Mar
28
The Significance of Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month 2012
Filed Under Announcement, child sexul assault, Diversity, Motivating Moments, News, Prevention | By Rose Luna | Leave a Comment
The climate in our society over the past few months has been unusual to say the least. The issue of women’s health, contraception and the reauthorization of the once unanimously bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) are unfortunately at the center of a political firestorm. Also front and center is the untimely shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.
The parallel of interpersonal violence and victim blaming are evident. “I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies,” Geraldo Rivera said. “I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was.” The focus on victim behavior, attire, and history are ubiquitous in sexual assault cases. The issue of victim blaming has extraordinarily become central in the media’s coverage of the tragic shooting death of Trayvon Martin. This polarization is unfortunate. April 1st marks the beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). It is imperative that our efforts during this important month break through the political smokescreen. We must not allow politics to relegate the issue of sexual assault and violence as a whole. TAASA’s Executive Director, Annette Burrhus Clay, vehemently challenged legislators to keep election year political rhetoric out of the issue of violence against women, in “Toning Down the Political Rhetoric on Women”. Because of this distraction it is particularly important to provide the facts, dispel the misinformation about sexual assault, and articulate the vital role of rape crisis centers in the community.
Social change work is also an important component of SAAPM efforts. We must underscore the community’s obligation and responsibility to and of its people. Addressing the underpinnings of violence is vital in creating a safe and healthy community for all to enjoy regardless of what we wear. Together we can provide a unified and strong message during the month of April. TAASA will host a variety of webinars, blogs and social media initiatives. Let us know what you are doing for SAAPM. Look forward to hearing from you.
For more information on TAASA’s 2012 “Get Social” SAAPM toolkit click here. For up to date SAAPM events during April visit TAASA’s blog or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Feb
14
We are all Miramonte!!
Filed Under Announcement, child sexul assault, Diversity, Guest Post, Motivating Moments, Powerful Women, Prevention, Resource | By Rose Luna | 1 Comment
The following piece written by guest blogger Laura Zárate (Co-founder and Executive Director of Arte Sana)contains a position statement written collectively by members of a national Latina cyberactivist group named ALAS. The position statment has been endorsed by agencies from Texas and across the country. This effort demonstrates a unified front working on behalf of society’s most vulnerable populations.
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The membership of the Alianza Latina en contra la Agresión Sexual (ALAS) has developed the following position statement to articulate some of the critical issues that may place other communities across the nation at risk for an incident similar to the child sexual abuse tragedy at Miramonte Elementary School. We also wish to express our solidarity with all who are currently working to help the local community heal, especially the victim advocates from the East Los Angeles Women’s Center and the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles.
On this February 14, 2012 our hearts go out to all of the victims of this horrific case who have had their sense of trust and safety shattered. We offer the following position statement in solidarity with national and local victim assistance entities, and dedicate this page to all of the voiceless residents in countless communities across this nation who live in fear: fear of retribution, fear of authority, fear of deportation, fear of the police.
A heartfelt GRACIAS to the following agencies and coalitions that showed solidarity through their endorsement:
A CALL TO MEN
Alianza por el Bienstar del Hogar (North Carolina)
Alma de Mujer Center for Social Change
Arte Sana (art heals)
Big Voice Pictures, producer of BOYS AND MEN HEALING
Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA)
End Violence Against Women International
Hollaback!
Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault (INCASA)
Mamas of Color Rising Collective
La Mariposa Enterprises (Oregon)
Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women (MCBW)
Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition
Moving Forward Gulf Coast, Inc.
National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV)
New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NYSCASA)
North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCCASA)
Latinas Unidas por Un Nuevo Amanecer (L.U.N.A.)
Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
Rape Victim Advocacy Program, Iowa City, Iowa
Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut
Sexual Violence Center (Minnesota)
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA)
Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs (WCSAP)
The position statement is available to download in both English and Spanish here.
The new dedicated webpage also includes Los Corazoncitos art exhibit that includes selections of art from adult survivors of child sexual abuse, and the advocates who work with them.
The position statement development and endorsement process was an urgent attempt to give voice to the broad implications of the events that took place at a particular school. The families of Miramonte Elementary School are Read more
Nov
16
Personally Speaking…..
Filed Under child sexul assault, Diversity, Guest Post, Motivating Moments, Powerful Women, Resource, sexual harrassment | By Rose Luna | Leave a Comment
The topics of child sexual assault and sexual harassment have ushered onto the national spotlight. As the Presidential nomination process continues and the Penn State scandal unfolds, advocates across the country cautiously watch as sensitive matters are frivolously discussed across media outlets. Local, state and national sexual assault organizations have garnered words of encouragement and official position statements. In addition, we gathered the personal thoughts weighing heavily on the minds of TAASA staff.
