Gender Violence

This show is produced by ABC and sets up ethical scenarios in public places in order to examine how people will respond when faced with these situations. There are many different set-ups, drunk doctors, women stealing bicycles, and kids put on leashes. This show is extremely relevant to the topic of gender violence because it addresses many different topics under gender violence, including gay bashing, unwanted flirtation in a bar, and harassing drag queens.

I watched the clip on drag queens being harassed at a coffee shop and asked to leave. Many people ignored the waiter who was harassing them, and one man even stepped in to also ask the drag queens to leave. On a more encouraging note, multiple people stood up to the waiter, letting him know that he was in the wrong.

This shows serves as a way to raise awareness about these issues that happen out in public everyday. Not only can viewers see how other people react to these issues, but the show also offers suggestions about what can people can do if and when they encounter these situations.

More clips and episodes can be found at http://www.hulu.com/what-would-you-do.

1. When someone says something which helps support an anti-rape culture, thank them and praise them to others.


2. When someone says, “Boys will be boys,” when they learn a boy has been accused of rape ask them, “Do you really believe all boys are rapists?”


3. When someone says, “The only way to prevent sexual violence is to teach girls and women how to avoid danger,” respond with, “And I suppose the only way to prevent gun crimes is to teach people how to dodge bullets.”


4. When you encounter someone who seems to be otherwise caring saying something which supports sexual violence, use the phrase, “Excuse me?” as if someone just said, “You should drink 5 glasses of vegetable oil every day if you don’t want to die next week.”


5. When someone says, “I don’t understand how a real rape victim could ___ (fill in the blank with any common stereotype) so I believe she’s not a real rape victim,” respond with a parallel statement such as “I don’t understand how a real human could walk on the moon so I believe no humans have ever walked on the moon.”


6. When someone calls a woman who is vocal against sexual violence a “man hater,” ask them, “Is that really the only reason you can think of for why a woman would find rape repulsive enough to speak up against it?”


7. When someone says rape is just illegal sex respond with “Yeah, and hitting a pedestrian with your car is just giving someone an illegal car ride.”

What would you add to this list?
The best ways to respond to these types of comments are seriously and genuinely. Remind people that victims are human beings with lives and emotions.

Hope and encouragement.

moreapologies:

A bold new advertising campaign will warn young men that extremely drunk or unconscious women can’t consent to sex.

The Don’t Be That Guy campaign, announced Friday by a coalition of groups fighting sexual assault, will target men aged 18 to 24 using print and transit advertising, as well as ads posted above the urinals inside bar washrooms, said police Supt. Danielle Campbell.

“The advertisements use graphic language, disturbing images to communicate one bottom-line message: Sex without consent is sexual assault,” Campbell said.

In Canada.

Some of the images are quite interesting if you can look them up.

Individuals at the University of Belize march against gender violence as part of The 16 Days Against Gender Based Violence Campaign.

This is the official website for RAINN. There is information about where to get help and how to raise awareness. Many college campuses host a RAINN Day, which is the annual campaign to raise awareness and fight against sexual violence on all college campuses.

Did you know…

• about 2/3 of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim?
• 43% of rapes occur between 6:00pm and midnight?
• 1 of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape?
• 1 of every 33 American men has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape?
• in 2007, there were 248,300 victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault?