PAVE speaker to address myths about sexual assault

Since students have been back from spring break, they’ve likely seen teal ribbons and calls for action as Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment leads UW–Madison in its annual observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Taking place each April, PAVE has themed this year’s recognition “Myth Busters,” an effort aimed at addressing and correcting common misconceptions students hold regarding sexual assault.

“There are countless myths people believe, sometimes even subconsciously, about sexual assault and how it affects our campus,” PAVE Chair Val Kowis says. “Students know rape is bad, but they don’t always understand how their misperceptions contribute to a rape-supportive culture.”

Rape-supportive culture refers to a society in which sexual violence is considered ordinary and prevalent attitudes dismiss, tolerate or even condone rape.

The myths PAVE will highlight throughout April contribute to this phenomenon. As such, group members will work to “bust” these misconceptions, including the belief that victims can be to blame for their assaults depending on whether they were drinking, what type of clothes they were wearing or if they are considered to be sexually promiscuous.

“Sadly, sexually active females are still often considered taboo,” Kowis said. “When these women become victims of sexual assault, many are quick to judge, arguing ‘What did she expect?'”

“That’s unacceptable,” Kowis added. “Rape is never the victim’s fault, and for people to blame it on her sexual experiences is not only archaic, but also damaging to someone who has experienced immense trauma.”

Someone who has written extensively on this type of victim blaming, Jaclyn Friedman will join PAVE at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 in room 1310 of Sterling Hall as the group’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month keynote speaker. Admission is free and the public is welcome.

Co-author of “Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape” and founder of Women, Action, and the Media, Friedman has been commended countless times for her dedication to sexual assault prevention and awareness. Her latest book, “What You Really Really Want: The Smart Girl’s Shame-Free Guide to Sex & Safety,” challenges the myth that sexually active women are more deserving or more to blame for assaults they may experience.

“Until society updates its understanding of healthy sexuality-namely that women can have sex without being considered sluts or deserving of assault-rape victims will continue to be blamed and ridiculed,” Kowis said. “A rape-free society is a sex-positive society in which men and women can express their sexualities in respectful and healthy ways. Jaclyn gets that.”

PAVE is a student organization dedicated to ending sexual assault, dating violence and stalking on the UW–Madison campus through education and activism. Students who have experienced sexual assault and would like support can access the Rape Crisis Center, which has an office on the UW campus, via their 24 hour hotline: (608) 251-RAPE.