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

["Bernstein, Lauren (LB)" <>]

Hi all,

 

We went through a needs assessment process followed by strategic planning throughout 2011-2012 to arrive at our name.  At Emory, we are the Respect Program, which is a part of the Office of Health Promotion.  Previously, we were the Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention Education and Response Program which was really my title with “Coordinator” in front. This was fine for a medical model position for response, but when we expanded to really focus on student engagement and the continuum from primary prevention to individual and community response, we needed a new name. Here is why we needed one based on our assessment:

- It was a person or position and not a program and was very much based on the concept of response to crisis

- We wanted a non-acronym name that encompassed a value of what we do.  It was very important that the office be named by a student (we only serve students) with input from a broad-based constituency

- People thought the title fully encompassed what we did and it was hard to create future dialogue

- People weren’t able to remember the name so it was shortened to “sexual assault coordinator” or “sexual assault office”

- Trying to include new and different words in the title/program made things confusing. For example, “relationship violence” was added to what was previously “sexual assault” to make sure to address IPV/stalking/etc., but that word doesn’t necessarily resonate either

- International students in particular felt uncomfortable seeking support as “rape” or “sexual violence” were sometimes defined in specific ways (with specific consequences) in their cultures which were not consistent with what we were doing. This allowed as to do some more selective work with populations to explain what we do via scenario and not solely words that are loaded with meaning in every culture.

- Students felt that their experiences were not “serious” enough to come in for help, as they had a Law & Order SVU idea of violence

- Students, including many survivors, wanted the name to reflect working to change  campus culture

- We wanted a one-word name that we could endow with multi-faceted meanings, as our work is on multiple levels

- It was deficit-based rather than asset-based. While our tagline is “engaging the Emory community to prevent and respond to sexual and relationship violence,” we struggled to find a title that was all encompassing of all potential experiences and naming of those experiences. Having a  short, succinct non-acronym name allowed us to have campaigns using multiple types of language so that students could label their experience in a way that made sense to them or get engaged with these issues through multiple entry points and learn more comprehensibly about continua of behavior as well as ways to take actions on multiple levels.

- “Respect” was a word we could utilize in multiple ways that is an underlying ethic for how we do our work that seemed timeless enough not to need to be changed multiple times.

 

My best,

LB

 

From: Gillian Greensite [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 3:26 PM
To: Gillian Kaag;
Subject: Re: Naming an office dedicated to preventing and responding to gender-based violence

 

Hi,

 

A few thoughts on your quest for a new name.

 

I think there is virtue in avoiding euphemisms for the name of an office or program. For 30 years I headed Rape Prevention Education at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Each of the then 9 UC's had a similarly named program. Over the years, all but one changed their names so that the word "rape" disappeared. I thought this was a mistake. There is something profoundly important in my mind in keeping the word "rape" visible and central. All of my peer educators were apprised of the need to not use an acronym but to say the name in full and with emphasis. I would explain that for the first time in thousands of years we are beginning to acknowledge the reality of rape, so let's not bury the word itself so quickly. Keeping the word "rape" alive is a political act. 

 

I realize that programs these days cover more issues of gender violence than "just" rape so a broader term is probably needed but I would resist the pressure to move too far away from reality. Gender Equity seems a popular title but even that gets shortened to GENEQ which makes me groan. If I were establishing a program today I would find a way to keep "rape" in the title. Students may be "turned off" by words that are descriptive of the work you are doing but in this case their feedback may not be the best guide. I guess a name such as "The center for consensual sexuality" is more appealing but how long before rape itself is never discussed? Rape as a word is chilling but the reality is far more chilling. One aspect of the trauma of rape lies in the difficulty of even saying the word out loud which is indicative of the shame and stigma involved. I'm not sure that using the euphemism " non-consensual sex" for rape captures the essence of the harm and humiliation suffered. 

 

I never heard from students in my 30 years that the name of my program was a barrier to their seeking support. True, I didn't hear from students who didn't seek my support but the issue of a problem with the name never came up in workshops or discussions. In contrast to the name of the program or office, in order to attract students to our educational programs and peer -led workshops, we rarely used the word "rape" since attendance was voluntary. In that context I would  approach the issue of rape obliquely through an examination of gender and the media or use popular films followed by a discussion without using "rape" in the publicity but certainly addressing it in the discussions. Rape is a central theme ( although usually invisible and unexamined) in history, social justice issues and popular media so there is no shortage of avenues to address rape in context.  It's probably worth saying that none of the educational programs was offered in the office bearing the name, Rape Prevention Education. We went to where students were at or to lecture halls, dorms etc. Not sure if that is true for you. The physical office was where students came for support or volunteer work. However in lectures or programs, I always introduced myself as from Rape Prevention Education and then proceeded to discuss with them why that word was so scary and difficult to say.

 

Keeping the word "rape" alive, as in Rape Prevention Education, was a 30 year struggle since the admin. was eager to bury it. The usual attempt was to hide it under Health issues where it now lingers with even the word "rape" removed.

 

Best of luck in your search for a new name. 

 

Regards,

 

Gillian ( coincidentally!)

On Feb 19, 2013, at 2:59 PM, Gillian Kaag wrote:

Hello Everyone,

 

I am wondering if you can share with me what the name of your office/program is that is dedicated to the prevention of/response to gender-based violence.  Along with this, I am wondering how effective the name has been and how students have responded to your office/program’s name. 

 

We are exploring new names for our office and are exploring name options that would ideally be inviting and informative.  Feedback from the students suggests that they are turned off by titles that include the words:  “violence,” “sexual assault,” or “rape.”  I look forward to any information/feedback you can share with me. 

 

Thanks!

Gillian

 

Gillian Finocan Kaag, Ph.D.

Program Director, Gender-Based Violence Education and Support Services

Staff Psychologist, University of Denver Health and Counseling Center

 

( (phone) 303.871.3853 | 7 (fax) 303.871.4242 | * (email)  | : (web) http://www.du.edu/duhealth/

 

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