ALISON SAPPIE MCLAUGHLIN M.S., LPCA COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

My Journey to this topic Became interested in body image research during my master’s program and what factors influenced body image Facilitated a group for minority women on body image and the media In Gender, Race, and Culture course presented on body image and the media and discovered objectification theory as a way to explain this phenomenon Helped organized It’s on Us sexual assault prevention pledge signing at Duke and saw ways that it could be improved.

SEXUAL ASSAULT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men are sexually assaulted in college 40% of survivors fear reprisal by their attacker Only 2% of incapacitated rape survivors report assault Only 13% of rape survivors report assault 8 in 10 victims knew their attacker (friend, significant other, etc.) It is estimated that between 2%-7% of sexual assault reports are false

CURRENT BARRIERS TO PREVENTION Members of campus not seeing it as their problem Sexual objectification Administration response to reporting

EVERYONE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION Currently white house has launched a national It’s on Us campaign Message is that sexual assault is a societal problem in which we all have a role to play Has students signing pledge to:  To RECOGNIZE that non- consensual sex is sexual assault.  To IDENTIFY situations in which sexual assault may occur.  To INTERVENE in situations where consent has not or cannot be given.  To CREATE an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable and survivors are supported.

EVERYONE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION This is a great start in trying to produce a cultural shift on college campuses, but it is not enough. Having student’s sign a pledge doesn’t give enough opportunity for conversation around the issue and is just a moment in their day.

EVERYONE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION Bystander intervention training  Training to help students identify situations of concern and provide knowledge and tools to intervene in a safe and effective way  Include discussion, campus specific issues, information on how to identify and minimize risk, and how to respond to survivors of sexual assault.  Could be facilitated by someone from the university counseling center or women’s center along with peers to help convey the message that it is everyone’s responsibility  Open to all members of campus, not just students

EVERYONE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION Discussions in freshmen orientation courses  Better and more impactful way to communicate the message of It’s on Us and concrete tips on how students can be a part of the solution  Could be facilitated by counseling center outreach coordinator Campus events that promote sexual assault prevention  Advocacy speakers  Freshman reading  Documentaries  Media campaigns to raise awareness

OBJECTIFICATION According to objectification theory, others look at and evaluate women’s bodies as objects primarily for the use by others. Women typically internalize this perspective as their own view of their physical selves, resulting in self-objectification This self-objectification leads to lowered ability to be completely absorbed in an challenging activity due to habitual body monitoring (persistent checking of the body’s outward appearance), shame, anxiety, and lowered awareness of internal physiological sensations.

OBJECTIFICATION Objectification can manifest in two ways: the consequences of objectification and self- objectification described earlier and actual sexual victimization, whether through rape, incest, battering, or even sexual harassment where a woman’s body is literally treated as a mere instrument or thing by her perpetrator. Working change a culture of objectification can help improve sexual assault prevention and counteract victim blaming

WORKING TO PREVENT OBJECTIFICATION One of the influences of objectification is the media. Sexually objectifying media triggers body self- consciousness, which then influences body and sexually related perceptions. Media literacy programs could help students understand the messages that the media is sending and the negative effects of sexualization to help deflect the impact

WORKING TO PREVENT OBJECTIFICATION Objectification theory proposes that physical activity is a way for women to experience their bodies in a more positive ways. Those who practice yoga have been shown to have lowered self- objectification through increased body responsiveness Having programs for women on campus that incorporate yoga and mediation could help women form more positive connections to their bodies.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE Fear their school being labeled as a place where sexual assault occurs, so they may try to minimize reporting of sexual assault and do not want to focus on it

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE Reframe perception of sexual assault prevention: If a campus has programs in place to prevent sexual assault that they can market that message to prospective parents and students. If their sexual assault prevention programs are effective they can back this claim up with statistics This strategy would be much less damaging than reports about what the school failed to do when someone reported a sexual assault

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE Survivors of sexual assault are much more likely to informally report instead of go to police. The response of that person has a huge impact on how the sexual assault is dealt with going forward Train those people on campus who are likely to hear reports of sexual assault on the best way to respond Professors Administrators Advisors Campus Police

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