware that their behaviour may be taken as a “come on” by a man. The., best defence women have against rape is to be prepared and to take precautions: keep to well-lit streets when out alone at night; lock windows and doors at home and when travelling by car, be wary of strangers; if followed, go to a nearby house or shop or police station; do not tell strangers if you live alone. “Women just aren't suspicious enough of men,” says Linda Mitchell.