Guidelines to Minimize the Risk of Sexual Assault for Men and Women
Awareness:
- Know your individual rights
- Know which behaviors constitute rape and sexual assault.
- Know how alcohol and drug consumption impacts your own and others behavior and how altered judgment affects your intimate relationships.
- Know basic personal safety information and victim prevention techniques.
- Pay attention to what is happening around you, and avoid, when possible, vulnerable and potentially dangerous situations.
Personally:
- Think about what you really want in a relationship.
- Be aware of stereotypes that prevent you from acting as you would like.
- You have the right to feel good about yourself and to get help if you choose.
- If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, seek the support that you need.
- Act on your needs and wants while not exploiting others.
In Relationships:
- Develop personal intimacy communication skills and communicate what you really want and what you are really thinking. Passivity may be misinterpreted as permission. Be direct and firm with someone who is pressuring you sexually. Assert yourself.
- Know your sexual desires and limits. Believe in your right to set those limits. Communicate your limits clearly. If someone starts to offend you, tell them firmly and early. If you are not sure, STOP and talk about it.
- Listen and pay attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues you or your partner may be sending. Be aware that nonverbal actions send a message. It is important to be aware of possible misunderstanding.
- Trust your intuitions. If you feel you are being pressured into unwanted sex by your partner or peers, you probably are.
- View each person in the relationship as a uniquely equal individual.
Other Suggestions:
- Believe and act as if your needs are important. Respect yourself and your partner.
- Feel good about yourself. If you don't feel good about yourself, get involved in activities and with people who will help you feel better.
- Drink responsibly. Most acquaintance sexual assaults happen when one or both people are drunk or high.
- Be aware that you have the right and the ability to stop sexual activity at anytime.
- Be aware that you also have the right to say no to sexual activity regardless of whether or not you have had sex before.
- Use positive peer pressure to help stop abusive behaviors that may lead to acquaintance sexual assault. For example, when over-hearing someone talk about taking advantage of a partner sexually, let them know you think this is wrong. Silence can be mistaken for approval.