1983_05 Insight May 1983

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Rape - every five minutes nationwide
HELEN MARIE J ANOUSEK
Insight reporter
"When people start making
wisecracks about rape..." Alice
Meachan's voice trials off, as though
she is at a loss for an explanation. "To
me ifs no Joke-I've lived with it for 13
•rears."
Meacham, a 40-year-old private
investigator, is recalling recalling her
brutal rape on March 7,1971 when she
was 17.
"I started out by taking my
mother home from babysitting and
ended up with a knife in me," she
says, still shaking her bead with
'Resistance ranges from talking him out of it to serious
street fighting. In some situations trying to fight him off
may get you maimed or killed, then you must rely on other
forms of resistance. Tell him you have V.D., are pregnant,
vomit, or defecate. —Melissa Hughes
the front pages."
The  Rape  Counseling  Service
tries to help a rape victim with profes-
Meacham was on her way home
armed with a knife jumped into her
car at a red light at Third Street and
Harvey Avenue. When sbe tried to get
the attention of a pacing patrol car,
he sUbbed her and forced ber to drive
at tbe hospital and in the courtroom.
RCS also conducts public education
"He grabbed me at about 8:40-
p.m. the 7th and didn't let me go until
about 3:90 p.m. the 8th, about seven-
and-a-half hours later," Meacham
recalls. "I looked like a piece of ham-
rape prevention and awareness.
RCS has 30 para-counselors wbo
handle tbe hotline phone (222-RAPE)
24 hours a day, said Brady. Tbe
counselors attempt to calm down tbe
victim, then escort ber to the hospital
for a pelvic and rape evidence ex-
aminaUon, and to the police station to
file a report.
on my face, legs and back. He stabbed
me twice. Tbe dec tors estimated I had
Meacham's hair turned grey
overnight. Sbe lost part of ber bladder, may still lose part of her breasts,
and still has a blood clot in one of her
legs where tbe rapist kicked her
severely.
Nationwide, someone is raped
every five minutes. One-bundred-
fifty-five rapes were reported in tbe
dty of Fresno in 1963, according to
Sgt. Robert Milk of the Fresno Police
"But tbe stats are only those
reported, not the actual picture,"
Milla said. (Tbe FBI estimates that
only one in 10 rapes is actually
i . "people are often surprised to
learn how often rape occurs," said
Mary Brady, recently tbe Hotline
Coordinator at the Rape Counseling
Service of Fresno County. "They
realize a problem exists when it hits
Each rape victim reacts differently — responses my vary from
guilt to anger. '"There's no one reaction," said Brady. "Some are extremely upset, some stay calm and
'stuff it' until it ends up surfacing
later. That's why it's very important
to talk about it rather than keep it inside."
"Tbe most important thing in coping with it, is to talk about it - if you
can't find someone, then write it
down," suggests Meacham. "I've
gone through thousands of sheets of
paper, Just writing it down and tearing it up."
"Rape is one of the most
traumatic things that ever happens to
them, both physically and emotionally," said Melissa Hughes, public
educator at ROS. "I ask the public to
compare it to losing someone close to
you, say if your mother died. As a
family or friend, we need to be very
supportive, and let them grieve, let
them go through a mourning period."
Rape victims often experience excessive fear, fear of strangers, tension, depression, physical pain, in
somnia, and are plagued by
nightmares, said Brady.
"People have no idea what the
outcome of a 'simple' rape can be.
Nobody knows the emotional impact
you go through," said Meacham. "I
wondered what was wrong with me —
I'd sit in a corner and talk to myself.
Or, I'd be watching TV, on would
come a commercial and all of a sudden I'd start crying."
Her initial reaction was denial. "I
denied the tact that I'd been raped for
two years. I went from 128 to 200
pounds, thinking ii I was fat and ugly
people would leave me alone. I finally
realized that what I am had nothing to
do with what happened to me," explained Meacham.
It took four operations to piece
ber back together, said Meacham, but
her marriage was iirepairable. "My
husband went into a state of shock,
too. He never learned to accept it.
