Sexual Assault Awareness Month has been declared a nationally recognized time of the year where individuals and organizations educate the general public on sexual assault provide solution for what we can do to prevent it and allow space for survivors of sexual assault tell their stories. In a presidential proclamation about National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, President Obama urges us to “speak out to change the culture that questions the actions of victims, rather than those of their attackers.” Maybe we know friends, colleagues or even family members that have unfortunately fallen victim to such an atrocious crime. With a month dedicated to the awareness of such a topic, it is crucial to participate in some way to show support.
One of the first steps you can take is to log on to Facebook and type in "sexual assault awareness month” into the search bar to read stories of survivors and watch videos of individuals speaking on this topic. It will not only allow you to listen to actual stories of individuals, but hopefully motivate you to continue educating yourself on such a prevalent issue.
Go out and attend a screening, guest speaker event, fundraiser or vigil that raises awareness on the issue of sexual assault. Go around your community. Check your school. Ask around the workplace to find an event that brings to light this topic. Volunteer at your local rape crisis center. If you are having trouble finding an event near you, go online to the NSVRC (National Sexual Violence Resource Center) website and find organizations in your area that advocate for the justice of sexual assault victims.
Last year, I attended a Take Back the Night candlelight vigil at Denison University, where a large crowd formed around the center of our main quad where one by one survivors told their story, holding back tears and embraced by the hugs of friends after their storytelling. There were those who, while not victims, spoke of the psychological damage sexual assault has on both women and men and how governments at both the state and federal level do little to help the victim pres charges against their perpetrator, let alone bring them to court.
You can even spread awareness of sexual assault by simply wearing a teal ribbon (as teal is the official color for sexual violence) throughout the month on your clothes, your bag, or your keys. Buy some ribbon, some safety pins and give them out to friends, family, neighbors and classmates. They'll appreciate you spreading the awareness and hopefully want to do the same.
The numbers do not lie. According to the CDC, one in five women have been raped or assaulted. The documentary "The Hunting Ground", which is available on Netflix and highly recommended by yours truly, gives the audience some shocking statistics, one of them involving a study which found that out of 20,000 students from 21 four-year colleges, 25 percent of female students were sexually assaulted. For many, sexual assault tends to be one those circumstances where you think it will never happen to you, until it does.
If you or a loved one has become a victim of sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673). There, you will be connected with a staff member from your local sexual assault service provider who will then direct you to health facilities in your area.
You can also chat anonymously on RAINN's (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) website, where you will to be able to talk to support specialists.
