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Sexual Violence and Women

Women are more likely to be victims of rape/sexual assault than are men, according to Criminal Victimization. In 2002, 216,090 women were the victims of rape/sexual assault, compared with 31, 640 men.

Women also are more likely than men to be victims of rape/sexual assault committed by “non-strangers.” Sixty-nine percent of women victims were raped and/or sexually assaulted by a nonstranger, compared with 52 percent of male victims. Fifty-seven percent of women victims (123,850) were raped and/or sexually assaulted by a friend/acquaintance, ten percent (21,920) by an intimate and two percent by an “other relative.”

Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Child Sexual Abuse has been a plague on society for thousands of years. Even the Old Testament of the Bible contains tragic stories of sexual abuse, rape and incest. In 2 Samuel, scriptures tell us that Amnon, the son of David, contrived to get his half-sister, Tamar, alone and have sex with her. 2 Samuel 13:11-12, 14 reads, “When she [Tamar] brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, ‘Come, lie with me, my sister.’ But she answered him, ‘No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing!’ … However, he would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.”

Even in those ancient days, victims were told to keep the abuse a secret. The story continues in 2 Samuel 13:20. “Then Absalom her brother said to her, ‘Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother, do not take this matter to heart.’ So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.”

Interestingly enough, Scripture continues to talk about the brothers, the father and the consequences for them, but not much more is said of Tamar. Scripture simply tells us that she remained desolate in her brother’s house; she is locked in the silence, shame, violation and trauma of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her half-brother. Thousands of years later, untold millions of children and adolescents are victims of sexual abuse and carry the wounds of that abuse into their adulthood, living in the same desolate condition as Tamar.

In sharp contrast to remaining desolate, is Christ’s promise of healing for those who are wounded. Isaiah 61:1,3 beautifully describes the promise of transformation and healing through our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

God is beckoning us to accept his offer for healing, and to walk with one another along that healing journey… out of the darkness and silence, into His light with voices raised in hope and joy.