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  • ▼2012 (4)
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      • We are all Miramonte!!
      • "Get Social!" - TAASA's 2012 Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Packet
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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.
_______________________________________________________________________

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

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is near! During the month of April agencies and organizations across the country will engage in a national effort to create awareness and change during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). This creates a great opportunity for Texas agencies and organizations to localize a national effort. Your agency’s SAAPM activities will represent a ripple in the national wave of sexual assault awareness and prevention efforts. There is a saying about our great state: “Everything’s bigger in Texas” so as we begin planning our Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention activities, think BIG in our reach to marginalized populations, think BIG on building and sustaining relationships with various segments of our community and institutions and think BIG on creating sustainable awareness and change for the betterment of our community and it’s response to survivors of sexual assault.
The theme of TAASA’s 2012 SAAPM packet is “Get Social”. The intention behind this theme is to emphasize the connection between community, it’s stakeholders and our agency. It also represents the importance of collaboration and building of relationships in creating awareness and change. This packet will provide tools that employ both traditional and non-traditional methods through the use of social media, social marketing and social change.
Click here to view the packet and “Get Social!!” What are your agency plans for sexual assault awareness and prevention month?

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.

Credit: Free images from acobox.com
Yesterday, as I was driving home listening to NPR on the radio, I heard a report about the fall line up of new TV shows. The media analyst they brought in talked about a few of the new shows that are taking on this supposed emasculation of men, and then I came across an item on the TV Guide online site titled “Emasculation of Men on TV.” After reading the comments about the TV Guide story, I became – oh, what’s the right (and acceptable) word – inspired.

The basic point of the argument being made by some folks is that this string of TV shows, and others before them, that have emasculated men as characters is a reflection of the society we live in, where men have no clear roles and have no real power, and an inevitable result of feminist’s struggles for women’s rights. I find that like many arguments in this current political and economic climate, there are really large holes in the reasoning used to support this belief. Here are just a few I can think of.

1. Feminism is a lot of things. It is complicated. It exists on a spectrum, like most things. There is not one monolithic feminist platform of beliefs. However, it is also true that feminism is not the struggle to replace men with women at the top of hierarchical structures based on inequality and the use of power to maintain privilege. It is not women should rule and subjugate men. Rather, feminism is the desire to tear down inequity, particularly based on gender in a patriarchal society, and the institutions that support and maintain it. It is a tactic of folks fighting to support our current way of life, which is rife with inequity, oppression and violence, to suggest that feminist just want to be able to tell men what to do.

2. I obviously haven’t seen these new fall TV shows, but I have seen shows with male characters who are supposedly emasculated. A common pattern emerges. First, the emasculated male character is made to look ridiculous and is the target of many of the laugh lines – the audience is meant to laugh at the character, not with him. The result is an indictment of the character, not the celebration of him, and therefore a cautionary tale about the emasculation of men. The lesson becomes, “See how ridiculous this man is. Don’t be like him, it isn’t natural. Men should be men.” This is hardly a feminist message. In addition, these shows often pair these “emasculated men” with strong female characters. Unfortunately, the female characters often become caricatures of modern women. The women are cast as irrational, always right, nagging, bossy, mean and even petty. This serves to reinforce the message that “men should be men and women should be women, and that relationships between them are confrontational 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.

It has been a couple of weeks since our annual conference, but one speaker’s words in particular have stayed with me. On Tuesday, our lunch speaker was Dr. Terri Pease, and her presentation was titled Cultural Trauma, History and Trauma – Their Impact on African-American Survivors. I was so wrapped up in the presentation that I didn’t take very good notes, so I apologize to everyone, particularly Dr. Pease, if I don’t capture the spirit of her presentation well.

I was particularly struck by Dr. Pease’s points regarding the concept of “cultural trauma.” As I understand the concept at its most reduced, cultural trauma occurs when an entire group of people experience a massive trauma that is so profound that it impacts every member of the group in some way for generations and generations. The cause of the trauma may have passed from existence, and an individual member of the group may not have personally experienced the trauma, but the impact exists nonetheless. In the case of Black people in the United States, slavery is a clear example of a cause of cultural trauma.

Regardless of the fact that slavery has been illegal for over a century, Jim Crow laws stricken from the law books and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the impact of massive displacement – erasing cultural and family history – and legalized racism continues to impact Black people in the U.S. today. Dr. Pease talked about effects ranging from physical to emotional. As a result, any act of racism today, whether deemed insignificant or isolated by those in our society who believe we live in a post-racial U.S., is in many ways an act of re-victimization – a reminder of the violence committed by a nation against a people, and a threat of more violence.

As I sat listening to Dr. Pease speak, I couldn’t help but think about women in the U.S., and really any other patriarchal society. Could the concept of cultural trauma be relevant to the experience of women in our society? There are some significant differences for sure, and speaking of a collective experience of women in the U.S. is problematic considering the spectrum of experiences of women based on other aspects of their identity, such as race, economic-status and sexual orientation. However, there are some similarities. Women have been systematically targeted for violence in many forms, including sexual violence.

I know that we all know these statistics, but lets think about them again. One in five Texas women have been sexually abused or assaulted. That doesn’t even speak to the reality of the full spectrum of sexual violence. One in five cannot be explained by individual and unrelated acts of violence, but rather speaks to a societal targeting for violence of women, or at least sanctioning of violence against them. How can this not impact all women, regardless of whether or not they have personally experienced sexual violence? Read more

There are a lot of discussions and disagreements on the best way to bring more men into the movement to end men’s violence against women, children and other men. While I believe that it will take a number of different approaches and strategies to accomplish this, there is one approach that I’ve seen now in a few articles and heard in several conversations that troubles me.

Some people have suggested that we can bring men into the movement as bystanders who can intervene in violence by playing into the traditionally masculine roles of savior and protector. I believe that this approach can be dangerous and runs counter to our long-term goals to end violence.

To be fair, most strong proponents of this approach acknowledge that once men are engaged, they must be challenged to begin understanding the power and privilege, and therefore oppression, injustice and violence, that traditional masculinity is built upon. However, suggesting that we can bring men into the movement by appealing to their traditionally defined sense of masculinity is unfair and dangerous for all women, and particularly for our female colleagues within the movement.

Men brought into the work with this approach are likely to hold beliefs about male superiority and entitlement that often lead to negative interactions with women they work with. These interactions might range from men assuming and demanding leadership roles to continuing to demean and minimize the contributions and leadership of women and even to committing various forms of violence – be it emotional, physical or sexual.

Additionally, if we truly believe, as I do, that a vast majority, if not all the violence in our society is preventable, and that replacing some of our current norms with those based on equity is the only way to achieve this goal, then inviting people who are encouraged to hold onto and embrace the very attitudes and beliefs we hope to replace seems self-defeating.

In the long-term, if people don’t challenge sexism, male superiority and male entitlement, we will continue to have the same level of violent acts. A man who is brought in to intervene in acts of violence without ever being asked to recognize, understand and interrupt sexism and male privilege is not likely to intervene when norms supportive of sexual violence are expressed or acted upon. They may act to interrupt an attempted rape (which is important), but they are unlikely to intervene when they hear a sexist joke or when there is gender discrimination going on at work.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on engaging men in the movement and how we can accomplish that goal without jeopardizing our long-term success.

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