Library: Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM): Home

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024 is “Building Connected Communities.” According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, "this year's campaign helps us reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in our communities. We must strive to create strong, connected communities that take care of one another. Communities that make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of all members are critical to ending sexual violence worldwide.

Sexual violence is a detriment to communities, affecting over 50% of women and nearly one-third of men with incidents involving physical contact over their lifetimes. Additionally, 47% of all transgender individuals have been subjected to sexual assault at least once. The repercussions of this violence extend beyond the individual, with oppressive systems such as racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and more, exacerbating the frequency of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. To combat sexual violence, it is crucial to confront all forms of power abuse within our relationships, communities, and broader society.

Preventing sexual abuse, assault, and harassment from occurring in the first place necessitates a collective effort to foster environments and behaviors that are healthy, safe, and respectful. Prevention efforts at the community level benefit all members, even those who are not directly aware of these initiatives. Therefore, everyone plays a critical role in preventing sexual violence, contributing to the creation of communities that are safer, more inclusive, and equitable.

What does it take to Build Connected Communities?

Tackling the underlying social and structural factors that influence health, including education, income, employment, community safety, and social networks, is key to enhancing the environments where we live, learn, work, and engage in leisure activities. In a cohesive community, we have the opportunity to support each other and make decisions that advance health, safety, and overall well-being. The initiative to Build Connected Communities moves us closer to achieving health equity. Health equity ensures that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to attain optimal health, thereby offering everyone a fair and equitable chance to reach their utmost well-being (PI & NSVRC, 2021).

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact — including sexual assault, harassment, and abuse and represents a range of behaviors.

Forms of sexual violence include:

Rape or sexual assault
Sexual harassment
Sexual abuse
Unwanted sexual contact/touching
Sexual exploitation and trafficking
Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent
Nonconsensual image sharing
Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent

Statistics show:

More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016).
1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).
47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al., 2016).

MiraCosta students are especially encouraged to seek free and confidential assistance through Student Health Services, which provides personal and mental health counseling sessions. Sessions are held one time per week for 50 minutes, up to six consecutive weeks, and there are also one-time drop-in crisis sessions available.

Events @ MiraCosta

Clothesline Project	San Elijo from April 8 – 11 CLC from April 14 – 18 Oceanside April 21 – 25
T-Shirt Booth	April 8, 15, and 22
Documentary Screening - To Kill a Tiger	April 24 - OC 3601 (Theater)
Denim Day	April 24

Books (Print and Online)

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault in Popular Culture

Sexual Assault: Prevalence, Health Effects and Coping Strategies

Framing the Rape Victim: Gender and Agency Reconsidered

Violence in the Lives of Black Women: Battered, Black, and Blue

Campus Action Against Sexual Assault: Needs, Policies, Procedures, and Training Programs

Stolen Women in Medieval England : Rape, Abduction, and Adultery, 1100–1500

Watch Films

Film poster depicting a lone woman entering a building at night. A banner hanging nearby reads

Film poster depicting a line of high school football players running toward the viewer.

Film poster depicting the film's title Invisible War overlaid on a close-up of a woman's face. The woman is wearing military fatigues and hat.

Lawyer Amani Kahatwa standing in a courtroom with military personnel in the background

Film poster depicting Anita Bryant raising her right hand

A woman wearing a large hat and face coverings to shield her face from the sun looks out into a green field

