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

["David Lisak" <>]

Hello,

I am not a member of this list, but I would like to comment on the recent
discussion of the "Sex Signals" program. First, though, many thanks to all
of you for the crucial work that you are engaged in!

 

I am a researcher and forensic consultant, and have personally watched the
Sex Signals program twice. I have also consulted with dozens of universities
and the military services about sexual assault prevention, and many of those
institutions brought in Sex Signals as part of their prevention programming.

 

When I first heard about Sex Signals, I had some of the same concerns about
its message that were voiced in the recent discussion; namely, that its
focus was too much on communication and miscommunication when much research,
my own included, indicates that most non-stranger rapists are serial
offenders whose premeditated offending behavior has little to do with
miscommunication. In fact, I had several long conversations with Gail Stern,
the creator of Sex Signals, about my concerns. I discovered that Gail was
already herself wrestling with this issue, and was very open to making
changes to avoid delivering erroneous impressions.

 

Then I watched Sex Signals for the first time and the experience
substantially re-oriented my perspective. I found it to be an extremely
engaging program that pulled in its audience and then engaged interactively
with the audience around many of the most delicate and sensitive issues
surrounding sexual assault. I also realized, as I watched, that in putting
on a prevention program like Sex Signals we are not trying to reach the
rapists in the audience. In fact, we know - at least I am completely
convinced - that the rapists in the audience will certainly not be reached,
dissuaded or otherwise changed by Sex Signals or any other prevention
program. The purpose of a program like Sex Signals is to engage the larger
community; to elicit their questions and their thoughts; to challenge their
thinking; to raise the level of awareness and consciousness about sexual
assault; and for some of them, to mobilize that consciousness into some form
of personal and collective action. For this purpose, Sex Signals can be a
very effective piece of programming.

 

Which brings me to the second revelation I had while watching Sex Signals.
Sexual assault prevention can only be effective when it is conceived and
implemented as a comprehensive and multi-faceted program. No single piece of
programming, whether Sex Signals or anything else, will either answer all
the questions or comprise a full prevention program. Optimally, a program
like Sex Signals would be used to introduce some students to the issues, and
raise the level of awareness of others, and recruit still others to a higher
level of individual participation. For example, it would be a potentially
powerful tool to recruit students into a Bystander Education program. 

 

Back to those concerns about the message of Sex Signals. The interactive
component of the program provides many opportunities to deliver basic
information about the nature of sexual assault, including the fact that
miscommunication is actually less of a factor than the premeditated
intentions of most rapists. As important, the other facets of a campus
prevention program are very likely going to be enhanced by the interest and
awareness fostered by Sex Signals.

 

I apologize for the length of this comment, but I think this discussion
touches on important prevention issues that are central to our work; and
thank you for allowing me to "visit" your list serve!

 

David Lisak

 

 

David Lisak, Ph.D.

Forensic Consulting

Associate Professor

U. of Massachusetts Boston