By Laura Lane
The U.S. Department of Justice reports that 44 percent of all reported rape victims are under age 18. Experts say that figure may be even higher, because many rapes among teenagers go unreported.
"It's hard to get percentages for rape in general, but among teenagers, it's even harder," said Mindy Perlmutter, the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence's education director. "With teenagers, you have fewer reporting their rape, and since many rapes are done by someone you know, they are embarrassed."
A 19-year-old Mepham High School student was recently arrested and charged with third-degree rape. Police allege that Eduardo Alvarez took advantage of a 16-year-old student sexually while on an off-campus lunch break. Alvarez faces a possible four-year prison sentence if convicted of the charges. The case threw rape among teenagers into the spotlight.
Subhed: An uncomfortable subject
Perlmutter said that parents of teenagers who are raped are more willing to report the crime if a stranger, rather than a friend or relative, is the perpetrator. "Then the attitude by a parent can be, 'Let's put this behind us,'" she said. "The problem is the rape victim can't do that."
Maria Shields, an educator with the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said teenagers often do not report a rape because the perpetrator is a member of their group of friends, and they fear that they'll be stigmatized or outcast by their peers if they report the crime.
Rape educators say schools are often reluctant to discuss the subject because it's a highly uncomfortable topic. Shields said that schools often request workshops on dating and relationship abuse, but rarely about rape. She believes that educators worry that there may later be a rape or an unfair accusation of rape by students if the subject is broached. At some schools, Shields must provide a written outline of her presentation to receive administrative approval to enter a classroom.
Perlmutter said that teenagers benefit when Shields visits the schools. She disagrees with the idea that students will use a discussion on rape to make false accusations or commit rape. "Education is so important. [Teenagers] hear bits and pieces about rape, and sometimes it's the wrong information," she said.
High-school health teachers say that discussing rape with teenagers can be challenging. "The kids are so blasé about things because they're so saturated with sexual issues. The media is titillating, with the movies and television shows with sexual overtones," said Gary Quartararo, a health teacher at East Meadow's W. T. Clarke High School. "Date rape is very muddled, and the kids are confused. I think they think they know it all, but in reality, when I try to prove to them how little they do know, they're surprised."
Sarah Graham Miller, spokeswoman for the National Rape and Incest Hotline, said, "It's a difficult area for people to get access to information on, and sexual assault historically is something we haven't been comfortable about talking about."
She continued, "More and more high schools are getting involved, but there's definitely more to be done. Some schools don't want rape discussed because they're in denial, believing it doesn't happen here."
Miller added that one in six women is the victim of rape. "If we knew one in six would be in a car accident, we'd provide more driver training in school. Learning about rape is another way to keep our children safe," she said.
Subhed: What schools are doing
Arnold Goldstein, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School assistant superintendent, said the district uses many avenues to keep children safe. He believes that supporting a strong, districtwide character-education program lays a foundation that helps teenagers make good choices and avoid potential dangers, such as rape.
A 90-member district committee, comprising educators and residents, created Central's character-education program in the wake of the Mepham High School football sex-abuse scandal in 2003. The program stresses the importance of "respect, responsibility, compassion, courage and integrity."
"That's the basis for sound decision-making and good judgment," said Goldstein. "Everything we do in this district revolves around these qualities. You want kids to have enough self-respect to say, This isn't a situation I want to put myself in."
In high schools, rape prevention is generally discussed in 10th-grade health classes. But Calhoun recently took an extra step by bringing in Child Abuse Prevention Services to review date rape. The two-session workshop teaches students how the law regards rape, and offers strategies for teenagers to keep themselves safe.
Patricia Cathers, program and volunteer director at Child Abuse Prevention Services, said, "We don't go in there and make the workshop a guy-bashing issue. We talk about things like not leaving any one person alone at a party and not leaving your drink somewhere. We review the myths and facts surrounding rape. It's important for the kids to communicate and have an honest dialogue in the classroom."
Lynne Sharenow-Altman has taught health for 15 years at East Meadow High School. She said, "I make it clear to my students that rape is violence, no matter who it is, even if it's your boyfriend. Kids do listen."
Perlmutter believes that even middle-school students must learn about rape. "Teaching middle-school students has to be done the proper way, tailoring it to what they're ready to hear," she said. "We have 12-year-olds having sex and feeling peer pressure. Dating violence needs to be discussed at an early age."
Comments about this story? LLane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
