Everyday steps towards a world free from sexual violence and abuse
Exploitation in Rotherham, Rochdale, Oxford and many more towns and cities across the world, Jerry Sandusky, Jimmy Savile, Donald Trump, Harvey Weinstein, #MeToo… Sometimes it can feel like sexual violence, abuse, harassment, exploitation and harm is everywhere. And in some ways, it is. We all know someone who has experienced it, or heard of someone who has. And they’re just the ones we know about. As we hear more about people’s experiences and what they’ve had to endure, and how they’ve been silenced, we can feel stunned, worried, distressed, angry, and sometimes we can be left wondering, what can be done? How can we change something that’s so big, so widespread? But: all of us can change it, all of us can help prevent sexual violence and abuse, all of us can help create a world free from sexual harm.
Together, we can be the change that we’re looking for. We all do small, everyday things that contribute to preventing sexual violence and abuse in some way. And if we don’t, then we can! Maybe it feels like our voices and actions are so small that they’re not worth acknowledging, or that they’re too small to make a difference. But the things you’re doing, the things we’re all doing, can collectively become the change we all want, need and deserve. This site is a space where we can share, acknowledge and celebrate all of the little and big everyday things we do to make and create a world free from sexual violence and abuse. Share what you’re doing by clicking on Contribute or tweet @EverydayPrevent. And see the posts below or @EverydayPrevent to celebrate, support and feel inspired by what we’re collectively achieving together.
My partner told me that 85% of women under 25 have experienced sexual harassment on the street. This includes men making sexualised gestures, telling women to ‘smile beautiful’ and women being followed. I was shocked. I also hadn’t realized how uncomfortable some of these things make women feel. Now I understand this I’m going to call it out when I see it.
I think seeking out information about sexual violence and abuse is an important first step towards prevention. Once we’re more aware of the problem, we can also seek to be more aware of what we can all do to prevent it. Today, I read about the UN Women’s #drawaline campaign; in 37 countries, rape within marriage isn’t recognised as a crime or the perpetrator isn’t prosecuted if they subsequently marry the victim. I can’t change this on my own, but collectively, I think we can. My first everyday step is to make a donation to the #drawaline campaign.
I try to challenge problematic attitudes that blame the victims of sexual violence and harassment, even when they are being said by friends and family members
It’s #givingTuesday and as part of #16days of action, today I have donated to a local charity that supports women survivors.
When Leeds Beckett Uni, Leeds Uni and NOTA ran discussions on preventing sexual violence against students, I went along to find out more and to share my ideas.
Today I am reading and contributing to this site as well as reading about other work people are doing to help stop Violence against women and girls. Its great to see people’s efforts no matter how big or how small, it reminds us we can all do something!
Language is important! When talking to others about sexual violence, I try to use empowering words that do not define women and girls by their experiences.
Campaign for better public transport including keep staff on at railway/tube stations all the hours of service. Keep police on the streets. Walk the streets at night.
I’ve been promoting this site on my social media to get the conversation going and raise awareness of what we can all do
When the Gadget Show used women’s bodies to advertise a TV, I called them out on twitter – I think sexism contributes to sexual violence against women.
When my brother asked how work was going, I told him about the sexual consent workshop and that led to a conversation about how you can tell whether someone consents or not.