Sexual Assault Awareness Month
On April 1 , the President proclaimed April 2015 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
He declared “as Americans, we each have the power to shape our country’s course and contribute to the extraordinary task of perfecting our union.
We can change our culture for the better by standing together against the quiet tolerance of sexual assault and refusing to accept the unacceptable.” (www.whitehouse.gov/the/press/office (April 1, 2015) Presidential Proclamation. Retrieved April 10, 2015)
Whether we like or dislike the President, or if we are inclined to believe that such a perfect union is even attainable, we presumably agree that sexual assault is an insult to basic decency and humanity, and it must end. The emotional pain from sexual assualt can take years to heal – sometimes it never does. When an individual’s possibilities are limited by the scars of violence and abuse, our world community is deprived of potential. Have you ever heard the expression, “we are only as strong as our weakest link”?
Nearly one in five women in America has been a victim of rape or attempted rape. Every year, too many women and too many men are sexually assaulted and abused. Recent trends are dispersing more culpability appropriately throughout the community and less on the victim. wonder how many of us know about the ‘bystander effect’. In 1964, the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese shocked Americans from coast to coast. Kitty’s victimization lasted over half an hour and 38 men and women witnessed the assault and did nothing to help. This caused the country to stop and ask how caring people could watch such an attack and do nothing.
We may know someone who has been assaulted or abused, it may even be a personal experience, but there are many of us who do not know anyone who has survived this type of victimization. Ask yourself “What would I do as a bystander?” There are literally hundreds of little comments, harassments, and other forms of abuse that lead up to what we think of as a sexually violent act. When witnessed, each situation is an opportunity to intervene by reinforcing positive behaviors BEFORE a behavior moves further towards sexual violence. In our modern society, there is little motivation for individuals to speak up and tremendous pressure to keep silent when we see or sense something is wrong. Often, we do not respond because we are concerned about our own safety, or we don’t know what to do; we may also feel the level of behaviors we witness don’t warrant intervention.
It is critical we learn how to assess the danger in a situation, and also, when not to intervene for safety reasons. IIntervention may be as simple as seeking out other people, including professionals, and sometimes our anonymity can be assured. At some point, we have all been silent when we were unsure about what to do or what to say in a situation within our family, our circle of friends, or our community. We know what it feels like to miss an opportunity to help someone and what if feels like to safely say or do something that has a positive impact on someone in our lives.
Here’s how to take action:
• Notice the event along a continuum of action, starting from mutual flirting to full blown sexual attack (some things truly do not warrant our intervention, and some things definitely do)
• Consider whether the situation demands your action
• Decide if you have a responsibility to act
• Choose what form of assistance to use (anonymous phone call or direct interference)
• Understand how to implement the choice in the safest manner possible
It is up to us to demonstrate to our children to respect and value others. We should have the ability to rely on teammates, classmates, and colleagues to recognize sexual misconduct and intervene to stop it. We need to shift the attitudes and behaviors that allow sexual assault to go unnoticed, unreported, and unpunished. During National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, let us ask ourselves, “how can I commit to being part of the solution and rededicate myself to creating a society where violence is not tolerated in any form, survivors are supported, and all people are able to pursue their fullest measure of happiness. Info: (208) 267-5211 24 hours a day 7 days a week if you, or someone you know needs more information regarding sexual assault.