The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) is a nonprofit organization that operates America's only national hotline for survivors of sexual assault. The hotline offers free, confidential counseling and support 24 hours a day, from anywhere in the country, as a service for survivors who cannot reach a rape crisis center through a local call, as well as those who might not know that a local center exists.
phone:
800-656-HOPE
address:
635-B Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women by Susan Faludi (Anchor Books). Intelligent, aggressive examination of attacks on women's rights, including discussion of media, myths, sexual harassment and assault.
Telling: A Memoir of Rape and Recovery by Patricia Weaver Francisco (Cliff Street Books). Author says talking--to her rapist as he raped her and about her rape afterward--saved her life. Beautifully written, poetic account.
Scarleteen is a comprehensive sexuality website for teens and young adults that has
articles, advice, chats and other resources.
Sexual Assault Information Page is one of the best sites on the internet for finding answers to questions about sexual assault, harassment, incest and date rape. Lists resources such as rape crisis centers and self-defense classes.
Self-defense
To find self-defense courses geared for women, consult your local YWCA and your Yellow Pages for Model Mugging courses.
Incest
National Domestic Violence Hotline offers resources and referrals for all aspects of domestic violence, including incest. They operate 24 hours, 7 days a week.
phone:
800-799-SAFE (7233)
Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison (Plume). Harrowing, beautifully written account of childhood pain, rape and betrayal.
The Kiss by Kathryn Harrison (Bard). A memoir of one woman's love affair with her father.
Push: A Novel by Sapphire (Vintage Books). A young woman's raw account of sexual abuse.
Secret Survivors: Uncovering Incest and Its Aftereffects in Women by E. Sue Blume (Ballantine Books). Resource especially useful for those who suspect they were abused while unconscious. Shows how survivors frequently suffer from depression, addiction, and eating/panic disorders.
