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

[Amanda Childress <>]

We don't use "unwanted sexual experience" regularly, but some of our 
survivors 
are not always comfortable calling it sexual assault/rape so it could be 
appropriate for specific incidences. It could be used for offenses like 
sexual 
battery involving alcohol or an acquaintaince. Sometimes using a term 
like "unwanted sexual experience" helps ease into the conversation of sexual 
assault/rape, that is until the survivor is ready to identify what happened 
to 
him/her, their unwanted sexual experience, was infact a sexual assault/rape. 

We also don't use the term "prevention." We believe using that term puts a 
lot 
of blame on the survivor, like s/he could have "prevented" the assault had 
s/he just done..." Even if you use all of the "prevention" tactics out there 
you still can be assaulted. At Ohio University we use the term "risk-
reduction." We teach students how to reduce their risk of being assaulted, 
because you can't prevent something bad from happening to you, but you can 
reduce your risk. I hope that helps.

Amanda Childress 




Quoting Aline Jesus Rafi 
<>:

> Dear Colleagues,
>
> I just started as the new sexual assault prevention educator at Emory
> >
> University last month, and I inherited many boxes of posters, and
> other >
> promotional items that use the term “unwanted sexual experience”
> as a >
> synonym for sexual assault.
>
> I’ve seen the term used in research papers before, but I am not >
> familiar with it in a prevention and advocacy/response context. Some
> >
> students seem to have embraced the term, but personally its use makes
> >
> me a little uncomfortable.
>
> I was wondering if any other schools are using “unwanted sexual >
> experience” in their outreach efforts and if you have received any
> >
> feedback from students and/or your campus community in general. Or
> feel >
> free to share your personal opinion as well.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -- >
> Aline Jesus Rafi, MA
> Health Educator
> Sexual Assault Prevention Education and Response
> Emory University Student Health Services
> 1525 Clifton Road
> Atlanta, GA 30322
> Phone: 404-727-1514
> Fax: 404-727-9159
> Email: 
> 
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> SAPC mailing list
> 
> https://list.mail.virginia.edu/mailman/listinfo/sapc
> 



Amanda Childress, M.Ed.
Assistant Director
Department of Health Promotion
*********************************
Ohio University
339 Baker University Center
Athens, OH 45701
740.593.4742

www.ohio.edu/healthwell