“What I was wearing…” is the header of displays this month – Sexual Assault Awareness Month – at the Greene County Community Center and the libraries in Jefferson and Scranton.
The simple exhibits work to dispel the myth that victims of sexual assault have somehow asked to be assaulted by dressing provocatively. The exhibits were created by ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter & Support), which serves Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall and Tama counties. ACCESS’s mission is “to address the roots and impact of domestic and sexual violence through services that enhance safety, empower survivors, and understanding and social justice within our community.”
As many as one out of four girls and one out of six boys will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005). Every two minutes, a person is sexually assaulted in the US, according to the National Institute of Justice. Approximately two-thirds of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.
Greene County residents can contact ACCESS by calling 515-432-3606. Information is available at www.assaultcarecenter.org
