Current Trends in Sexual Violence Prevention

1. Current Trends in Sexual Violence Prevention Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert, PhD, MCHES University of Arkansas Kim Webb, MEd Washington University in St. Louis

2. Introductions Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert, PhD, MCHES Director, STAR Central Pat Walker Health Center University of Arkansas Kim Webb, MEd Assistant Director for Sexual Assault and Community Health Services Habif Health and Wellness Center Washington University in St. Louis

3. Disclaimer • Various programs are referenced during this presentation for the purpose of providing examples. • Unless otherwise noted during the presentation, the presenters are not marketing, promoting, or affiliated with any such programs mentioned. • Some images may be considered offensive to some individuals. Such material is intended for the facilitation of learning and is not meant to offend.

4. Objectives • Throughout the presentation, we will: • define sexual violence • discuss cultural manifestations of sexual violence • identify current sexual violence prevention education trends

5. Historical Overview of Acknowledgement of Violence Against Women In the 1870s courts in the United States stopped recognizing the common-law principle that a husband had the right to "physically chastise an errant wife". 1962: In New York, domestic violence cases are transferred from Criminal Court to Family Court where only civil procedures apply.

6. Historical Overview cont. 1966 The National Organization for Women (NOW) is founded to end sexual discrimination.  1972 Title IX, which outlaws sex discrimination in education, is passed. 

7. Historical Overview Late 1960's & Early 1970's: The women's liberation movement sets the stage for the battered women's movement. Women's hotlines and crisis centers provide a context for battered women to speak out and seek help. 1972: In June, the first emergency rape crisis line opens in Washington, D.C.

8. Historical Overview 1973: From 1968 to 1973, the crime of rape increased 62% nationwide. 1975: Most U.S. states allow wives to bring criminal action against a husband who inflicts injury upon her. 1985: Tracey Thurman of Connecticut was the first woman to win a civil suit as a battered wife.

9. History of support for violence prevention work and education • VAWA 1994: • Coordinated community response • Recognition and support for community service • Federal prosecution for DV and SA crimes • VAWA 2000: • Broadened scope of work to include stalking and dating violence • Created legal assistance for victims • Created supervised visitation for children • Improved protections for immigrant victims

10. History of support for violence prevention work and education • January 5, 2006:Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. • Improved services for immigrants • Outlined prevention strategies • Developed culturally and linguistically specific services

11. History of support for violence prevention work and education Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE ACT, S.834) • Current proposal to the 112th Congress • Requires that all colleges and universities have clear policies regarding: • sexual assault, • domestic violence, • dating violence and • stalking • Mandates bystander intervention programming

12. History of support for violence prevention work and education Title IX Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. It includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual violence is a form of sexual harassment prohibited by Title IX. Title IX protects students in connection with all school related events. If a school knows or reasonably should know about student-on-student harassment, Title IX requires the school to take immediate action to eliminate the harassment, prevent its recurrence and address its effects. OCR recommends that all schools implement preventive education programs and make victim resources, including comprehensive victim services available.

13. Defining Sexual Violence • Any involuntary sexual act in which a person was forced to engage against her/his will. • Force includes threats, coercion, or physical force. • Types of rape include: acquaintance rape, date rape, gang rape, stranger rape, drug-facilitated rape, etc.

14. Defining Sexual Violence • “Dear Colleague Letter” (US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, April 2011) • “Sexual harassment of students, which includes acts of sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX.” • “physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent” • includes “rape, sexual assault, sexual battery and sexual coercion”

15. Defining Sexual Violence • Sexual violence occurs along a spectrum Media Misogyny Sexual Assault and Rape Rape Myths Sexist Humor Sexual Harassment Hyper-masculine Behavior

16. College Rape Statistics • National College Health Risk Behavior Study (1995) found that 1 in 5 college women experienced a rape in their lifetimes. • National College Women Sexual Victimization Study (Fisher et al., 2000) found that between one-fifth to one-fourth college women experience completed or attempted rapes while in college. • Off campus rape is more prevalent • On campus rape primarily in living quarters (victim’s residence, another’s residence, fraternity houses)

17. College Rape Statistics • The Campus Sexual Assault Study (Krebs et al., 2007) found: • the majority of rapes occur when women are incapacitated, primarily by alcohol • freshmen and sophomores are at greater risk • a large majority of rapes occur by men that women know and trust

18. Prevention Efforts Over Time Awareness campaigns Fear based programming Self protection Men’s issue Everybody’s issue—a community health issue

19. General Awareness Programs • Awareness programs bring greater attention to the issue of sexual violence through a variety of formats: • Marches • Outreach exhibits • Information tables • By themselves, awareness programs do not facilitate behavior change, nor build skills. • Additional education opportunities should also be offered as part of a comprehensive program.