Finally, after trying for 12 years to
help him as well as myself cope with
it, we got a divorce."
Center: An escape
from family violence
A 'typical' reaction of a rape victim is guilt, said Hughes. Tbe victim's
guilty reaction stems from the myths
about rape that society has
perpetuated for centuries, sbe said.
The most common myth is that tbe
victim "asked for it."
"Ridiculous! People think the
woman asked for it by the way she
dressed. But, rape has to do with someone who is very angry, using the
sexual part of his body to express that
anger," said Hughes.    _y
"So often, tbe victims are young,
old, ugly, handicapped — anyone
that's vulnerable and can't fight back
that easily. People think the rape victim is a beautiful 20-year-old coed.
•
That's not true."
Another myth people hold of the
rapist is that be is a "sex-starved
maniac with impulsive urges."
"Wrong," said Hughes.
Nor is rape always a spontaneous
crime committed by a stranger. Rape
is a "crime of premeditation," said
Joan Newcombe, wbo teaches a
course on rape at both CSUF and
Fresno City College. Eight out of 10 individual rapes are planned —
anywhere from several minutes to
several weeks.
"Premeditation ranges from a
bunch of guys in a bar who say'Let's
go out and get a piece of ass' to a date
planning on 'getting it,' wbo will
resort to force if necessary," said
Newcombe.
And rape is often committed by
someone you know. "Chances are better than fifty-fifty that the rapist is so-
meone you know, or an aquaintance,
or a 'familiar stranger.' For example,
someone you see occasionally in a
laundromat," said Newcombe.
And not only women are raped.
Fifteen male rapes were reported In
Fresno last year, Hughes said.
"Men also wonder if it was their
fault, tbey ask themselves, 'Did I
dress in a fashion that attracted a
homosexual?' " said Hughes. "But, if
there's a 300-pound guy with a knife at
your throat pinning you down, you're
going to do what be says."
Just as there Is no stagkjype of
woman most likely to be raped/there
is no single type of man most likely to
be a rapist. "The stereotype of a
psychotic rapist Just doesn't bold up,"
said Newcombe. "Ninety-seven percent of the rapes committed are committed by people not that different
from anyone else. It's important to
know  they're  no' different  from
anyone else because people tend to
avoid weirdos but don't recognize
rapists: Tbey are everybody - professors, doctors, carpenters,
ministers. You can't base it on what
tbey look like," said Newcombe.
The best way to avoid rape, said
Hughes, is "to be aware and alert, it's
that simple."
"I cannot give you a list of 10
things to do. Prevention is a very individual thing, because we all react
differently in a crisis, and we don't
know bow we'll react until we're in
that situation."
Newcombe advises ber students
to "assess yourself and your projection of potential vulnerability." Sbe
describes a vulnerable person as one
"who carries herself as if apologizing
for breathing."
In studies conducted with convicted rapists, said Newcombe, the
majority of the men indicated tbey
would attack a woman who appeared
to be passive, tentative, diffident.
"To prevent diffidence in body
movement you must reevaluate
yourself. Ask yourself, what kind of
body signals are you sending? Then
work on role-playing assertiveness,"
Newcombe suggests. "I call it 'John
Wayneing it' I look like I'm not worth
messslng with. I look like I'm in
charge.''
If a woman is attacked, she must
make an immediate decision on her
line of defense. Self-defense is geared
toward three goals, says Newcombe:
stay alive; avoid serious physical in-
Jury; avoid being raped. She explalns
why rape is tbe last considers uon:
"Rape is bad, but not as bad as being
maimed, certainly not as bad as being
killed."
The idea that it is dangerous to
resist an attacker is false. According
to Newcombe, studies indicate
resistance does not mean your chance
of being physically harmed is increased.
"Instance ranges from talking
him cut of it to serious street fighting.
In some situations trying to fight him
off may get you maimed or killed,
then you must rely on other forms of
resistance. TeU him you have VD, are
pregnant, vomit, or defecate."
