How stigma hides sexual assault
Staff writerD
Sexual assault continues to affect residents across central Kansas, but in small communities it often goes unseen. This is not because it isn’t happening but because people don’t feel safe speaking out.
That silence is exactly why conversations during Sexual Assault Awareness Month matter, Safehope community engagement coordinator Heather Murrow said.
Safehope provides free, confidential support services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in central Kansas.
“Abuse does not discriminate,” Murrow said. “When it is not discussed, it doAes not mean it isn’t happening. It often means individuals do not feel safe enough to speak up.”
Safehope has seen steady numbers of sexual assault survivors in recent years. What has changed is the level of help those survivors need, Murrow said.
Over the past three years, the number of services provided per participant has doubled, increasing from about 12 to 24 aSnnually, according to Safehope data. That includes a 64% increase in emotional support and safety planning and a 127% rise in financial and material assistance.
Those increases reflect growing economic pressures and the complex needs of survivors navigating trauma, Murrow said.
In rural communities, additional barriers often keep victims from coming forward.
“People often know one another,” Murrow said. “There may be fear of gossip or being recognized, which creates pressure on the victim.”
Survivors may hesitate if the accused holds influence in the community, she said, or if speaking out could affect their job, family, or support system. Fear of not being believed remains a significant factor.
That dynamic can make sexual assault harder to confront publicly in places like Marion County, where relationships and reputations carry weight.
“Sometimes, the pressure is direct from family members that the assault should be handled privately,” Murrow said. “Other times, it’s subtle, persistent, and deeply social.”
Even when survivors decide to seek help, access to services can be limited.
Transportation remains a major barrier across the region, with no public transit system connecting communities served by Safehope. Counseling access also can be limited, especially when free services are at capacity or outside providers are unaffordable.
Safehope’s shelter or counseling programs may be full, forcing staff to find alternatives through partner agencies or services outside the area.
Despite those challenges, Murrow said, Safehope works closely with law enforcement, hospitals, and first responders to provide a coordinated, survivor-centered response.
A public response advocate is available to assist alongside officers, and agencies regularly collaborate to improve services.
Still, prevention and education remain uneven, particularly in schools, she said.
Safehope would like to expand youth programming focused on healthy relationships and recognizing warning signs, but access varies, and in some communities, those discussions are still viewed as controversial.
Without education, she said, gaps remain in how young people understand consent and sexual violence. Those gaps contribute to broader misconceptions about who sexual assault affects.
Among survivors served by Safehope, the largest age group is adults 28 to 37, followed by those 38 to 47 and those 18 to 27.
The idea that “it doesn’t happen here” is one of the biggest obstacles communities must overcome, Murrow said.
“If people think this doesn’t happen in their community, they are mistaken,” she said.
When communities begin openly addressing sexual assault, she said, reports often increase, not because incidents are rising but because survivors feel safer coming forward.
“That reflects growing trust in the systems and supports available,” she said.
Breaking the silence requires a cultural shift — one that replaces stigma with understanding and accountability.
“When communities invest in education and collaboration, it creates space for open conversations,” Murrow said. “The question becomes how we protect people and respond with compassion when harm occurs.”
Until then, she said, silence will continue to hide the problem.