I never feel like I have to worry about it, not least because I'm a guy and I don't look like a target (tall, broad, the way I carry myself, etc.). This rules out any fear of walking alone at night and the like. I do want to make clear, however, that I don't think I'm immune to the possibility of assault; it's entirely possible that I might find myself in a questionable situation with another man (probably more likely since I'm gay, but I still think that could happen to a straight guy, too). I think a preventative measure I take, therefore, is that I'm never in a social situation that would make me concerned about being assaulted. I don't drink and I prefer hosting parties to attending them, so I never find myself in a location that I don't trust.

If a guy hits on me on the street ("Hey, baby!" etc.), I avoid eye contact with him and try to move away.

I try to speak up if someone touches me in a way I don't like.

Do you not think that you could ever be raped or assaulted by a female? Just wondering.

Zitat von Petrus

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I never feel like I have to worry about it, not least because I'm a guy and I don't look like a target (tall, broad, the way I carry myself, etc.). This rules out any fear of walking alone at night and the like. I do want to make clear, however, that I don't think I'm immune to the possibility of assault; it's entirely possible that I might find myself in a questionable situation with another man (probably more likely since I'm gay, but I still think that could happen to a straight guy, too). I think a preventative measure I take, therefore, is that I'm never in a social situation that would make me concerned about being assaulted. I don't drink and I prefer hosting parties to attending them, so I never find myself in a location that I don't trust.

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Do you not think that you could ever be raped or assaulted by a female? Just wondering.

I'm a female and I have to say that I take absolutely no real precautions against assault or rape. I like to THINK I could fend off an attacker (I was trained in self-defense when I was younger, and I'm pretty strong, I like to think - also maybe my walk and carriage doesn't say "meek or weak"). But that's really not enough.

My father gave me some pepper spray. I should carry it, but I think I live in a bubble of safety and friends.

I know we have an escort service, but I'd be too embarrassed to ever call and ask for help in that way. As a woman, I think I should be able to take care of myself. I don't need a man to protect me. ....Maybe I shouldn't think that way. But I'd be asking for escorts all the time - I'm out late moving around campus a lot. I'd feel like an inconvenience.

Yes, I am cautious, and I am angry about having to be so cautious. It is very rare, outside of prison settings, for men to be raped. It is even more rare for women to violently sexually assault men. So rape really is a female issue. And as a female, I limit my time alone, outside, in the dark. I don't walk or bike at night. And I am alert and ready to fight back as needed. I always carry something usable as a weapon, and I am not hesitant to defend myself. So I am both mentally and physically prepared.

I do take precaution. As a multiple rape victim, I still would like to think that it is not going to happen again, but I have to be realistic. I don't go out of my way or shelter myself. Some nights I walk my friends home and then walk myself home, but when I get a few cat-calls or observe an unusual instinctive feeling I don't hesitate to call for an escort or walk through campus instead of on the street-sidewalk.
For the person who said they are very strong, be careful. My friends' parents from back home let my girlfriends go out at night just because I would be with them and they knew I was strong. Rape can (and does) happen to anyone, whether you look like a tooth pick or can single handedly push-start a vehicle.

I feel like this is a surprisingly big issue at Knox. I guess I have an exaggerated idea of the safety and sense of community at Knox. I'm always surprised at the reports of sexual assault here. I feel like one of the best ways to deal with it is not to drink. I don't, because I don't want to be in a situation where I have even less control. When men make comments when I'm alone, I ignore them, continue walking, but don't speed up or look scared. I think confidence is important, but also, don't put yourself in the situation.

I carry pepper spray and try to stay in only well-lit areas. I do not drink and I tell others where I am going. I do worry about it though since I have not taken a defense class and I am not a physically strong person.

one in ten victims of rape and sexual assault are male

Zitat

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Do you not think that you could ever be raped or assaulted by a female? Just wondering.

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I was debating whether or not to address that, actually, because it did occur to me. I'm not even slightly worried about defending myself physically against a woman, which places it low on my list of concerns; if it came down to a situation where I was alone with a girl and she started making some kind of sexual advances—kissing or getting too physical—I picture her getting offended rather than more forceful if I responded reluctantly. Why? First thing that comes to mind is the perception of being "entitled" to sex: men believe they're entitled to take, women believe they're entitled to withhold (if you'll forgive the generalizations). I don't think it's impossible that I could be sexually assaulted by a woman, but the chances of it seem much lower than being assaulted by a man.

Zitat

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one in ten victims of rape and sexual assault are male

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I'm guessing this is at least partially directed at me, though if it's just a general statement, my bad. But my response: I know. I was in a relationship for 4 1/2 years, three of which I was sexually abused. I'm certainly not denying that men get assaulted, but the fact of the matter is that the odds are still in my favour, and for me, at least, having been through that experience makes me feel more prepared to recognize warning signs that it might happen again. As for stranger rape, I'm probably significantly more likely to be mugged or just plain attacked than raped.

I keep my risk factors in mind. Knowing that the vast majority of sexual assault cases brought to the Grievance Panel involved alcohol means that when I drink and want to go out, I do so with people I trust. My group of friends is important in helping me recognize and abide by my personal limits that I set up ahead of time.

However, this question is strange to me, because every person has a right to be free from sexual assault. While it is important to engage in safety as well as personal responsibility, that is also true of people who sexually assault. People should not sexually assault people, as opposed to people avoiding going out or not doing something they want because it may put them at risk for sexual assault.

But that's why discussing these matters is so important.

Knowledge is power.

But most men who are sexually assaulted as assaulted by men.

Just for perspective.

Yes, one in ten victims of sexual assault or rape is male. But they do not tend to be college-age adult men, unless they are in prison. Boys get assaulted and raped far, far more frequently than adult men do. Rapists are opportunists and tend to target people they think they can overpower if they have to. Childhood sexual assault affects both sexes, although still not proportionally equally. Adult rape normally does not. Getting too involved in arguing about men being victims, too, shifts us away from the fact that rape is usually male sexual violence, or male sexual coercion, and that the targets on a campus are almost always female.