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Rape Crisis Centers
Recent estimates from a U.S. national survey indicate that one in six women have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime. The impact of sexual assault has been linked to various devastating short-term and long-term effects including physical health problems, difficulties in functioning, psychological distress, and mental health issues. Rape crisis centers were developed as an upshot of the feminist movement with the goal of alleviating these negative effects. These centers continue to provide a range of supportive and outreach services to victims and survivors of rape, and many remain involved in the promotion of social activism endeavors. This entry summarizes the history of the formation of rape crisis centers, the needs of women who have been sexual assaulted, and the range of services available to those who access rape crisis centers.
History of Rape Crisis Centers
In the early 1970s, rape crisis centers developed as a part of a grassroots feminist movement to meet the needs of women who had been sexually assaulted. These centers were originally formed by activists who elected to avoid aligning with organizations that they viewed as revictimizing rape victims and survivors, such as the police, hospitals, and the court system. Instead, they focused on involving trained members of the community to assist women in navigating these systems. Although the primary goal of these early efforts was to provide immediate crisis support to women who had been sexually assaulted, many centers also enlisted their capacity to influence social change. For example, rape crisis centers lobbied to modify sexual assault laws, increase victim rights, raise awareness of sexual violence, and improve the system's response to women. In the context of this movement, the term survivor rather than victim was adopted to emphasize that women who had experienced sexual violence had a voice and the power to make choices about their own process of healing.
Although the majority of rape crisis centers began as independent, politically motivated organizations, many centers have since closed or merged with other larger social services agencies. Currently, there are 1,265 rape crisis centers in the United States, and only 26% of these programs remain “freestanding.” The autonomous programs continue to be the most active in promoting social change, for instance, by engaging in rape prevention education. The remaining 74% of rape crisis centers are affiliated with other organizations such as domestic violence shelters or hospitals. Consequently, many centers now focus on collaborating with the broader organization within which they are embedded to deliver services. For example, a woman who has been raped by her partner and uses a rape crisis center might also have access to domestic violence counseling within the same agency.
Philosophy and Range of Services
The primary goal of a rape crisis center is to create an environment in which a rape survivor feels both safe and empowered. The concept of empowerment is rooted in feminist ideology and highlights the capacity for women to make their own decisions about their course of action following a sexual assault. Frontline workers at a rape crisis center provide access to resources and information so that a woman can make informed choices. Thus, the rape survivor directs the support process, which differs from the more traditional model in which a professional might dictate the provision of services.
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