A trilogy of blogs authored by TAASA staff as events unfolded.
PART I of 3
I AM WOMAN hear me ROAR!
By Rose Luna
Credit: Free images from acobox.com
Sexual harassment has been the topic of the month since the claims against a current Presidential candidate surfaced. On my drive in this morning I haphazardly listened to the radio when the following comment caught my attention: “Well women just need to distinguish between someone ‘making a pass’ at work and sexual harassment” the other (a woman I might add)said this “Well this last woman has no credibility, she didn’t file a claim like the others”. I jammed the radio button to silence the absurdity and quell my rage.
The flippancy in the discussion of sexual harassment was disheartening. And the lack of media critique on the dismissal of these claims as a “distraction” to “real issues” (in my opinion) undermines years of social change attained by the women’s movement of the past. Throughout history sexualized violence against women has been met with conspicuous suspicion. The focus remains on the victim’s behavior, dress and/or choices as opposed to the criminal acts of the offender. Sexual harassment in the workplace is also met resistance and doubt. Many of the victims primarily women, suffer in silence for fear of losing their job.
A 2008 telephone poll by Louis Harris and Associates on 782 U.S. workers revealed:
* 31% of the female workers reported they had been harassed at work
* 7% of the male workers reported they had been harassed at work
* 62% of targets took no action
* 100% of women reported the harasser was a man
* 59% of men reported the harasser was a woman
* 41% of men reported the harasser was another man
Of the women who had been harassed:
* 43% were harassed by a supervisor
* 27% were harassed by an employee senior to them
* 19% were harassed by a coworker at their level
* 8% were harassed by a junior employee
The stark parallels on the realities of sexual assault and sexual harassment paint a bleak picture for women in contemporary society. In 2011 the thought of powerful independent women is still met with skepticism. According to a 2009 sexual harassment study at the University of Minnesota,Researcher Heather McLaughlin reported “This study provides the strongest evidence to date supporting the theory that sexual harassment is less about sexual desire than about control and domination….Male co-workers, clients and supervisors seem to be using harassment as an equalizer against women in power.”
Hillary Clinton’s bid for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination may have “cracked the glass ceiling” however the indifferent characterization of sexual harassment victims this past month exposes a renovation project far from over.
PART 2 of 3
Sexual Harassment is a voting issue
Annette Burrhus Clay- TAASA Executive Director (our fearless leader!)
Credit: Free images from acobox.com
Annette has been in the movement for over 30 years and is a nationally renowned authority on sexual assault issues.
I have been absolutely flabbergasted with the general disinterest by the public in Herman Cain’s sexual harassment allegations. Some media has kept the story out in the public but it doesn’t really seem to be getting any traction. When Cain publicly and unapologetically all but dared reporters to ask any more questions about it and then bragged that his donations have actually increased since the story broke, made me very sad for our country.
Why is it in this primary season we are much more interested in Mitt Romney’s religion or Rick Perry’s debating skills than we are of the blatant disregard and disrespect of half of the electorate? This does matter! First I hear this is gossip fueled by two disgruntled women and then two more victims surface. Next is the claim that the accusations are completely baseless, not even worthy of remembering they actually occurred. And then we find out a considerable settlement was paid. That was followed by the outrage that the victims were anonymous so couldn’t be trusted. Finally, two victim identities are revealed (through both a press conference and an outing) and the victim’s character and motivations became the headline. Is it any wonder that most women never report their victimization?
I have seen sexual harassment downplayed and joked about for years, so under normal circumstances I might not be so surprised by this reaction, but this is the primaries where candidates are under a microscope and their every word and action scrutinized. So why have so many people given Herman Cain a pass? Why is the treatment of women such a low priority? I wonder if it’s not the same reason why it’s so much harder to find Congressional co-sponsors for the Violence Against Women Act this session. Are we so concerned about the economy and jobs that we’ve collectively decided women can be the sacrificial lamb? I hope that’s not the case but I can assure you, women are watching and we are voting.
PART 3 of 3
Unthinkable complacency
By Lyn Williams
Credit: Free photos from acobox.com
Lyn is TAASA’s training director. He is a father, husband and an avid LSU fan.
I will soon be 62 years of age and I have been a college football fan as long as I can remember. I follow professional sports to a degree but because it has become nothing more than a business it does not have the same luster as college sports. For many years college football was basically pure in its approach to the game. Read more