Walk by Schoenberg Hall today and you’ll see the hundreds
of shirts that hang on the clotheslines. Stop for a chat with
someone wearing a red shirt that reads “Lives are on the
line” and you’ll quickly find out the latest statistics
about sexual violence ““ how underreported rape is because
survivors are afraid of being blamed, and how, as college students,
we are an especially high-risk population when it comes to sexual
violence.
This is an issue that affects us all. The shirts, each made by a
survivor of sexual violence or in remembrance of a victim, speak
for themselves. An experience with sexual violence affects not only
the survivor, but also those close to the survivor.
But what can we do? I’ve participated in and worked on
sexual violence education and victims’ advocacy workshops,
including the Clothesline Project, but even I’m caught off
guard by that question. While I think most of us realize that
sexual violence is a societal problem, I don’t think we treat
it as such.
There are various steps we can take to help end sexual violence
““ steps that go beyond simply supporting survivors ““
and that may prevent new incidences from occurring. There is the
usual list of things not to do: Don’t blame the survivor,
don’t leave your drink unattended at a bar or party,
don’t walk home late at night by yourself.
But what can we do that’s more proactive? First,
it’s important to be an ally to survivors of sexual violence.
This includes being educated about the issue and understanding what
it means to say, “I believe you.” Rape goes unreported
because survivors feel guilty and are afraid of being blamed.
It’s a problem when fewer than 6 percent of alleged rapes,
which are already underreported, result in a conviction. These
convictions are usually made by jury members who may have a
tendency to blame the victim.
Still, while you can educate yourself and be supportive, it
becomes obvious that something needs to be done to prevent sexual
violence in the first place.
We can raise awareness among our peers. This is something the
Clothesline Project does in a very vivid manner by “airing
society’s dirty laundry” in the form of personal
stories on T-shirts. It is an amazing place for survivors to come
to heal, and for others to experience their stories ““ but it
only affects those that take the time to stop.
There are other similar programs such as that by One in Four, a
non-profit organization involved in rape-prevention programming.
What makes One in Four so special, and so effective, is its use of
a program for men ““ a one-hour workshop titled “How to
Help a Sexual Assault Survivor: What Men Can Do.” According
to their Web site, 75 percent of men report that they are less
likely to rape after participating in the program ““ a result
they say lasts about seven months, or an academic year.
While this doesn’t sound like much, doing something that
stays with a person for that long is impressive if you compare it
to another statistic on their Web site: 99 percent of all
perpetrators of sexual violence are men.
However, it’s necessary that we don’t perceive
sexual violence as a women’s issue. Men can be both victims
and survivors.
The answer lies in education. But the question is, who do we
educate? Educating college-aged people is important, but by the
time we’re in college we’ve already grown up with a set
of values.
The World Health Organization released a report in 2002 that
details the steps we can take to prevent violence in general. It
recommends the use of educational programs for parents, children
and communities.
These kinds of programs should teach parents how to raise their
children so they understand what is considered inappropriate
behavior. Gender-specific programs in preschools and elementary
schools could address harassment and respect.
I still remember watching a video in junior high or elementary
school that ended with the slogan, “That’s sexual
harassment and I don’t have to take it.” My classmates
and I thought it was a dorky video, but I have to say, I still
remember the slogan. I mentor girls in junior high school about
issues related to sexual violence and I’m always impressed by
the amount of information they retain.
Figuring out exactly what kind of programs are effective at
reaching young children is going to take some work, but in order to
stop sexual violence it’s imperative that we reach out to
them.