Title IX Turns - National Sexual Violence Resource .

Anti-Street HarassmentWeek-long eventspurs global activismBy Holly KearlFounder of International Anti-Street Harassment WeekDid you know that by age 12,nearly one in four girls experienceunwanted sexual comments, leers,touches and stalking in public places bystrangers? This problem swells to 90 percentof women who have experienced streetharassment by age 19 (Praeger, 2010, p. 16).Gender-based street harassment teachesgirls that public places are male territory.The harassment restricts their access topublic places and impedes gender equality.Street harassment – including scary amountsof violence – also disproportionately andnegatively impacts lesbian, gay, bisexualand transgender individuals.Street harassment falls along the spectrumof gender violence. It implies that harassedpeople are second-class citizens who do nothave the right to go out in public withoutbeing verbally attacked. And for rapesurvivors, it can have triggering effects.8The Resource - www.nsvrc.orgDespite its seriousness and how commonit is, especially for young women, streetharassment is too often dismissed as a minorproblem, a compliment, or the fault of theharassed person.In March 2012, as one step towardchanging its social acceptability, I organizedInternational Anti-Street Harassment Week.More than 100 groups spanning 18 countriesjoined thousands of individuals worldwideto collectively bring attention to the globalproblem of street harassment. The UnitedNations Entity for Gender Equality and theEmpowerment of Women even included theweek in its calendar of events.Participants chose whatever approach theythought would be most effective at bringingattention to the issue in their community.Here is a sampling of events:In Afghanistan: Young Women forChange hosted a debate and discussion

about street harassment and how to respond to it.In Brussels, Belgium: there was a “ChalkWalk”during which women walked to places where theywere harassed and wrote, “I was harassed here. Ireclaim this space.” Many participants said it was themost empowering act they’d ever taken on the issue.In Canada: In Montréal Women in CitiesInternational released a new report about how to makecities safer for women. They also hosted a Women’sSafety Audit Walk in partnership with the radio stationCKUT and Concordia University’s 2110 Centre forGender Advocacy.In Egypt: HarassMap had teams fan out acrossCairo, Alexandria, Assiut, Minia and Mansoura to talkto community members about street harassment.In Germany: Pro Change activists passed outover 2000 “red cards” against sexism and “pinkcards” against homophobia, along with informationalpamphlets about street harassment and people’s rights.In India: Safe Delhi organized a street event atDelhi University on the subject and organized a rallyof people who were outraged over a gang rape of awoman who was traveling home from work at night.Please see STREET on Page 26Fall & Winter 2012 9

Healthy SexualityMaking the most of your message:Tips and tools for trainersMoving adultstoward takingsteps to protectchildren is acrucial piece ofsexual abuseprevention work.As educatorsand trainers,we need to giveadult caretakersthe tools andresources tonurture healthysexuality andcreate safeenvironmentsthat protecttheir childrenfrom sexualabuse. For moreon healthysexuality,please turn toPAGE 35.By Robin Castle, M.A., and Rachel Gartner, M.S.W.Prevent Child Abuse VermontParents and professionals can quickly list theunhealthy messages that children receivedaily. For instance, consider how messagesthat convey pervasive gender stereotypes or thesexualization of children overwhelm the availableinformation about healthy sexuality. As sexual abuseprevention educators, we work to share a positivemessage, but we must also address the challenginginfluences and traumatic experiences in participants’lives through our training.Both trainers and participants are filled with10 The Resource - www.nsvrc.organticipation about sexual abuse prevention trainings– even before it begins. As trainers, we feel a senseof urgency to counter every negative message withhealth-based information. It is our job to nurture asafe, supportive environment in which all participantscan take away tools to protect children.Moving adults toward taking steps to protectchildren is a crucial piece of sexual abuse preventionwork. Given the estimates that one in four girls andone in eight boys experience abuse before age 18(Finkelhor, 2009, p. 170), we expect that some of our

