preventing and reducing risks for sexual violence

Preventing and Reducing Risks for Sexual Violence

• Media literacy• Redefining masculinity• Bystander or

“upstander” training• Risk reduction for girls

and women

Why is sexual violence not just a girls’ and women’s issue?

Why is it Difficult for Victims to Report Sexual Violence?

• Victim may be ashamed or embarrassed• Victim may know the person and not want to get him in

trouble• Victim may fear retaliation• Victim may believe she caused the action to happen• Victim may not want to face the attacker in court• Victim worried about reputation (Male victim may worry he

will be perceived as gay.)

It is Never the Victim’s Fault

• Only one person makes the choice to rape or abuse someone else.

• Sometimes others assign blame to the victim.• Sometimes the victim assigns “self-blame” or

second guesses her own actions, but . . . • It is always the fault of the abuser or rapist

because that person made the choice.

Bystanders and

Upstanders

Rape Prevention

What do women do everyday to prevent rape from happening to them?

What do men do everyday to prevent rape from happening to

them?

Adjectives to Describe Men and Women

Media Literacy Is defined as having the competency to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a variety of media

This is an “old school” advertisement for jeans. How are men and women shown in ads for jeans today?

Media Literacy

What image does the reader have about women based on this advertisement?

Do you agree with this portrayal of a strong and powerful man?

How would young people perceive relationships between men and women based on this advertisement?

Why are Men Shown More Often as Action Heroes?

Why are Women Shown as Victims?

Images like this should NOT be Okay.

Violent Images Do Not Cause Violence, but Lower Our Sensitivity to It.

Watch for different perspectives of rape by the young man, the young

woman, and the friends.

http://iluvtwilight.multiply.com/video/item/843

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Recovery from Sexual Violence

National Sexual Assault Hotline 1.800.656.HOPE(4673)

Free. Confidential. 24/7.

What can boys and men do to reduce sexual violence?

Activity – Role of Bystander

• Organize in small groups

• Read scenario• Discuss what an

“upstander” should do• Act out scenario to

larger group