In Rural Missouri, Response to Sexual Assault is Uneven and Uncertain (The Columbia Missourian)
In Missouri’s rural towns, it’s hard for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to get the help they need. When neighbors know each other in tight-knit communities, a lack of anonymity can discourage survivors from seeking help. In addition to the cultural stigma, the miles of isolation often mean fewer services. Overwhelmed, undertrained, or sometimes apathetic law enforcement can make reporting crimes even harder. Advocates in some of Missouri’s rural southeastern communities have to be willing and able to do it all to ensure survivors can get a ride to court, seek therapy, and feel supported. About one in three women and one in six men in the United States have lived through sexual violence of some kind, including rape.
Anna Brett and Tessa Weinberg, The Columbia Missourian June 1, 2018.
