Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2012

1. Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2012 Shatter the silence of sexual violence! www.pavingtheway.net Sexual Violence in the Media & Gender Identity

2. April IS

3. Overview • Brief review of important sexual violence definitions and stats • SV in the Media • Popular Sexuality • Sexual Violence & Victims in the news • Leveraging Media for Violence Prevention • Gender Identity • Gender Definitions • Gender Socialization • Gender Reinforcements in the Media • Healthy Gender Identity

4. Brief Overview of Definitions and Stats • Sexual Violence - Any act sexual in nature, whether verbal or physical, that breaks a person’s trust, violates their safety, or impedes upon their sexual autonomy. Sexual violence includes and is not limited to sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape. It also does not specify a gender or age and can be understood to encompass domestic violence or any violence based on one’s sexual identity.

5. Brief Overview of Definitions and Stats • Consent: Sexual activity requires consent, which is defined as clear, unambiguous, and voluntary agreement between the participants to engage in specific sexual activity. Consent cannot be inferred from the absence of a "no"; a clear "yes," verbal or otherwise, is necessary. • Although consent does not need to be verbal, verbal communication is the most reliable form of asking for and gauging consent, and individuals are thus urged to seek consent in verbal form. Talking with sexual partners about desires and limits may seem awkward, but serves as the basis for positive sexual experiences shaped by mutual willingness and respect.

6. Brief Overview of Definitions and Stats • Consent Definition Continued: • Consent cannot be obtained from someone who is asleep or otherwise mentally or physically incapacitated, whether due to alcohol, drugs, or some other condition. Consent cannot be obtained by threat, coercion, or force. Agreement given under such conditions does not constitute consent. • Consent must be clear and unambiguous for each participant throughout any sexual encounter. Consent to some sexual acts does not imply consent to others, nor does past consent to a given act imply ongoing or future consent. Consent can be revoked at any time. For all of these reasons, sexual partners must evaluate consent in an ongoing fashion and should communicate clearly with each other throughout any sexual encounter.

7. Brief Overview of Definitions and Stats • 1 in 4 women will be and 1 in 6 men will be sexually assaulted before the age of 18. (USDOJ) • Girls 16-19 are 4x more likely to experience a rape • 12% of girls and 5% of boys in high school have been sexually assaulted • 93% knew the perpetrator (www.rainn.org)

8. Sexual Violence in the Media Popular Sexuality Sex Words Sexual Violence & Victims in the news Leveraging Media for Violence Prevention

9. Popular Sexuality in the Media

10. Popular Sexuality in the Media • Outlets • Movies • TV Shows • Reality TV • Music • Music Videos • Lyrics • New Justin Bieber – Boyfriend • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yUzpPJr_gA

11. Popular Sexuality in the Media • Media Outlets • Video Games • Grand Theft Auto

12. Popular Sexuality in the Media • Media Outlets • Video Games • Grand Theft Auto, Continued • Pornography • Average age of first exposure is 11 • Largest consumers are boys aged 12-17 • Gonzo Pornography

13. Sex Words Bang Tap it Get some Do it; her Hit it bone Nail fuck Screw Score

14. Sexual Violence and Victims in the News The misrepresentation and underrepresentation of sexual assault in mainstream media

15. Media Misrepresentation Example Excerpts from “’Kin Rape’ Cop: I Didn’t” by Philip Messing, New York Post, November 10, 2006 • The lawyer for a Manhattan cop accused of raping his 15-year-old stepdaughter yesterday called the alleged victim a "problem child" who "made false allegations" against his client • "She has been truant, a runaway and a disciplinary problem," said lawyer Mark Jay Heller… The 38-year-old cop, a decorated officer and 15-year veteran, was arrested Oct. 6 on Staten Island and charged with rape. • The girl says he attacked her over a five-year period, ending in 2004, when she was 12. Heller said the teen was angry because his client confiscated her computer to protect her from predators after learning she had a mildly provocative MySpace page.

16. Media Misrepresentation Example • Media Coverage of the Sandusky Trials – Berkley Media Studies Group • Half the coverage (48%) appeared in sports sections • Sports pages discussed primarily sports related aspects of the incident – i.e. who was gonna coach the team, etc. • Joe Paterno’s story dominates the news coverage • Who speaks (was quoted) in the articles • 32% Criminal Justice System representatives • 24% Joe Paterno, 17% Mike McQuearyt, 16% other Penn State University Officials • 5% Sports fans • 4% Prevention Advocates and only 2% Survivors or their reps

17. Leveraging Media for Violence Prevention Using Pop Culture to Raise Awareness

18. So media isn’t all bad! Preventionists can use it too! • Leveraging Pop Culture • MTV’s Sarah Rice • Celebrity Advocates • Steve Connell • Prominent Spoken Word Artist • Arts Media -

19. So media isn’t all bad! Preventionists can use it too! • Using Influence Examples from Pop Culture • PAVE uses social media responses to news articles about Chris Brown’s abuse of then girlfriend Rhiana to facilitate conversations with youth about the cultural acceptance of violence.

