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Since its inception the “Slut Walk” events have carried a storm of controversy and have been met with both acceptance and resistance. TAASA responded with talking points and also created a space for staff to openly discuss their thoughts on the Slut Walk events. The results were featured in Soapbox-SlutWalk-Summer2011. A viewpoint missing from the national and international conversation is that of women of color. Below please find the collective response in the “Open Letter from Black Women to the Slut Walk”  
______________________________________________________________

We the undersigned women of African descent and anti-violence advocates, activists, scholars, organizational and spiritual leaders wish to address the SlutWalk. First, we commend the organizers on their bold and vast mobilization to end the shaming and blaming of sexual assault victims for violence committed against them by other members of society. We are proud to be living in this moment in time where girls and boys have the opportunity to witness the acts of extraordinary women resisting oppression and challenging the myths that feed rape culture everywhere.
The police officer’s comments in Toronto that ignited the organizing of the first SlutWalk and served to trivialize, omit and dismiss women’s continuous experiences of sexual exploitation, assault, and oppression are an attack upon our collective spirits. Whether the dismissal of rape and other violations of a woman’s body be driven by her mode of dress, line of work, level of intoxication, her class, and in cases of Black and brown bodies—her race, we are in full agreement that no one deserves to be raped.
The Issue At Hand
We are deeply concerned. As Black women and girls we find no space in SlutWalk, no space for participation and to unequivocally denounce rape and sexual assault as we have experienced it. We are perplexed by the use of the term “slut” and by any implication that this word, much like the word “Ho” or the “N” word should be re-appropriated. The way in which we are perceived and what happens to us before, during and after sexual assault crosses the boundaries of our mode of dress. Much of this is tied to our particular history. In the United States, where slavery constructed Black female sexualities, Jim Crow kidnappings, rape and lynchings, gender misrepresentations, and more recently, where the Black female immigrant struggle combine, “slut” has different associations for Black women. We do not recognize ourselves nor do we see our lived experiences reflected within SlutWalk and especially not in its brand and its label.
As Black women, we do not have the privilege or the space to call ourselves “slut” without validating the already historically entrenched ideology and recurring messages about what and who the Black woman is. We don’t have the privilege Read more

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

Credit: Free photos from acobox.com Back in August, J.C. Penney was selling a shirt in their stores that had the following text written across the front of it, “I’m too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me.” (Brief pause for everyone to get their screams out.) Okay, so obviously the message behind the t-shirt is, let’s say, problematic. The message to young women is clear – don’t bother getting your learn on and don’t be smart, because all it is really about is being attractive so you can get men to do things for you. And this message fits in with a whole cacophony of similar messaging that exists throughout our society. As a human being, and as a father of two daughters, this message is unacceptable, demeaning and limiting. Thankfully, there was swift outrage and J.C. Penney pulled the t-shirt from their stores. If you’d like to read one of the blog stories out there about this t-shirt, you can click here.

I have written before about media and fashion messaging about masculinity and femininity, so I’m not looking to go through a more thorough explanation of the problem with this t-shirt. What I did find interesting was that shortly after stories about the t-shirt broke, one website challenged people to complete the following statement, “I’m too _____ to do my homework, so my _____ had to do it for me.” You can imagine a whole range of possible responses, but one from a friend stood out to me. Deborah completed the statement in the follow way.

I’m too manipulated by a patriarchal-capitalist system that tells me my entire self worth is dictated by how ‘pretty’ (determined by who again?) I am to do my homework, so my brother has to do it for me, which is fine because he’s going to end up getting paid more and promoted above me anyway, although if I bring this tidbit up, I’ll just be called a feminazi and possibly a lesbian.

Thank you Deborah. I laughed so hard I couldn’t see straight, and you reminded me that sometimes humor and sarcasm are particularly useful strategies when dealing with inequity.

Anyone else want to take a crack at completing the sentence above? It’s time to tap into that funny bone and let the sarcasm fly. Come on, it will feel good.

It’s no secret Texas Governor Rick Perry is running for President and the First Lady’s work with TAASA has been the focus of several news articles. Mica Mosbacher responds to those reports with a genuine and personal account of how she became an avid supporter of TAASA. Below please read Mica’s courageous editorial in defense of Anita Perry’s work on behalf of sexual assault survivors.
(Published Austin American Statesman: 6:32 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011)
_______________________________________
I survived sexual assault at the innocent age of 19. It occurred in London while on a holiday during the summer break before my junior year at the University of Texas.

