Information & Resources
Here at Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center, we aim to provide support and encouragement throughout your healing journey. No matter if this is the first step you are taking in your healing journey or if you have been on this journey for some time, we assure you that you are not alone. We hope that this information will be a valuable resource for those seeking assistance and resources.
You may want to take breaks while reading, or ask a trusted loved one or friend to read it for you, or with you.
Have you been impacted by sexual violence?
Understanding Your Response
Sexual violence is traumatic. Here are some common reactions that sexual assault survivors might go through. Remember, you're not alone, and there's hope to address these and other responses you might be experiencing!
What’s Next?
Resources to empower survivors and direct survivors with the tools, information, and resources they need to navigate their healing journey with strength and resilience.
Understanding Consent and Sexual Violence
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Sexual violence means that someone forces or manipulates someone else into unwanted sexual activity without their consent. This can occur due to fear, age, illness, disability, or influence of alcohol or drugs. Victims can be anyone—children, teens, adults, and elders—and perpetrators can be acquaintances, family members, trusted individuals, or strangers
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Each state sets an “age of consent,” the minimum age required to legally consent to sexual activity. People below this age are considered children and cannot legally agree to have sex. In other words, even if the child or teenager says “yes,” the law says “no.” In Texas, the age of consent is 17, but this can vary depending on the age difference between the participants. It’s up to you to make sure your partner is old enough to legally take part. Because this can be both a complicated question and answer, it is important to call us to find out more about the laws in our state.
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Alcohol and drugs are not an excuse – or an alibi. States define who has the mental and legal capacity to consent. You have to be awake, lucid, and able to communicate in order to consent. Those with diminished capacity — including people who have been drugged or are unconscious — do not have the legal ability to agree to have sex. Ingesting such a quantity of any substance that it affects your decision making process is not advisable for a number of health related reasons. We encourage you to call us and find out more about the laws in our state.
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While it is best to communicate your needs and boundaries whenever possible, sometimes it isn’t safe to resist, physically or verbally. It depends on the circumstances. If this is the case, we would ask that you consider the following questions: Did someone use physical force (of any kind) to make you have sexual contact with her/him? Did someone threaten you to make you have sexual contact with her/him? Were you afraid of the consequences of saying ‘No’? Were you scared for your life or safety? If fear was in the room, then there was no consent. It doesn’t matter if your partner thinks you meant yes, or if you’ve already started having sex – you have the right to change your mind about participating in sexual activity at any time. No one has the right to control your body but you.
Supporting the Survivor in Your Life
Supporting a survivor of sexual violence requires compassion, empathy, and patience. Learn how to help the survivor in your life feel heard, validated, and empowered on their path toward healing and recovery.
Download ready-to-use flyers and graphics to spread awareness, support survivors, and promote prevention in our community.
