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Rape is not selective… Women (and men) of all ages, races, classes and lifestyles have been raped. Last year women reported 27% more rapes than the year before.

The impression held by many people is that rapists are strangers in the dark waiting to pounce on their victims. This is in fact far from the truth * the majority of rapists are known to the people they attack and many attacks occur in the individual's own home or that of the attacker. Women can be and are raped by husbands, boyfriends, relatives, friends, work colleagues and fellow students... In fact by anyone and anywhere. Rapists are often considered by those who know them to be nice ordinary people and very few rapists are ever sent for psychiatric treatment.

When a woman is assaulted or raped there are numerous ways in which she may react. She may scream or fight back, or go quiet and still - too frightened to cry out or get away. Some women will choose not to fight back in order to avoid further violence. The attacker may use a weapon, physical force, coercion or threats against the woman or people close to her. In is also becoming increasingly common for attackers to use drugs to assist rape. In these incidences the women (or man) is helpless to react in anyway to the rape whilst it takes place and often has no memory of it after the event. This can obviously be very hard to deal with. There is no right or wrong way to respond. Only the women in that situation can judge the best way to react.

The lives of women who have been attacked are never the same again… Women's feelings of trust and control are often removed, confidence and self-esteem may hit rock bottom and they often feel ashamed, dirty and to blame for what happened to them. They are not to blame.

Survivors of rape and assault deal with their experiences in many different ways. Some women may cry a lot or become withdrawn, develop illnesses, phobias, obsessive behaviours, eating disorders and addictions. Others may block out the memory of what happened and continue to live their lives as they did before. Everyone is individual and coping strategies vary, once again; there is no right or wrong way. However, there is evidence to suggest that women are more likely to come to terms with their experiences if they have the support of those close to them.

The effects of rape and sexual assault last for many years - often for the rest of the woman's lifetime. Expectations by family and friends that a woman should recover from her experience within a set time limit only serves to isolate and alienate the woman further. The process of healing is a long and often convoluted one with some women going through periods in their lives when the pressure of memories and painful emotions can be difficult and overwhelming. The process however is helped if the woman can find people to talk to who are believing, supportive and sympathetic. Those people may be friends, family, counsellors or workers in other caring or advising agencies.

The women's officer is here to provide support, advice and a safe space to talk. If you or a friend, have been raped or sexually assaulted, either by a stranger or by someone you know, she can talk to you in confidence and provide information on where to get support and the relevant steps to take. No woman should be pressed into reporting an attack to the police; the decision should be left entirely to the individual.

If you do decide to report it you can ask to be interviewed by a female police officer and examined by a female doctor. If a woman does decide to report and attack to the police she is advised to do the following.

· Be accompanied by a friend or a member of rape crisis (details below)

· Report the attack as soon as possible to the nearest police station.

· Do not wash, bathe, change clothes or brush hair as this might destroy evidence. Many women find this difficult, as a common first reaction is to 'get clean'.

· Take a change of clothes with you including shoes and underwear as clothes worn during the attack may be used as evidence.

· Above all, whether you chose to fight back or not, the attack is not your fault.

The women's office is situated in the LUSU building (under Spar). You can drop in or call on ext.92197. Alternatively you can email the women's officer at su-womens@lancaster.ac.uk

If you want further information or support relating to rape or sexual assault then you can visit the national rape crisis website at www.rapecrisis.co.uk or call them on 0115 900 3560.

In an emergency call:999