Though April is sexual assault awareness month, there should always be a focus and awareness of this type of violence. Moving into the month of May, it’s important to reflect on all of the statistics and continue the campaigns that have been seen recently.

Sexual assault awareness is an annual campaign held by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. Each year during the month of April, individuals plan events and activities to highlight sexual violence as a public health, human rights and social justice issue and to reinforce the need for prevention efforts.

One female, Cartersville student, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “My encounter with sexual assault happened when I was 16. When it occurred, I couldn’t fully process it. I remember the entire thing but only in fragments. It’s taken me a couple years to understand that this person’s actions weren’t my fault and that these events don’t define me or my character.”

Sexual assault is defined as any type of sexual activity or contact that one does not consent to. It can happen through physical force or threats of force, drugging or coercion.

Within the month of April, a shocking yet saddening statistic has been revealed. A study found that 97 percent of women aged 18 to 24 have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces, and more than 70 percent of women of all ages are victims of said behavior.

The results of this survey struck a chord with many, especially those using social media. Posts with the tag #97percent have been viewed over 307.4 million times according to TikTok’s data. These videos primarily focus on users talking about their experiences of sexual assault and raising awareness of the harassment that women face on a daily basis.

Students looking for more resources on sexual assault are encouraged to reach out to GHC’s free counseling services.