I had been out to dinner with a large group of friends at a respectable restaurant. This guy came to our table and bought me a drink, but I did not ask him to join us. I did sip on the drink, and feeling quite drunk, I took a cab back to the hotel. I barely made it to my room. Soon someone knocked on the door and I opened it. That’s all I remember until I woke up.

I did not report it to British authorities. I was ashamed, humiliated and too afraid of being judged or labeled to tell anyone about the attack.

I cut my European tour short and refused to meet my dad as planned in France. Upon returning home, I became despondent. Still, I tried to soldier on. My studies were affected and I was suddenly world weary — but I functioned well on the surface.

I kept this secret for 30 years, until I was introduced to first lady Anita Perry and the fine work she was doing to help assault victims through Texas Association against Sexual Assault.

She was so compassionate and understanding when I quietly admitted that I was a survivor. I agreed to host an inaugural luncheon in Houston to help raise money for the association. It would mean that I would have to step forward and tell my story. I wasn’t sure I could do so, but I was moved by the first lady’s advocacy and willingness to work for a non-glamorous charity that I agreed to help others and perhaps help myself.

I believe there are no coincidences. While planning the lunch, my son’s girlfriend, now wife, told me about a friend who had been raped while on a trip to New Braunfels. I took the risk of being vulnerable and shared with Lauren my experience. Lauren was looking for a way to tell her story to others and to offer hope and a path for healing. Lauren went on to speak at the luncheon and to tell her compelling story in front of a large audience of classmates, family members, school officials and strangers. She went on to be part of the association’s “Speak Up, Speak Out Campaign,” whereby survivors share their stories in ads for TV, radio and Read more

Featuring a blog post by Corey Seldon – Structured Education Coordinator with Hope Alliance, in Round Rock,TX.

Volunteers play a vital role in the survival and function of any non- profit agency. Training volunteers is always a challenge. The amount of information to cover, how much is too much or too little, will the information prepare for the volunteer for the challenges ahead? The list of potential content is exhausting and the decision on what to include is never easy. The issue of cultural awareness, although recognized by agencies as very important, very seldom makes the cut. Hope Alliance in Round Rock, Texas incorporated a diversity portion to their volunteer training and has experienced great feedback from the volunteer to be.
Check out Blogging for Hope featuring “Cultural Competency? Really?”

Emiliano is a Primary Prevention Specialist with TAASA
As kids, we said that “sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will never hurt us.” As adults, we know better. Words can shake us to our very core. One word in particular – SLUT – has shaken people across our country into action.

Since January 2011, SlutWalks have been organized internationally, each one garnering both praise and criticism, forcing men and women alike to engage in a difficult dialogue in order to confront the rape-culture that has permeated our communities. Regardless of people’s views of the use of the word “slut,” most can agree that SlutWalks have been effective in bringing attention to the issue of sexual violence. The organizers of each walk have been able to mobilize hundreds and, in some cases, thousands to take to the streets to demand an end to victim-blaming.

Similar to many of the other walks, SlutWalk Austin began as a buzz in social networks and culminated with a diverse group of people joining together to let their voices be heard, their presence be felt, and their demands be known. On Saturday, June 11, 2011 SlutWalk Austin got off to a shaky start with a few technical difficulties, but the message of each speaker remained clear – a woman’s clothing does NOT determine her worth and does NOT justify an attack. Victim-blaming will not be tolerated in the state of Texas, and in order to bring this message to others, the hundreds of participants from around Central Texas who had gathered marched down Congress with their signs and protest clothing, reclaiming their bodies and their streets.

SlutWalk Austin, like those before it, continues to peak interest and spark both conversation and action. A SlutWalk is scheduled for next month in Houston and more are being organized globally in small and large communities alike. Do you want to help put an end to victim-blaming? Think about joining this movement and organizing a SlutWalk in your community.
Check out video footage from the Slut Walk event in Austin:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/p0eWDtkG-i4

It is the morning of the Texas Peace Project and I am already inspired. The Texas Peace Project is a project of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault to engage youth as agents of change through peer education. This year’s summit will take place this weekend (June 10-12) at Trinity University in San Antonio. Youth from across the state of Texas will attend. Youth leaders (titled Youth Advisory Board members) have partnered with adult facilitators in creating the workshops featured at this year’s summit. The overarching premise throughout the weekend is Racism, Adultism, Homophobia and Sexism. The aim is to address the underlying sources enabling violence inhibiting equality. If the discussions out of workshop preparations are an indicator of success, this weekend’s summit is sure to inspire peer-led social change in the state of Texas. Today is registration, welcome address and talent showcase. Workshops begin tomorrow morning. Let the learning begin!!!

