The latest from The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com
- Robin Sax: We Gotta Start Talking About Sexual Assault
- Robin Sax: We Gotta Start Talking About Sexual Assault
| Robin Sax: We Gotta Start Talking About Sexual Assault | Top |
| Whenever I tell people that I am a sex crimes prosecutor, people say, "Eeewww, how can you do that?" And while I can understand that spending one's day talking to kids about the most invasive abuse on their private parts can seem uncomfortable, it shouldn't give people the heebie-jeebies. As a society, we can talk about all kinds of crimes, including murderers, gangs, and domestic violence, with no problem. We don't think twice about preparing kids about what to do in a fire, earthquake, or tornado. We observe and discuss how the media over-sexualizes teenagers. We go to the movies and laugh at slapstick, dark, and inappropriate humor; we even watch horror and thriller movies with a sense of enjoyment. As to CSI, Law and Order--piece of cake! And we barely flinch at Dr. 90210 as he works away at the human body in search of perfection. Yet despite all of this, people are constantly telling me they are scared to talk to their kids or even each other about protecting ourselves and our children from sexual abuse. Well, it's time. Just as it was time about 10 years ago to make breast cancer a focus of national concern, it is time for us to feel just as comfortable talking about keeping our bodies and those of our children safe. The first thing we must do is acknowledge that yes, there is an epidemic of sexual abuse in our society. And even if you don't buy into the statistics put out by organizations or even the government, I can tell you from my own caseload, working in the trenches of Los Angeles County, that sexual assault is rampant. It is rampant amongst whites, blacks, Hispanics, men, women, children, and crosses all socio-economic boundaries. And while we may prefer to think that sexual abuse occurs in dark alleys by random strangers, the fact is that at least 85% (if not more) is perpetrated by someone the victim knows. We have to recognize that there is an issue--a massive one!--and start talking about it. As soon as we have conversations with each other and our kids, we will be able to do more to prevent it, as well as help victims to come forward and make their way towards short-term healing and long-term survival. More on Sex | |
| Robin Sax: We Gotta Start Talking About Sexual Assault | Top |
| Whenever I tell people that I am a sex crimes prosecutor, people say, "Eeewww, how can you do that?" And while I can understand that spending one's day talking to kids about the most invasive abuse on their private parts can seem uncomfortable, it shouldn't give people the heebie-jeebies. As a society, we can talk about all kinds of crimes, including murderers, gangs, and domestic violence, with no problem. We don't think twice about preparing kids about what to do in a fire, earthquake, or tornado. We observe and discuss how the media over-sexualizes teenagers. We go to the movies and laugh at slapstick, dark, and inappropriate humor; we even watch horror and thriller movies with a sense of enjoyment. As to CSI, Law and Order--piece of cake! And we barely flinch at Dr. 90210 as he works away at the human body in search of perfection. Yet despite all of this, people are constantly telling me they are scared to talk to their kids or even each other about protecting ourselves and our children from sexual abuse. Well, it's time. Just as it was time about 10 years ago to make breast cancer a focus of national concern, it is time for us to feel just as comfortable talking about keeping our bodies and those of our children safe. The first thing we must do is acknowledge that yes, there is an epidemic of sexual abuse in our society. And even if you don't buy into the statistics put out by organizations or even the government, I can tell you from my own caseload, working in the trenches of Los Angeles County, that sexual assault is rampant. It is rampant amongst whites, blacks, Hispanics, men, women, children, and crosses all socio-economic boundaries. And while we may prefer to think that sexual abuse occurs in dark alleys by random strangers, the fact is that at least 85% (if not more) is perpetrated by someone the victim knows. We have to recognize that there is an issue--a massive one!--and start talking about it. As soon as we have conversations with each other and our kids, we will be able to do more to prevent it, as well as help victims to come forward and make their way towards short-term healing and long-term survival. More on Sex | |
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