What We Do
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BREAK YOUR SILENCE
As victims of sexual violence ourselves, we are keenly aware of the detrimental aftermath sexual violence produces. We unwillingly became members of a vast group of over 27 million victims of sexual violence, in the US (1) alone, who remain largely silent about the violence they have experienced and its effects on their life. We understand why that silence exists, but remaining silent will not help victims or prevent sexual violence.
"Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." ~ Elie Wiesel
We've created a website were victims of sexual violence can share their experience and the devastation that follows. By providing victims a platform to share their pain and show the extent of their suffering, we reveal the true impact sexual violence is having on victims, their families and our society. To begin to change the culture and policies, that have allowed rape to flourish, starts with victims sharing the impacts of this violence.
In the United States alone, 1 in 6 women are victims of sexual violence (1) and 1 in 33 men are victims (1) as well. Our quest at dearperp.org is to end sexual violence, but we cannot do that without your voice. We are speaking up and we need others to speak up too!
If you or a loved one has been a victim of:
Who We Are
why we do it
Many do not understand the lifetime of suffering that victims go through after the violence is over. It is estimated by Rainn (2021) that "1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime" (1) That's an estimated 27 million (2) women who are current victims of sexual violence in the US. That does not include approximately 80,000 (2) men who are also victims of sexual violence. The number of victims of sexual violence has reached staggering proportions.
While people know a lot about sexual violence, victims rarely share what happens afterwards. One mental health statistic shows that 94% of victims of sexual violence suffer from PTSD and, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2020) (3), more women suffer from PTSD than men. Without the consequences of sexual violence being widely known, the cycle of sexual violence is perpetuated.
So what is perpetuating this epidemic of sexual violence in our country? Well, we feel it is a multifaceted problem. Everything from the promotion of rape culture, to pornography, to toxic masculinity, to violence in media, to the legal system. All of these have contributed to how we got to where we are today....victims suffering from extensive mental health issues. Here is some of what victims may suffer from for a lifetime:
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Mental health issues like PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Dissociation, and other mental disorders.
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Physical health issues like drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and infertility.
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Relationship issues including work relationships, fear of intimacy, difficulty with boundaries.
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Behavioral issues like hypersexuality, hypervigilance, phobias, an abnormal level of independence and anger issues.
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Self image issues like body image issues, disinterest in appearance and low self esteem.
These and all of the other after-effects victims deal with can be listed, but lists don't tell stories and they don't change minds. Sexual violence is wreaking havoc on our society. Silence is no longer an option! If we are to protect our loved ones and create a better world for the next generation we must speak out! It's time to tell our story!
Please join us in telling your story and sharing your struggle. If we all start to speak our trauma, we can change the world!
BREAK your SILENCE. end SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
Not a victim? You can still help! Check out our Initiative section to see how you can get involved, our Kitsch section to buy some merch, or our Give section to donate to our cause.
what you CAN d0
Are you a victim or a family member a victim of sexual violence?
Consider joining our site and telling your story. Your story will be published anonymously. We know sharing your story can be scary and we want you to feel safe so you can be honest about your struggles. It won't just be about sharing your story though, joining gives you access to our community here to support you on your healing journey.
Not a victim?
If you are not a victim, but want to help, check out our Initiatives section to learn more about sexual violence and find out how you can help. You can also become a donor by visiting our Give page to set up regular donations or just make a one time donation. Your donation will be used to fund this website, and other organizations that assist victims.
Thank you for visiting dearperp.org! We hope you will join us in the fight and break your silence to end sexual violence!
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Resources used:
(1) rainn.org (2020), https://rainn.org/statistics/scope-problem
(2) census.gov (2020), https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf
(3) ptsd.va.gov (2020), https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_women.asp
(4) cdc.gov (2020), https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/datasources/nisvs/understanding-RRP-inUS.html
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Adult Rape
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Child Sexual Abuse
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College Rage
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Date Rape
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Elderly Rape
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LGBTQ+ Rape
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Military Sexual Trauma
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Partner Rape
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Pornography
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Sex Trafficking
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Sextortion
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Sexual Harassment
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Provide a platform where victims can share their story.
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Provide a community for victims and their families.
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Educate on the aftermath of sexual violence.
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Connect victims to resources.
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Provide research oppotunities.