Things to Try When Confronted with Acquaintance Rape
- Trust your gut feelings. If you’re uncomfortable in a situation, get out as soon as you can.
- Stay calm. It’s important for you to keep a clear mind.
- Be assertive. Pleading or crying is less likely to help.
- Use active resistance. Scream, try to use self-defense techniques and run away, but know that this may cause the other person to become violent as well.
- Use passive resistance. Try to turn the person off. Do this by saying you have a sexually transmitted disease, such as HIV or herpes, or acting in a way that is physically unappealing.
Giving in is not giving consent
Giving in, or stopping active resistance against an attacker, is not something to be ashamed of. Attackers often make threats or use physical force, so sometimes, being passive is a way to conserve your energy and sustain lesser physical injuries. Giving in may be a survival strategy, as a rape or sexual assault can also be a life-threatening situation. Your only responsibility as a victim is to keep yourself safe.
Copyright - Counseling Services, State University of New York at Buffalo