20. Gender Identity Gender Definitions Gender Socialization Gender Reinforcements in the Media Healthy Gender Identity

21. Gender Definitions • Gender is socially constructed • Sex is biological • Men and women are assigned to gender roles and then act out a masculine or feminine behavior as prescribed by society or culture

22. The Basics:What are some messages we hear? • Men don’t have emotions • Be tough • Don’t cry “like a girl” • “You throw like a girl • Act “like a man” • Act ladylike” • Women are moody & emotional • Discouraged from being assertive

23. Where do we learn gender roles? Culture Parents School Peers Media

24. Agents of Gender Socialization • Parents play a huge role • Parents compliment daughters on their beauty, encourage them to be gentle, etc. • Whereas parents ‘roughhouse’ with boys and discourage them from crying, etc. • Parentsbuy gender specific toys • Parents expose daughters to feminine activities and expose boys to masculine activities (Martin & Fabes, 2000)

25. Agents of Gender Socialization Chores • Daughters help with dinner, clean the house, do the dishes, babysit • Boys take out trash, mow the lawn Activities • Parents enroll girls in ballet, cooking class • Boys are enrolled in more sports • Parents are more likely to “roughhouse” with boys

26. Agents of Gender Socialization Toys for Girls • Barbies, make-up kits, Easy Bake Oven, kitchen sets, cleaning toys, baby dolls, princess tiaras Toys for Boys • Sports gear, G.I. Joes, action figures, tool kits, toy cars

27. Agents of Gender Socialization • The media- The media tends to depict men and women in stereotypical ways • Women characters are often depicted as emotional and nurturing • Roles often include: mother, wife, sex object • Male television characters tend to be more aggressive and save others from danger (Martin & Fabes, 2000)

28. Children’s Movies • Disney films in particular have very extreme gender roles • Women are typically portrayed as princesses or homemakers • Women are also shown as being subservient to men (i.e. Beauty and the Beast) (Martin & Fabes, 2000)

29. Sexual Stereotypes in Music Videos • Very common for women to be portrayed as sex objects (even in music videos for female artists) • Ex: Britney Spears, Pussycat dolls, rap videos • Men in music videos- theme of money, power, respect, & dominance over women • Very common in rap videos

30. Gender Roles in Popular Music “Boys Don’t Cry”—The Cure "I try to laugh about it Cover it all up with lies I try and laugh about it Hiding the tears in my eyes 'Cause boys don't cry" “If I Were A Boy”—Beyonce “If I were a boy, even just for a day, I’d roll out of bed in the morning and throw on what I wanted, and goDrink beer with the guys, and chase after girls. I’d kick it with who I wanted, and I’d never be confronted for it Cause they stick up for me.””

31. Gender Roles in Popular Music “Only Women Bleed” —Alice Cooper "Man got his woman to take his seed. He's got the power -She's got the need.She spends her life through pleasing up her man. She feeds him dinner or anything she can" “Keep Your Head Up” —2 Pac "And since we all came from a woman, Got our name from a woman and, Our game from a woman I wonder why we take from our woman, Why we rape our woman, Do we hate our woman?"

32. How do gender roles relate to sexual violence? • Traditionally, women are not supposed to express that they want to have sex • Stereotype that women say ‘no’ but mean ‘yes’ • So when women say ‘no’ men might not believe them • Gender stereotypes suggest that women are permissive and subservient to men (Abbey, Zawacki, & Buck, 2005)

33. How do gender roles relate to sexual violence? • Movies rarely show sexual consent, or couples discussing sexual intentions • Because movies depict sexual behavior that is not reflected in reality, it can be confusing for younger individuals who are just starting to learn about their own sexuality (Abbey, Zawacki, & Buck, 2005)

34. How do gender roles relate to sexual violence? • In one study of high school students, approximately 50% of boys and 25% of girls believed it was OK for a man to force sex if a woman led him on (Goodchilds & Zellman, 1984)

35. Unhealthy Gender Role Beliefs • Men are expected to want sex all the time, while women are expected to be pure • Cool for men to sleep around • Women who sleep around are considered slutty • Men are not supposed to cry, while women are assumed to be emotional (and may not be taken seriously) • Men being assertive is considered normal; assertive women are considered to be b*tchy

36. Cultivate Healthy Gender Identity • It is very important that we do our part to help the youth (and adults for that matter) create healthy gender identities for themselves. • Don’t perpetuate gender stereotypes – confront and combat them! • Try not to overuse gender pronouns • Encourage young people to express themselves in whatever activities they find fulfilling!

37. Cultivate Healthy Gender Identity

38. That’s it for today folks! • Questions or comments? One more FREE SAAM Webinar! • Wednesday April 25th12pm – 1pm CST • Healthy Relationships, Reporting and Shattering The Silence 101

39. www.ShatteringTheSilence.org/SAAM Want these slides? Email Amanda@ShatteringTheSilence.org