In the midst of harmful rape-culture rhetoric and stigma associated with sexual violence, you may feel helpless and powerless to make change. Whether you have experienced sexual violence or know of someone who has, your efforts matter.
Every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted; every 9 minutes that victim is a child. According to RAINN, 26.4% of female and 6.8% of male undergraduate students have experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, nearly 90% of campus sexual assaults go unreported. This vast underreporting motivates me to be an advocate for survivors in my community. At my university, I am the Secretary of the Survivor Advocacy Alliance, a student organization that supports survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and encourages allies.
Ultimately, our goal is to spread awareness about the prevalence of violence and inform students about the resources on and off campus, should they or someone they know need it. Last spring, we held our first Clothesline Project, that was displayed in the library during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Whether it is speaking at an informational panel or tabling for a fundraiser, these actions make a difference. Prevention is demonstrated through many different forms and all are impactful.
Here are some of the ways you can get involved in sexual violence prevention:
- Utilizing Guides: The SVPA has a variety of guides to empower anyone to take action against sexual violence.
- Bystander Intervention: The SVPA’s guides cover a variety of topics including bystander intervention. You can also use the 5 Rs of Digital Bystander Intervention to prevent digital sexual violence, online abuse, or virtual harassment.
- Respond directly to parties involved;
- Report to respective administrators or authorities;
- Record what is happening;
- Rebuke digital sexual violence; and
- Reach out to the victim and offer resources or provide support.
- Volunteer and Donate: The SVPA offers volunteer opportunities that are mutually beneficial and symbiotic. As a non-profit, SVPA relies on the generosity of donors to continue the work of preventing sexual violence systemically. To apply to be a volunteer or to donate, please go to s-v-p-a.org/support-us/.
- Contact your Legislative Representatives: SVPA’s Policy Map/Scorecard ranks states based on their current legislation that covers sexual violence prevention. Legislative Representatives represent and listen to the concerns of their constituents.
No matter who you are and what your background in advocacy is, know that you are capable of creating change. Systemic change doesn’t happen overnight, but with your help sexual violence prevention is possible.