Documentary subject Ranjita Mandal walking near her home

3 Congolese interviewees standing together outside

Two United Nations Peacekeepers shown from behind

Local Resources

Center for Community Solutions CCS operates the only rape crisis center in the city of San Diego along with a countywide 24-hour bilingual crisis helpline. It provides emergency domestic violence shelters, hospital and court accompaniment, as well as legal and counseling services for those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
Community Resource Center | Domestic Violence Program CRC works to end hunger, homelessness and domestic violence in North County San Diego. Its programs include a domestic violence emergency shelter, hotline and prevention/education outreach, a Therapeutic Children’s Center, professional counseling, legal advocacy, food and nutrition distribution center, homelessness prevention and rental and housing assistance.
Jewish Family Services | Project SARAH Project SARAH is a support system for individuals experiencing intimate partner violence. It offers a safe, confidential setting for you to consider your options, work through a mix of feelings, and determine the best way forward for yourself and your family.
License to Freedom License to Freedom is a non-profit, community based organization that promotes nonviolence through community education, self-sufficiency, and advocacy for refugee and immigrant survivors of domestic and relationship abuse in the East County and San Diego region.
North County Lifeline North County Lifeline is a community-based human services organization that serves low-income and underserved populations in San Diego County. Their programs focus on positive youth development, child abuse prevention and domestic violence intervention, housing and self-sufficiency, behavioral health, and human trafficking victim and survivor services.
San Diego Domestic Violence Council Established in 1989, the San Diego Domestic Violence Council (SDDVC) is a network of public, non-profit and private agencies working together to develop an enhanced system-wide structure and response to domestic violence
Women's Resource Center in Oceanside WRC develops intervention and prevention programs designed to meet the needs of victims of sexual assault or domestic violence. A program has also been established for perpetrators.
YWCA of San Diego Founded in 1908, YWCA of San Diego County empowers individuals and families to break the cycle of domestic violence and homelessness, and achieve self-sufficiency.

Find Help and Support

1 in 6 The mission of 1in6 is to help men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences live healthier, happier lives.
Department of Defense Safe Helpline Anonymous, confidential, 24/7 sexual assault support for the Dept. of Defense community.
Love Is Respect Love is Respect is the national resource to disrupt and prevent unhealthy relationships and intimate partner violence by empowering young people through inclusive and equitable education, support, and resources.
National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline The National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) has partnered with the Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS) to offer information and ensure Deaf advocates are available 24/7 to respond to those seeking help through the National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline (NDDVH).
National Domestic Violence Hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse.
National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline | RAINN The National Sexual Assault Hotline was the nation’s first decentralized hotline, connecting those in need with help in their local communities. It’s made up of a network of independent sexual assault service providers, vetted by RAINN, who answer calls to a single, nationwide hotline number.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
Sexual Assault Resource Guide | Healthline If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, this guide can serve as a resource in your time of need and answer any questions you may have about what to do next.
StrongHearts Native Helpline StrongHearts Native Helpline is a 24/7 safe, confidential and anonymous domestic, dating and sexual violence helpline for American Indians and Alaska Natives, offering culturally-appropriate support and advocacy.
WomensLaw.org Despite its name, WomensLaw.org provides information that is relevant to people of all genders, not just women. Our Email Hotline will provide legal information to anyone who reaches out with legal questions or concerns regarding domestic violence, sexual violence, or any other topic covered on WomensLaw.org.

National Resources

History of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) | Legal Momentum A history of the VAWA Act, first passed by the US Congress in 1994 and expanded and improved in 2000 and 2005.
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) The NSVRC is the leading nonprofit in providing information and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence. NSVRC translates research and trends into best practices that help individuals, communities and service providers achieve real and lasting change. Every April, NSVRC leads Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a campaign to educate and engage the public in addressing this widespread issue.
Office on Violence Against Women | US Department of Justice The OVW provides federal leadership in developing the national capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Peace Over Violence Headquartered in Los Angeles, Peace Over Violence is a nonprofit 501c3, multicultural, community based and volunteer centered organization dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence.
RAINN RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. It operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Since 2001, men, women, and their families around the world have joined award-winning Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence. We ask men to walk in women's high-heeled shoes to actively confront gender stereotypes and expectations.
Why Denim? | Denim Day Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to a rape case in Italy and the activism surrounding it. What started as a local campaign to bring awareness to victim blaming and destructive myths that surround sexual violence has grown into an international movement.

Sexual Assault Resources	Harassment and Unlawful Discrimination
Title IX Training: Voices for Change	Campus Well
Community Resources page	Health Services

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Events @ MiraCosta

Resources @ MiraCosta

Books (Print and Online)

Watch Films

Learn More - English

Local Resources

Find Help and Support

Learn More - Spanish

National Resources

Online Articles and Other Media