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

[Gillian Greensite <>]

> Hi,

In response to Juliette's enquiry, I am not aware of any theory or 
articles but in my own practice of 27 years of rape prevention 
education, I realized early on that it was vital to incorporate a 
discussion of what great sex could look like and what consensual sex 
means and by inference, why it is so often absent. It is logical to 
then also look at the history of control of female sexuality and 
whose interests that serves. This opens up a discussion of the 
intersections of class and race. Thus sexual violence against women 
is given a context critical to understanding the causes and 
developing strategies for change.

While it is true that rape is about power; sex and power are not 
mutually exclusive in western heterosexual norms (overcoming 
resistance; "working" a yes out of her; women's "no" as token; 
intercourse as the goal etc.) This creates at the very least, a 
context for rape to flourish even if sex of this nature is often 
male-dominated rather than explicitly rape.  Critiquing these norms 
and providing alternatives seems to me to be crucial, especially for 
students. Ideally this should happen in Middle School, but dream 
on... :)

As an additional bonus, for those of us who don't have the advantage 
of mandatory programming, the topic of sex will draw a crowd, whereas 
the topic of rape won't. And it is not ducking the issue by 
discussing rape in the context of sexuality. To not do so, I feel, is 
missing one of the many layers of meaning of sexual violence. All the 
basics such as myths and facts; blaming the victim; prevention etc. 
flow naturally from this context. It also opens up a conversation on 
the link between rape and homophobia and intersections of race and 
class. Of course any one of these could be the context for discussing 
rape. For some classes I will focus on colonialism and violence 
against women of color and make connections from there. For new 
students and in the context of an introduction to college however, 
I've found addressing rape in the context of and in contrast to 
consensual sexuality to be productive.

I'm not referring to sexual health in terms of safer sex or sti's 
which are topics in themselves, altho mentioning them briefly in this 
context can be done. Personally, I avoid the term "sexual health" 
and "healthy relationships" since I am uncomfortable with the medical 
model as the umbrella term here. How long before we are offered a 
drug as the pathway to sexual health? I use terms such as "consensual 
sex"; or "sexual equality" or something of that nature.

Thanks for the opportunity to share some thoughts. Great quote from 
your Dad Juliette!

Gillian


Gillian Greensite
Director, UCSC Rape Prevention Education
www2.ucsc.edu/rape-prevention



> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Sexual Health with Sexual Violence prevention programming
>       (Juliette Grimmett)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:23:06 -0400
> From: "Juliette Grimmett" 
> <>
> Subject: Sexual Health with Sexual Violence prevention programming
> To: 
> <>,
>  
> <>,
>         
> <>,
>         
> <>
> Message-ID: 
> <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
> Hello all-
>
> I am wondering if anyone knows of any articles or theory that supports
> providing sexual health education along with sexual
> assault/interpersonal violence education (particularly for peer programs
> but also in general).
>
> Thank you for your help!
>
> Juliette
>
> "It's so liberating and important for men to understand that they can
> actually be friendly to women instead of playing some gender-specific
> role, and that women are in most ways the same as they are. I think that
> lots of women already know that, but not so many guys do."  -my dad
> 8/3/07
>
> Juliette Grimmett, MPH
> Rape Prevention Education Coordinator
> NC State University
> Women's Center
> 3120 Talley Student Center
> Campus BOX 7306
> Raleigh, NC 27695-7306
> Office: (919) 513-3232
> 24 Hour Sexual Violence Hotline: (919)618-RAPE (7273)
> Fax: (919) 515-1066
> email: 
>
> website: http://www.ncsu.edu/womens_center
>
>
>
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> End of SAPC Digest, Vol 814, Issue 1
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