training participants will have experienced trauma. Inaddition to personal victimization, participants mayhave vicarious trauma if their children or someoneclose to them is abused. They may also struggle withthe negative stimuli coming from our sexualizedculture. Effective trainings acknowledge theseinfluences and experiences and work to create anenvironment of support for the participant.Supporting participants requires that we conduct ourwork in a trauma-informed manner, which includes: Establishing a group agreement. Withparticipant input, establish desired group norms suchas respect, confidentiality, and permission to take careof ourselves. Validating participants’ experiences.Acknowledge participants’ trauma, concerns, andanxieties. Provide participants opportunities to speakas experts and to learn from each other. Creating a plan for possible disclosures. (Thiscould include making yourself available after thetraining and/or referring to local mental health careproviders.) Maintaining a health focus. Sometimes wethink that if adults really understood the problem,they would take action. Spending too much time onthe negative can overwhelm people. Focusing onpositive action steps allows participants to engage andunderstand what we are all working toward. Truly promoting adult responsibility. We needto give adult caretakers the tools and resources tonurture healthy sexuality. They crave tools to createsafe environments that protect their children fromsexual abuse. Teaching the stages of healthy sexualdevelopment. Provide information about children’ssexual development. Help participants sort out sexualbehaviors that are expected vs. concerning behaviors,then practice responses to both. Promoting communication. Work with adults tofind teachable moments in their everyday interactionswith children. Help them practice how they willengage children and youth in factual, developmentallytargeted conversations about sexuality andrelationships. Teaching boundaries. Children see adultssetting boundaries all of the time. Work with adultsto explore how we can respect a child’s need forprivacy, support children when they do not wantto show affection, model respect for other people’sboundaries, and speak up as bystanders when we seeboundary violations. Empowering. Include action steps for confrontingconcerning behaviors, boundary violations, andsuspicion of sexual abuse. Help participants toidentify community resources and teach them howto make a report. Brainstorm ideas that can counterthe commercialization of children’s sexuality and thelinks made between sex and violence in the media.Refer to organizations that promote health, and worktoward change.Finally, as trainers, we need to pay attention to selfcare and continue developing our skills as presenters.A self-care plan may allow us to continue to do good,responsive work and avoid burnout. We also wantto avoid emotionally detaching from materials thatwe have presented multiple times – this can leadinadvertently to forgetting that the materials may benew and challenging to our audience.You may not be able to address as many tools andaction steps as you would like in a single training. Byfocusing your efforts on creating a safe space for thisimportant discussion, there is a greater chance themessages you share will impact your audience. Makethe most of your presentation by engaging participantswith practical tools that you can realistically sharewithin the time allotted or to the size of the group. Wehave a long way to go to counter the many unhealthymessages and practices in our society. By pacing ourmessaging so that the conversation stays accessible,we make progress step by step.ReferencesFinkelhor, D. (2009). The prevention of childhood sexualabuse. The Future of Children, 19(2), 169-194. Retrieved fromhttp://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/EJ856320.pdfFall & Winter 2012 11

Faith communities & healthy sexualityInstitute offers healthy sexualitymessage to faith-based groupsBy J. Michael Cobb and the Rev. Debra W. Haffner,The Religious InstituteSince its founding in 2001, the ReligiousInstitute has created and led a growingmultifaith movement for sexual health,education and justice. The network of 5,600 includesreligious leaders representing more than 70 faithtraditions who advocate for sexuality issues in theirdenominations, congregations and communities. TheReligious Institute (religiousinstitute.org) mobilizesmembers to work within their own faith communitieson a broad range of sexuality issues as well as toadvocate for a faith-based progressive viewpoint onsexuality issues in the public square.This work includes: Developing and supporting a network of clergy,religious educators, theologians, ethicists and otherreligious leaders committed to sexual justice. Developing and supporting the Faithful VoicesNetwork, a multifaith network of people of faithwho share a commitment to comprehensive sexualityeducation, sexual health and reproductive justice, andfull inclusion of women and lesbian, gay, bisexualand transgender (LGBT) persons in congregationallife and society.Those interested are invited to join the FaithfulVoices Network at www.religiousinstitute.org/faithfulvoices. This provides updates on emergingtrends and issues in sexuality and religion, valuablenew research, and resources available from leadingsexual health and advocacy organizations.12 The Resource - www.nsvrc.org Building the capacity of religious institutionsand clergy to provide sexuality education within thecontext of their faith traditions. Helping congregations, seminaries, anddenominations to become sexually healthy faithcommunities. Educating the public and policymakers abouta progressive religious vision of sexual morality,justice, and healing.Sexual justice seeks to uphold the experience andexpression of sexuality as life-giving and pleasurable,in a social context marked by mutual respect,equality and accountability. Religious leaders have aspecial role to play in being prophetic about the rightof all adults to make responsible and ethical sexualdecisions.Much progress has been made. Growing numbersof religious denominations – and thousands of faithcommunities – are now providing sexuality educationto their youth. Faith organizations are embracingand fully including LGBT persons and families,and actively addressing the needs of congregants.The Religious Institute has worked with staff frommore than 15 major denominations and the NationalCouncil of Churches of Christ on such issues assexuality education, sexual abuse prevention,HIV prevention, full inclusion of the LGBTcommunity, and ordination requirements for religiousPlease see INSTITUTE on Page 30