"Don't worry about acting like a
Jackass, Just get yourself out Nobody
ever died from being silly. Do you
know bow many women are raped
because tbey don't want to create a
scene?" she asked
"You might make a conscious
choice to be passive, in other words,
not to resist depending upon tbe circumstances. Go with your gut feci
tags. But all bets are off if you feel you
have nothing to lose - then anything
goes. I'd rather die fighting, "said
Newcombe.
Hughes does not advocate or
disaprove of carrying a weapon. It is
an individual choice whether or not to
cany a gun or a can of mace, said
Hughes.
"Weapons are fine, but what good
are they if you're not willing to use
them? You must ask yourself, 'Can I
gouge someone's eyes out?* One
woman I knew who'd been raped
had mace on her, but tole me, 'Well I
wanted to spray it at him, but I didn't
want to hurt him.' "
Meacham is now trained in
weapon use and carries a gun. But she
does not advocate their use for protection. And mace, she says, "gives one a
false sense of security."
Being aware does not mean one
has to become paranoid about their
own safety. "I never tell rjeopleJDon't
walk alone, don't live alone,'"
Hughes said.
"You have the right to do those
things. We don't need to pack together
ta bunches of 10 to go shopping.
Remember, we are the majority and
we outnumber them."
Another component to the program is tbe classes for children.
> tbe shelter ex-
BP»gel behaviorof the man. The woman feels
knowing that she does have some   helpless in tbe situation and therefore
alternatives for tbe future, should it   her  self-esteem   is  continually
lowered. At this point sbe cannot
leave her partner because she feels no
one will love and care for. her.
Another factor that comes into
play is the woman accepting the role
of keeping the family together at any
Carter said the youngsters resent cost Women have been taught to
their fathers for hurting their "work things out" and to "forgive and .
rnotbers, but they also resent their forget." Sbe therefore conttaues to
mothers for taking them away from forgive the man, hoping tbe situation
their homes, friends, school and will eventually get better.
familiar sumwndtags. Carter said many women are em-
Children are helped to understand    barrassed and humiliated about being *
the violence in their homes is not ac-   battered. Many abused women think
She tends to believe his promises that he will never be
violent again.
ceptable. Staff members and
volunteers conduct play therapy
classes to push (his point across. The
staff is readily available to listen and
violence, the coraequences of continuing their violent behavior and finally,
suggested cures to stop their negative
According to Carter, 65 percent of
tbe abusers do not want to hurt tbe
woman tbey are involved with.
However, because most abusers have
grown up in a domestically violent atmosphere, they do not know how to express tnemaehres in any other way.
Why does a woman continue to
stay in an abusive lifestyle when she
has other options available to ber?
According to Carter, tnere are
many rsasirns why battered women
do not leave. The woman may feel she
Is fmanctally dependent upon tbe
man. She fears she will not be able to
support herself and ber children once
homes are their fault because they
cannot put an end to the violent
tbey are tbe only ones going through
this ordeal and are afraid of asking
for help because of their shame.
Another characteristic of not
leaving is that many domestic
violence cases are much more
abusive than other cases. Tbe woman
in this situation is harassed and abused when she attempts to leave. The
man follows ber and bothers ber
despite restraining orders and
criminal prosecution.
Finally, Carter said women learn
a role of submission. They do
whatever tbe man asks of them for
fear of getting beaten up. Women
have been socialized to be submissive
and this adds to tbe abusive relationship, Carter said.
Since its opening, tbe YWCA
Margaree Mason Center has received
15,000 phone calls from women of all
walks of life. More than 300 calls are
answered monthly. Tbe center usually receives requests from 15 "fleeing
families" a month, but with only room
Fresno abortions
net large profits
CRISMONAHAN
Insight reporter
Fresno's abortion clinics make
some of their profits from Medical patients. The profits from non-MediCal
patients is unknown.
There are two abortion clinics in
the Fresno area, Family Planning
Associates and Valley Women's Services. Both run advertisements in the
Fresno Bee and on local TV.
