(originally posted on Instagram on April 20, 2021)
It’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Let’s be aware, supportive of survivors and discuss what consent is.
Sex is something that is supposed to be enjoyable between both parties, something that is wanted.
These are our bodies you’re dealing with. It’s not all about you. It’s about everyone involved.
Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States have been raped at some time in their lives, including forced penetration, attempted forced penetration, or alcohol/drug facilitated completed penetration.
-NSVRC
And that’s only the people who reported it. Think of the many people who don’t say anything, who keep it in a little glass bottle in their bodies, trying to forget it when it can never be forgotten.
1 in 5 women.
1 in 7 men.
In your zoom conference/ class, there is likely going to be someone or more than one person that had been sexually assaulted or would be sexually assaulted in the future.
Maybe these numbers will never apply to you, maybe you can be part of the people that never have to face that.
No one should ever have to face that, but they do. We live in a world of violence and it’s likely that someone you know, that a family member had to go through this.
And it’s never the victims fault. Don’t blame how they dress, what they drink, how they talk...this is about consent.
Yes, I want it.
No, I don’t want it.
Ask your partner, ask them if this is okay. You can even make the aura more sexy by asking them.
People never ask this question enough. It’s always assuming. And maybe your assumption is right, but what if it’s wrong?
If you see someone in a vulnerable position, stand up for them. Even if it’s your best friend or buddy, stand up. Say something. Do something.
We live in an advanced, technological world where we can send someone to the moon, where we can video call someone on the other side of the planet. But how come there are still cases of rape and sexual assault. Are we humans? Or are we less then?
I don’t think we have a right to call ourselves good when this keeps happening.