SOME RESOURCES A Time to Build: CreatingSexually Healthy FaithCommunities outlines thebuilding blocks of a sexuallyhealthy faith community. A Time to Heal: ProtectingChildren and Ministering toSex Offenders provides toolsthat faith communities needto develop strategies to keepchildren safe and preventsexual abuse. A Time to Every Purpose isa compendium of progressivetheological statements on arange of sexuality issues thatenable religious leaders andfaith communities to preach,teach and advocate for sexualjustice. A Time to Speak: FaithCommunities and SexualityEducation affirms the uniquerole of congregations inproviding sexuality education.Photo provided by the Religious InstituteThe rainbow flag flies outside a church. Since 2001, the ReligiousInstitute, based in Westport, Conn., has worked with more than 15 majordenominations on issues related to healthy sexuality.For more information, visitwww.religiousinstitute.orgFall & Winter 2012 13

The impact of the Jerry Sandusky TrialPhotos provided by Adam Kulikowski, PCARHundreds of journalists set up their cameras and microphones on the front lawn of the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa.,for the Jerry Sandusky trial on June 11. The trial lasted two weeks and ended with Sandusky being found guilty on 45 of 48 childsexual abuse-related charges.Lessons learned in BellefonteBy Tracy Cox,NSVRC Communications DirectorWhen news of the Jerry Sandusky casebroke in November 2011, we knew themonths ahead would be busy. Workingfor the National Sexual Violence Resource Center(NSVRC), we knew we’d be fielding phone calls,writing letters to the editors and doing interviews.What we didn’t fully realize was the scope of allof this work and the impact it would have on us –14 The Resource - www.nsvrc.orgpersonally and professionally.With State College about two hours away, wequickly found ourselves in the eye of the storm. Thenewspaper that broke the story, The Patriot-News, isliterally less than five minutes from our office. Localand national media were all in our backyard. Andsuddenly, we realized how important it was to beavailable to them.

People were FINALLY talking about sexualviolence. Everywhere we went, everyone wastalking about it: at work, at home, and even at thehairdresser.That same month, Penn State reached out aswell, and we forged a partnership to assist them indeveloping policies/protocols and changing culturalnorms that contribute to perpetuation of sexualviolence.We never experienced such an outpouring ofquestions, comments and opinions on a topic.This was a teachable moment for everyone, andwe were up for the task. Navigating through thisstorm was exhausting at times, but we stayed thecourse, knowing this was THE moment to talk aboutprevention. From the beginning of the case, ourmessage was clear. This was NOT about a university,a football program or a legacy. To us, it was aboutso much more – the victims and the silence thatcondoned abuse.Throughout the investigation and trial, NSVRC andthe Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR)worked closely with our colleagues to keep the focuson the victims and offered insight on how to preventsexual violence. We conveyed this stance throughpress conferences, interviews, editorials, blogs, socialnetworking posts, press releases and statements.Once the trial began, we went to Bellefonte, Pa., andwere in the courtroom. We wanted to support theyoung men who bravely came forward to tell whathappened to them. And we wanted to support themedia in their efforts to inform the public about childsexual abuse.Along with PCAR, we worked with The NationalCenter for Victims of Crime, National CrimeVictim Law Institute, The Pennsylvania CoalitionAgainst Domestic Violence and The Victim RightsLaw Center to release an Amicus Brief urging thatvictims’ identities be protected during the Sanduskytrial. Although this motion was not accepted bythe judge, subsequent appeals made directly tojournalists to protect the victims’ identities wereA woman in front of the Centre County Courthouse inBellefonte, Pa., shows her support for the victims in the JerrySandusky case.honored by the more than 300 media outlets present.Since there was a gag order in effect during the trial— preventing direct participants from commenting,and since Pennsylvania law at that time did not allowfor expert testimony in rape cases — PCAR/NSVRCseized the opportunity by engaging the media and thepublic in discussions about common misconceptions.Please see SANDUSKY on Page 28Fall & Winter 2012 15

