Valladares 1

Naomi Valladares
Professor Jackie
English 113A
16 November 2015
You know that stranger
When sexual assault is talked about on media the perpetrator is mainly always described
as a stranger to the victim. In other cases the perpetrator is masked therefore described as a
stranger, but sexual assault isnt always committed by a stranger. In fact the media needs to talk
about Sexual Assault being committed by someone known because people are more likely to be
attacked by someone they know rather than a stranger.
When people are asked to describe a sexual assault perpetrator, stranger is a word they
use but strangers aren't our main concern In a total of 7,096 cases of sexual assault, 2,082
represent sexual assaults perpetrated by strangers while 5,014 represent sexual assaults
perpetrated by known assailants. More than half of sexual assault cases are perpetrated by
someone known rather than a stranger. People have yet to hear this information when it comes to
media than their view on the masked stranger that sexually assaulted someone. It is important to
know this information especially when it comes to who you have to look out for. It doesn't matter
how much you think you know a person because anyone can be a victim.
It's important to be aware of your surroundings and focus on the people you call friends
along with the people your friends bring around you.The most common victim assailant
relationship that people have to watch out for. 50% of attacks are by acquaintances, 15% by
friends, 11% other, 8% ex-partner, 6% current partner, 4% relative, 3% spouse, 2% parent, 2%
date. Although there is a higher chance you could get attacked by someone you hardly know its

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still someone you might have hung out with once or twice. The second highest chance is by a
friend so dont always believe you are safe with anyone guy or girl. Although it is a way lower
chance to be sexually assaulted by a relative and or a parent, it if very important that anyone can
be a victim of that 4% or 2%.Besides the importance of a relationship that needed to be looked
after, Age is another very important factor in this situation.
It may be hard to believe but perpetrators go for victims that are at the peek of their life
of don't care and go for the weak which are the young and the old. The most common ages
someone gets attacked is 18-24, then is the present of attacks go down from 12-17, 25-34, 35-44,
45-64, under 11 and lastly 65 years or older. The fact that anyone is a target is scary because a
victim has ranged from less than a year old all the way to a 96 year old person. There are so
many people being attacked that ad it is never hard for the victim especially if the perpetrator is
someone close to them but victims should know its better to tell someone, even though its hard
to admit.
Its hard to help someone when no one knows that something is wrong. Its better to get
help rather than feeling alone and that no one cares for you, because that isn't true.Most of the
time people dont report sexual assault committed by someone known because the victim is
embarrassed, afraid, or wants to protect the offender. Also, the victim may believe that many
people think he or she is lying. Although victims dont always want to inform people or the
media of events such as these it is important for the world to know the truth. There are still more
cases about known attackers rather than strangers so somehow there are people that are still
victims that need help that they dont know they have. Its better to know when it happens to
someone rather than when it's too late and someone learning about the facts for themselves after

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the assault was committed to them. The media needs to run off of important facts not limited
facts.
The news doesnt tell the world what it needs to know. The world needs to know the
danger they are in. The fact that media would rather talk about a stranger attacking someone
rather than a family member or friend is strange. News, often emphasizes the unusual. In the
case of rape, an assault by a stranger on a dark night is news primarily because it is so unusual
Yet for people with little knowledge of the topic, the unusual becomes the norm. The media
doesn't inform people with facts that attackers can be someone you know. The fact that the news
doesn't tell the important facts because it isn't unusual enough is horrible. The world needs to
know the true because in today's society everyone views a stranger as the bad guy when that
isnt always the case. It isnt good when the unusual is viewed as something normal just because
thats what the media has been telling us. There was a reason why stranger danger was invented
and it also important to take that in consideration.
Strangers are a big part of sexual assault and it isnt bad that the media is talking about it.
It's better for the media to talk about some of the subject rather than not at all because when it
comes to strangers more victims are willing to talk about it rather than a victim with a known
perpetrator. Along with the difference between the victims for a known attacker and a stranger.
Strangers use more force on their victims. Strangers use verbal force, body weight, restraint,
hitting, and weapons more than known perpetrators. Although strangers are more harmful to
victims it's important to know that strangers aren't the only harmful people. Known perpetrators
are also known to use these forms of force it is just less likely. It might not be a great idea to let
the world know the truth about the horrible world we live in but it's time that people know the
truth rather than what the media thinks we want to hear.

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If there are more cases about known attackers and facts that show not so many people
report that they are victims of sexual assault by a victim than there are a lot of victims that need
to be helped. People need to understand the importance of this knowledge. It can save someone
from a life of trauma and trust issues.The media needs to talk about this situation more no matter
how uncomfortable the facts are. They make strangers a normal attacker when you actually need
to take care of yourself around friends, and acquaintances. Im not trying to scare people i just
want people to open their eyes to what we have been blind to this whole time. Its better to save a
life rather than keep them at risk. Help spread the word so that people can know how to protect
themselves and who to look out for. Be aware of your surroundings and be careful with the
people you think you know.