Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Sarah Holdwick" <>]

Hi Juliette,

Thanks for your message.  I appreciate your perspective on "Sex Signals"
and I think you bring up several important points worth further
discussion.  

There is no one right way to go about doing sexual assault prevention
education/awareness.  What will work in one community may not
necessarily be successful in another.  When considering the message you
send, the speakers you invite, the events you coordinate, etc., it's
vital to consider your audience.  Where I live and work, awareness of
sexual assault is minimal and I think "Sex Signals" would be an
effective way of introducing the topic of dating violence to an audience
that is not generally receptive of the message we are trying to give.
It sounds like your particular community has a level of support and
awareness that is not present in my community.  I would be interested to
hear how your program has developed and how you have secured support in
your area.  Please advise!

My own interpretation of "Sex Signals" was of a light introduction to
the topic of dating violence in an enjoyable, engaging and
non-confrontational way.  I personally believe in the power of art to
influence and to teach in a way that is unique and equally, if not more,
effective than literature or panel discussions.  That said, everything
is subject to interpretation and we are bound to disagree as to meaning
and method in this respect.  While I can see how you arrived at your
conclusion, I think "Sex Signals" has its own strengths, albeit not
academic.  I believe you though, when you say it was not appropriate for
your particular audience.  We are all coming from different situations,
and we all have different challenges to face with the resources we have.

Interesting chat!

Sarah Holdwick
Sexual Assault Advocate & Prevention Educator
Underground Railroad, Inc.
(989) 755-0413 ext. 223



-----Original Message-----
From: Juliette Grimmett 
[mailto:]
 
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 11:47 AM
To: Sarah Holdwick
Cc: 

Subject: RE: Red Zone

I agree with and support everything you said Sarah.  Howeverm I just 
want to put my two cents in that I do not like the message of Sex 
Signals.  Their message to me minimizes the reality of non-stranger 
rape on campus-the reality is that they are intentional and planned and 
about power and control.  Sex Signals sends a message that rape and 
other forms of sexual violence are "just miscommunications," and sexual 
in nature and once again that the survivors of this violence can 
actually stop it if they don't send mixed messages.  It is also quite 
heterosexist and spends way to much time on "women are from mars, men 
are from venus" stuff.  I believe that there are much better and 
creative ways to still have a fun and interactive workshop or play 
about these issues taht students will connect with.

When I worked at the University of South Carolina in the sexual health 
and violence prevention office, a student group had paid for them to 
come without notifying our office (until the last minute).  USC 
students were so offended by the message of the program that almost all 
of them walked out.  Our office had been doing IPV programming for so 
long that the culture at USC was to know that this message was not 
right.


-- 
"Feminism is the radical notion that women are people"

Break the Silence, End Sexual Violence

Juliette Grimmett
Rape Prevention Education Coordinator
North Carolina State University
3120 Talley Student Center
Campus BOX 7306
Raleigh, NC 27695
Office: (919) 513-3232
Fax: (919) 515-1066
e-mail: 

http://www.ncsu.edu/womens_center

Campaign for a Safer Carolina
MPH Candidate 2007
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill