How You Can Help Prevent Sexual Assault
Tips for Everyone
- Be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts.
- Avoid being alone or isolated with someone you do not know or
do not trust.
- Do not make any assumptions about sex. Define your limits and
make your intentions known, talk about it!
- If you are interested in proceeding physically, seek permission
and do not proceed without an explicit "yes" from your
partner.
- Remember that prior sexual interactions with someone do not
automatically give permission for future sexual interactions with
that person.
- Take care of yourself. Do not depend on others to look out for
you, but do look out for your friends.
- Be aware that excessive alcohol consumption is often associated
with sexual violence. Remember that alcohol does not act as a
permission slip for sex.
- Know that you have an obligation to your fellow Butler
community members to intervene if you oversee a situation that you
feel may lead to sexual victimization. Do not let anyone "get away"
with sexual assault.
- Do not accept drinks from people you do not know.
- If someone is being aggressive or possessive, alert your
friends or the authorities of the establishment or the police.
- Leave with your trusted friends, not with someone you just
met.
- Most date rapes involve men and women who conform to
traditional, rigid sex roles so it is important to examine sexism
in order to prevent rape.
Tips for Men
Men's Pledge to End Rape
Because:
I believe that rape will not end until men become part of the
solution:
I take pride in myself as a man;
I care about the women in my life;
I am angry that people I know have been hurt;
I know that more than one woman is raped every minute in this
country;
I understand that rape is a crime of violence against a woman's
body, a woman's emotional
well-being, and a woman's right to do with their bodies what they
choose;
I recognize that men and women will not be equal until rape
ends;
I know that happiness between men and women is difficult in a
world where rape exists;
I accept my responsibility to assist in making this a safer
world.
I Pledge To:
Speak about my anger about rape;
Talk with other men about rape;
Look at how men are raised that helps create and perpetuate a
culture
where rape is possible;
Interrupt sexist and rape jokes;
Support laws that encourage men to take responsibility for ending
rape;
Listen to women friend's fears and concerns for their
safety;
Pay attention to cries for help;
Challenge images of violence against women in advertising and
pornography;
Encourage women to be strong and powerful;
Recognize that cooperation is power;
Examine my behaviors and actions and change whatever I am doing
that helps create a climate
where rape is possible;
Support women and men working to end rape.