20. General Awareness Programs • Outreach Exhibits • Health Fairs, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Orientation, Alcohol Awareness Events, etc…

21. General Awareness Programs Mock Rape Trials

22. General Awareness Programs • Marches • Take Back the Night • Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

23. General Awareness Programs Campus Clothesline Project

24. General Awareness Programs Holiday Tree of Hope and Support (created by the University of Arkansas RESPECT program)

25. General Awareness Programs The Fourth Flag Project (created by University of Arkansas RESPECT program)

26. Self Defense Self defense programs often are offered as rape prevention programs Self defense programs typically are limited to female participants

27. Self Defense • Some common self defense programs offered: • RAD Systems (Rape Aggression Defense) • “women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training” • AWARE (Arming Women Against Rape and Endangerment) • “Pepper spray, persuaders, stun guns, firearms. What works, what doesn't? AWARE is a non-profit group dedicated toyour safety.” • Police departments and martial artists

28. Self Defense • Reasons why self defense programs are offered by colleges: • they attract an audience with relative ease • they make “sense” to people • they provide an immediate return from an evaluative standpoint • But, are these reasons valid enough? • Advocates and Opponents of self defense classes exist

29. Self Defense • Advocates of self defense classes believe these courses: • provide women with physical survival techniques necessary to repel attacks • help prevent future violence by developing traits such as assertiveness and confidence in individuals

30. Self Defense • Opponents of self defense classes believe these courses: • may perpetuate rape myths and victim blaming • do not properly prepare women for an attack • do not adequately address acquaintance rape threats • provide a dangerous false sense of security • don’t take into account that most rapes occur when women are “incapacitated”

31. Self Defense • Are self defense courses truly rape/sexual assault prevention? • When such a situation calls for self defense, an act of sexual aggression/violence has already begun. • In this sense, self defense is intervention, NOT prevention!

32. Defining “Rape Culture” • Acceptance as the social norm, a complex of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that encourage male sexual aggression and support a continuum of threatened violence, often against women, ranging from sexual remarks to sexual assault and rape. • Often, sexual violence is assumed to be inevitable, but much of what is accepted as to be expected is indeed the acting out of social norms that can be changed.

33. Social Ecological Theory Consideration must be given that the behaviors and attitudes are interconnected and influenced within multiple layers. Addressing change must occur within all to challenge the culture of rape and to redefine social norms. Individual Relationship Community Institutional

34. Media Literacy • “the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms” • Many forms of media exist • For our purposes, ask: • what message(s) are we getting from media • does media “denounce and counter” or “support and perpetuate” a culture of rape

35. Media Literacy • Within media, be aware of the prevalence of: • rape myths • inequalities, particularly gender inequalities • rigid gender stereotypes and gender roles • objectification of women • sexualized humor and terms • misogyny • sexualized violence • hypermasculinity

36. Media Literacy - Example • Bill O’Reilly: • “She was 5-foot-2, 105 pounds, wearing a miniskirt and a halter top with a bare midriff. Now, again, there you go. So every predator in the world is gonna pick that up at two in the morning.” • Statement made while discussing the rape and murder of 18-year-old Jennifer Moore during his nationally syndicated radio show on August 2, 2004.

37. Media Literacy - Example • New York Times article quoted neighbors in reference to the gang rape of an 11 year old girl in Cleveland, TX: • “They said she dressed older than her age, wearing makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s. She would hang out with teenage boys at a playground, some said.” • Published March 8, 2011

38. Media Literacy - Example

39. Media Literacy - Example

40. Media Literacy - Example

41. Media Literacy - Example

42. Media Literacy - Example

43. Media Literacy - Example

44. Media Literacy - Example

45. Media Literacy - Example

46. Media Literacy - Example

47. Media Literacy - Example The text copy of this Francesco Biasia handbag ad reads: “Women Accessories. Loved by Men.”

48. Media Literacy - Example

49. Media Literacy - Example

50. Media Literacy - Example