Rape Crisis England & Wales (RCEW) are partnering with Talking Taboos, a charity focussed on tackling harmful health and social taboos.
RCEW is deeply committed to raising awareness about the prevalence and impacts of sexual violence and abuse, and challenging rape culture. A key part of this is about believing victims and survivors, and helping them to get their voices heard.
This year, Talking Taboos are spotlighting the impacts of a sexual assault within a friendship group, and how the taboos around sexual assault affect people who’ve experienced this.
This project should help people understand all of this complexity and be able to better support survivors – and RCEW is delighted to be part of it.
Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis England and Wales, says:
"Survivors of sexual violence and abuse often suffer in silence for many years before reaching out for support, because they fear they won’t be listened to or believed.
If shame really is to change sides, then the silence which surrounds sexual violence and abuse must be broken.
Naming rape and sexual abuse opens up the possibility of change, and that’s why we’re so pleased about this partnership with Talking Taboos."
Louise McLaren, Chair of Trustees at Talking Taboos, says:
“We are delighted to be partnering with Rape Crisis on this important taboo of sexual assaults within peer groups.
We hope that by inviting discussion and seeking to build shared understanding of the reality behind the lived experience of these taboos, we can help people to feel confident to seek help, and to support others.”
Kat Jennings, Director of Talking Taboos, says:
“We have learned from our research this year how widespread the impact of sexual assault by someone you know is, for 18-34 year olds in particular. Yet far too many people are experiencing the pain from this taboo in silence.
At Talking Taboos we believe that making it easier to talk about taboos will mean that more people can find the support and acceptance they need.
Our partnership with Rape Crisis on this taboo will bring together RCEW’s expertise and deep understanding of the impacts of sexual assault with our understanding of taboos and the hidden pains that they create.”
Why taboos?
Taboos create shame, inhibit people from speaking openly and make people feel less connected.
Despite being part of a society with overflowing information and opinion, there’s just not enough space for the human connection needed to explore taboo topics.
Speaking out when you’ve experienced a sexual assault can be very hard. The taboos that surround sexual assault are really strong and enduring. When that sexual assault is by someone you know, the taboo is compounded.
Sexual assault by someone you know
The fallout of a sexual assault within a friendship group extends beyond the survivor and perpetrator involved.
Friendship groups can become places of silence and relationships struggle to recover. Leaving a whole circle of friends affected by the taboo and struggling to hold space for the empathy and support needed.
Survivors living with the pain and fall out of the sexual assault may withdraw without explaining why. Friends may not understand what has happened or may not know how to respond.
The social dynamics add to the complexity.
What change is needed?
We need better understanding and awareness around this taboo and how to support someone affected so that we can improve reporting and prevention.
If we provide opportunities for people to talk about this taboo, it will also help them feel more connected and less alone.
How you can get involved
- Listen to the podcast: We invited lived experience and charity specialists in to talk more about this taboo.
- Read the report: Help banish the shame around this taboo by reading about it.
Together, we'll be looking at the impact of shame and silence, how sexual assault can affect friendship groups, and what we can do to better support survivors and tackle this taboo.