April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Sexual Assault Prevention Not Victim Blaming

By Turning Point Blogger

Reading the reactions of peers, adults and the media to the sexual assault in Steubenville show how little has changed in our understanding of how to prevent sexual assault.  “Where were their parents?”  “Did she say no loud enough?”  “Did she fight?”  “She put herself in the situation.” “This will ruin our football team.” And of course, the headline of “Drunken teen accuses football stars of sexually assaulting her”  is so predictable; she is reduced to a drunken teen while they
are football stars with their future on the line. 

Our community response to victimsmatters.  Locally, public reaction to
several recent sexual assault cases in our community shows the very same reactions and questions. “Why did they go with those boys?” “They decided to drink, what did they expect?”  “They (the girls) should know better”.   When the community at large still blame and focus on the victim’s behavior and not the perpetrator we sabotage our efforts to prevent sexual assault. Victim blaming only discourages other teens from reporting their assaults and seeking help for it because they too don’t want to be judged, blamed and vilified. 

For more please visit: http://www.turningpointmacomb.org/tp/blog/