"Terminations'' are performed
only on Fridays and Saturdays in the
two clinics with counseling available
free of charge. Abortions are $205 for
general anesthesia and $175 for a
local. Both offices receive MediCal
patients.
For the 1981-82 fiscal year. Family Planning Associates billed the
California State Department of
Health Services for MediCal $677,810,
said MediCal research analysis! Bill ,
Maxfieid, and the service was reirni?
bursed for $607,407.
Valley Women's Services collected $216,959 and was paid $184,413
by MediCal, said Maxfieid. In order
for the clinics to receive their reimbursements, they must claim their
MediCal patients.
It is estimated by the Department
of Health Services that Family Planning Associates, one clinic in a chain of
12 owned by two doctors, received
$530,000 in MediCal reimbursemente
for 1981, said Tony Mendoza of
Catholics United for life.
From July to December of 1982,
Maxfieid said that Family Planning
Associates billed MediCal $246,049
and was paid $207,847. This accounts
for more than 1200 women who use
their MediCal benefits for abortions
during that Ume.
According to Roberta Genini
Vice-President for the California Pro-
life Council, 50 to 80 women visit the
clinic on a typical weekend.
Women can use their MediCal
benefits for abortions at Valley
Women's Service, In North Fresno,
but it cannot be used for pre-natal
care in the same office.
The number of women who do not
use MediCal to pay for abortions is
difficult to estimate. The director for
Family Planning Associates,
Sandra.(who would only give her first
name), said it was not possible to give
out patient information because it
could be used to scandalize the
women. Valley Women's Service had
no one available for comment.
Research finds 'average student'
may bate ber partner when bets abus-
tag her, she loves arid cares about him
whan he's not la a violent mood. She
S to better* Ma promiaea that he
B nsrver be violent again
CoursselirogaJad legal aid is also offered to women on a non-residential,
walk-in basis. Although tbe address of
tbe shelter is kept confidential, a
♦H-hour hotline is available seven
days-a-week for interested persons.
Tbe number ia 237-4701. The center is
Npportad by tbe United Way, Fresno
City and County funding and by
private cormnunity contributions.
ELIZABETH PAYNE
Insight reporter
She's a 22-year-old Caucasian
from Fresno County. She's a full time
CSUF student working on ber
undergraduate degree in business.
And sbe is maintaining a 2.7
cumulative grade point average. Wbo
is sbe? She is a composite of the
CSUF student.
This  picture  is  derived  from
is tics compiled by tbe CSUF Of-
flee of Institutional Research. The initial application for acceptance to the
The average student age for the
Fall 82-Spring 83 school year is 22.3.
According to Dr. Harold Best, vice
president of academic affairs, tbe
average student age is creeping upward. Tbe two main reasons are the
decline in tbe number of high school
students coming directly to college
after high school and the return of
students over 30 years of age to campus.
"It's becoming more acceptable
now and it's kind of a trend, not only
for women, but also for men wbo are
students finishing Incompletes and
those students auditing classes.
Women outnumber men among
all college students on the national
level and also on tbe CSUF campus.
There are 8,348 women and 7,824 men
enrolled for this academic year, ta-
-  both  full and part  Ume
Jeannine Raymond,  a  research
j CSUF
it of 16,107 I
graduate students working on theses.
Ar>proxirnately 90 percent of the
CSUF student population is from
California. Sixty-four percent of those
students are from the Fresno "service
area" winch includes Fresno, Tulare.
Madera and Kings Counties.
A majority of foreign students at-
tending CSUF are from Iran. Tbe second and third largest student populations are, reapectively, Malaysia and
Taiwan.
The most popular major on this
campus   is   business,   with   an   '
undergraduate enrollment of 3,125
students. Agriculture and engineering
are the second and third most popular
majors at CSUF.
Education is the largest area of
study for graduate students, followed
by business. The total graduate student enrollment is 2,940.
Graduate students out-rank
undergraduate students by grade
point average. For tbe fall of 1982.
semester graduate students earned
an overall GPA of 3.44;
undergraduates earned a 3.73. Last
tail's GPA earned by CSUF students
was 2.80.