Champion of Change AwardTennessean honored by White Housefor helping change women’s livesBy Becca Stevens,Founder of Thistle FarmsIwalked up the steps at the White House inWashington, by myself. That wasn’t the plan.The plan was for Katrina, a graduate of theMagdalene Program and director of sales for ThistleFarms, to come with me. I was going to acceptthe Champion of Change Award for my work increating residential communities for women whohave survived lives of trafficking, addiction, andprostitution. Magdalene has been serving women for15 years and running a social enterprise for 11 years.When the White House called about the award,I knew I wanted Katrina to come with me. Sheembodies the same challenges so many womenserved by the Magdalene Community face. She wassexually abused at a young age, hit the streets asa teenager, has seen the inside of prison walls, theunderside of bridges, and the short side of justice.She has a powerful and clear voice that reminds theworld that while the weight of the universal issuesof sexual violence are borne on individual backs,women can become free to heal and to speak theirtruth in love.Katrina has helped many women find freedom andhas helped make our social enterprise a huge success.But four hours before the plane was to leave, shecalled to tell me she couldn’t go. She had broken herankle the week before, and on top of that, she had theflu. She felt awful and we both became a bit tearfulon the phone. I told her I would miss her, but I felther heart would be with me. As I walked up the stepsalone, I was thinking, “It makes sense that I am doing16 The Resource - www.nsvrc.orgABOUT THE AWARDCreated by President Obama, theChampions of Change programhonors people and organizationsthat are doing important work intheir communities. Each week, adifferent topic is addressed. In Oct.2011, Becca Stevens was feted at theWhite House along with 13 otherswho were recognized for their workwithin the domestic violence/sexualviolence field. To learn more aboutChampions of Change, visitwww.whitehouse.gov/championsthis by myself.”This journey began for me alone. After myfather died when I was 5 years old, a friend of his,whenever he was able to find me by myself, beganto sexually abuse me. I endured that abuse alone,without telling anyone. And while what I wentthrough is just a fraction of the horrors some of thewomen I serve have experienced, it was enoughto change the course of my life. It was enough to

KatrinaRobertson, agraduate ofthe MagdaleneProgram anddirector of salesfor Thistle Farms,intended onjoining BeccaStevens on a tripto Washington,D.C., to acceptthe Champion ofChange Awardat the WhiteHouse, but asudden injuryprevented herfrom attending.In October 2011,Stevens, founderof Thistle Farms,was honored byPresident Obamafor her work.Photo provided by Thistle Farmsgive me passion for this work – passion to desiresanctuary and justice for women. When I think backon those times alone with my abuser, my heart forhealing was being forged into cast iron.When I stood, all alone, on the steps of the homeof our nation’s presidents, I said a silent prayer.I said a prayer for Katrina and the multitude ofwomen who have come to live for years in thecommunity.I said a fervent prayer of thanksgiving for thecommunities of Magdalene and Thistle Farms whocontinue to be witnesses to the truth that love is themost powerful force for change in our world.I was so grateful to be on those steps, knowing Iwas not truly alone, but embraced by colossal loveand gratitude.ABOUT BECCABecca Stevens is thefounder of Magdalene,a residential communityfor women who havesurvived lives ofviolence, prostitutionand addiction. She is also the ExecutiveDirector of Thistle Farms, a socialenterprise that creates all-natural bathand body products. For more info, visitwww.thistlefarms.orgFall & Winter 2012 17

40th Anniversary of Title IXLandmark law goes beyond athleticsto promote equality and chan

gay. They are completely different issues. That over-reacting is not the answer. It is not a reasonable solution to say that day care providers cannot hug children or that children cannot go to gyms. We still have a lot of work to do to prevent sexual violence throughout the lifespan, but this last year has been a