READ
Please choose any of the following material to read, then write a summary describing the information you learned and its relevance to sexual violence. Please submit a written summary to bradley@tricountyspeaks.org.
SELF-CARE & TRAUMA WORK
1 HOUR
“By working in the field of anti-violence we fight oppression on many forms and it eventually seeps into our hearts and minds. Recognizing this and taking care of ourselves is the first step to refreshing and sustaining our energy in the work.”
END THE BACKLOG: SOUTH CAROLINA
1 HOUR
“The extent of the untested rape kit backlog in South Carolina is not entirely unknown. In 2018, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) reported possessing 813 untested rape kits, but law enforcement agencies have not provided a count of how many untested kits are in their possession. South Carolina law does not require law enforcement agencies to count, track, or test rape kits. “
HOW WE TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH MALE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, HARASSMENT, AND ABUSE
1 HOUR
“Whether you’re describing your center’s services to a friend, talking with a classroom of college students about preventing sexual harassment, or writing your agency’s newsletter, the words you use have an impact on how audiences understand those topics. They also have an impact on who sees themselves as eligible for your center’s services.”
SEXUAL ASSAULT MISCONCEPTIONS
1 HOUR
“Several misconceptions exist about sexual assault. These misconceptions often shift responsibility and blame from the assailant to the victim. Understanding the misconceptions surrounding sexual assault may help you in your recovery. What happened to you was a crime. You are not to blame for the assailant’s behavior.”
END THE BACKLOG: SOUTH CAROLINA
1 HOUR
“The extent of the untested rape kit backlog in South Carolina is not entirely unknown. In 2018, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) reported possessing 813 untested rape kits, but law enforcement agencies have not provided a count of how many untested kits are in their possession. South Carolina law does not require law enforcement agencies to count, track, or test rape kits. “
WHEN IT COMES TO RAPE, JUST BECAUSE A CASE IS CLEARED DOESN’T MEAN IT’S SOLVED
1 HOUR
“Some police departments, turning to a designation that’s supposed to be used sparingly, make it seem as though they’ve solved a significant number of rape cases when they have simply closed them.”
SEXUAL ASSAULT: WOMEN’S VOICES ON THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF NOT BEING BELIEVED BY POLICE
1 HOUR
“Sexual assault is a prevalent crime against women globally with known negative effects on health. Recent media reports in Canada indicate that many sexual assault reports are not believed by police. Negative reporting experiences of sexual assault have been associated with secondary victimization and trauma among survivors.”
RAPE CULTURE, VICTIM BLAMING, AND THE FACTS
1 HOUR
“Rape Culture is an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.”
BLAMING THE VICTIM OF ACQUAINTANCE RAPE: INDIVIDUAL, SITUATIONAL, AND SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS
3 HOURS
“Research on sexual assault and victim blaming is burgeoning, yet much more needs to be done to understand the individual, situational, and cultural factors that contribute to victim blaming, particularly in the case of acquaintance rape.”