Mennonite Central Committee

Sexual Assault Risk Avoidance

 

Like all forms of abuse, harassment, discrimination and violence, when someone experiences sexual assault its tempting for us to think there must be a way it could be avoided. This type of thinking may help us feel safer or can make us believe that it will never happen to us or someone we really care about.

Though there are some things we can do to decrease risks of abuse, its important to remember there is no accurate profile of a victim of sexual assault or other types of abuse. There may be some environments or factors that place us as at greater risk of abuse, though often abuse happens due to various life circumstances which cannot be controlled by the one who is victimized. Anyone of us can be vulnerable at certain times in our lives, and all of us can do something to help prevent abuse and to increase safety.

In order to effectively address sexual assault and other abuse, we must recognize the ways isolated incidents are in some ways a product of larger societal trends, teachings or ways of being.

In systems, societies, cultures, faith groups or other organizations where there is a significant imbalance of power (ie. financial, decision making, leadership roles, opportunities and belief systems that favour males more than females) between men and women, the risk of sexual assault and other power abuses is increased, particularly towards women. These types of power imbalances also increase the risk of abuse of men (particularly younger men), children, youth, minorities and people whose special needs, or life circumstances increase their vulnerabilities.

Things communities or groups intentionally do to prevent abuse and increase safety:

• model healthy mutual leadership between men and women
• act promptly to address sexualized joking, harassment or sexist behaviour when it happens
• provide analysis on media's messages about objectifying women/men such as
• learn more about gender and power dynamics
• provide training for youth about healthy dating and dating violence
• provide teaching on how to maintain healthy nonviolent relationships
• provide parenting and conflict skills training workshops
• nurture cultures of acceptance by celebrating diversity and uniqueness
• provide age appropriate information about sexuality and sexual development
• invite experts to teach about abuse prevention and response
• create space for all to express themselves and be heard
• provide accountability, support and ongoing professional development for leaders, especially about professional boundaries, self care and healthy leadership

 

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