Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rape Workshop Held

Cabe Middle School students were visited October 20 by Melissa Buck, volunteer coordinator and Shirley Allen, executive director for the Courage House in Arkadelphia.

At the CMS library, students ages 12-14 were educated on the subject of date rape.

Buck covered the definitions concerning rape, characteristics of a rapist, reporting rape, basics of a rape kit, prevention and myths about rape.

You, along with your young person, may want to discuss and be aware of the following guidelines to help you recognize people who appear to possess a rapist-prone personality.

Dates to watch out for are emotionally abusive. They tell you how you should dress, what friends you can have and what you will do on dates. Persons with rapist-prone personality talk negatively about women in general. They get jealous without reason. They may drink heavily or use other drugs and are physically violent towards you. They try to get you to drink or use other drugs and get angry with you when you won't.

Be aware of dates that pay and won't take money to help pay for a date (and who may remind you of this to make it seem as if you "owe" them). Potential date rapists intimidate you and sit too close, touch you when you don't want to be touched and speak to you in a familiar way when you don't want to be that intimate.

Often they are unable to handle sexual or emotional frustration without getting angry. They are unable to understand any one else's feelings or point of view (have a lack of empathy). They exhibit controlling behaviors (for example, don't allow you to choose where you will go, what you will do, who you spend time with, and, oftentimes, even how to think or feel about things).

"It isn't only the girls who have to worry," Buck said. "You would be surprised how often males are victims."

Myths about rape were also covered. One myth is that "If a woman is raped it is probably because she flaunted her sexuality or provoked the behavior in some way (asking for it)." The fact is that persons ranging from less than nine months to over 90 years have been victims of rape. Nobody invites rape.

Another example of a myth is "Rapists are impulsive and can't control their desires." The fact is that most rapes are planned.

1997 statistics on rape in Arkansas, keeping in mind this crime is under reported, show there were 1,084 rapes and attempted rapes. Approximately one-third of the victims were ages 12-17.

Statistics also show the most frequent victim was a white female ages 14-16, mainly occurring at the victim's residence. The highest number of rapes occurred on Sundays, most frequent month was July, and most frequent time was between midnight and 2:00 a.m.

For more information call Abused Women and Children, Inc. at 870-246-3122 or write to AWAC, Courage House, P.O. Box 924, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.