In recent months, SlutWalks held in various locations have garnered national attention. Recently called the “most successful feminist action of the past 20 years”, they started in early April 2011 and are still happening all across the country. As a result, your agency may see an increase in calls and media activity. In response to that, we have prepared the attached talking points to help you and your staff not only know a bit more about the event, but also have a consistent message to share in support of both survivors and sexual assault activists.
History
On January 4, 2011 a member of Toronto’s law enforcement commented on a sexual assault incident with the following quote “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”.
In response to the comment, enraged community members organized an event titled “slut walk” to highlight the term that both enraged and inspired them to join together with a message that victims are never to blame for their sexual assault.
Currently
TAASA works on behalf of sexual assault victims in many capacities. The blatant comment by the officer is a stark reminder of the societal views most often associated with victims of sexual assault . Confronting victim blaming statements is a vital component of TAASA’s mission.
SLUT Walk has taken the world by storm. Since the initial walk in Toronto other walks have occurred across the globe including here in Texas.
Consequences and Benefits
The term “slut” carries with it many negative connotations and may incite judgment and/or anger from an unassuming community member. Connecting the message to its original intent may proactively neutralize reactions.
SLUT Walk can be used as an opportunity to engage the public, create new local partnerships and create awareness about rape myths ubiquitous in our communities. The enthusiasm behind the movement has successfully activated communities around the world to unite in support of sexual assault victims while challenging the negative stereotypes that hinder justice for victims of sexual assault here in Texas and around the world.
SLUT walks are working to draw attention to societal norms about women and about sexuality that create an environment where sexual violence is more likely to occur. By bringing awareness to these norms and starting community conversations around them, we can all work to change these same norms and ultimately prevent violence from happening in the first place.

Congratulations to Oralia Jaure of the Family Crisis Center in Harlingen, Texas, for 18 years of service to survivors and the community.  Listen as Oralia shares valuable insights 18 years of serving victims brings.

Most girls are immediately trusting of others—especially those in authority. Usually, this is the right choice. Usually, people are not bad, are not violent and are not rapists. Unfortunately, the definition of usually is “not always”.
For one teenage girl in Italy, her trust in others was ruined by her 45-year-old driving instructor. During her very first driving lesson he asked the young woman to drive further and further from her town into the country. I imagine she might have begun to feel nervous, but she trusted this man, he was her driving instructor, an authority figure, and her parent s trusted him. Why would she question him?
Once out of town he asked her to pull over into a wooded area. He threatened to kill her and her family as he forced one of her legs out of her jeans and brutally raped her.
She was a smart young woman, and she trusted her parents and the police to do the right thing—and they did. They supported her, arrested the man; he was convicted of rape and sentenced to prison.
Eventually, through the appeals process, his lawyers came up with the often used defense that it was consensual sex. She was dressed provocatively, she was driving the car herself…and because her jeans were tight she had to help him remove them.
The case made its way through the system to the Italian Supreme Court where it was finally overturned. The chief justice said, “Since the victim wore very, very tight jeans; she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans, it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”
Within hours of the verdict, women of the Italian Parliament rushed home to change into jeans in protest, standing in support of this girl, and all girls and women who are blamed every day for something someone else did to them.

In 1999, Peace Over Violence, an anti-violence organization in Las Angeles, began the Denim Day campaign to show a unified front in support of survivors. Anti-violence and sexual assault centers across the United States and the World have followed suit. In 2008, SafePlace brought the campaign to Austin. Other organizations, including TAASA have joined in the movement.
Now, when someone hears the story behind Denim Day, they are outraged. They tell friends and co-workers and want to sign up immediately to support survivors and to show their outrage that anyone –women, girls, boys and men– are ever to blame for an assault against them.
The blame hasn’t ended. The brutal gang rape of the 11-year-old girl in Cleveland, Texas brings this point home. She was a little girl, and she didn’t know not to trust.

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