Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of experiences with sexual assault as well as words that may be triggering to some readers.  

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAM), a month focused on education about sexual assault and advocacy for survivors. Since April 2001, SAAM has served as a time to deconstruct cycles of historical violence and the silencing of victims. 

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in four women experience rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. Fifty-four percent of rapes go unreported to police, and 87% of women and 90% of men did not tell anyone or seek help after experiencing sexual harassment or assault. 

Members of The Scribe spoke about what SAAM means to them, the history behind it and the ongoing issues it seeks to bring attention to. This article also includes resources for those dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault. Those who want to learn more can find resources in the bottom section of this article.  

Grace Brajkovich | News Editor 

Denim Day: In 1992, an 18-year-old girl was raped by a 45-year-old driving instructor in Italy. The instructor pulled to the side of the road, removed the woman’s skinny jeans and violently raped her.  

The man was convicted, but in 1998, he appealed, claiming her jeans were so tight that there was no way he could have removed them alone. The Italian Supreme Court overturned the ruling that led to his conviction based on this “jeans alibi,” and he was freed.  

This sparked international outrage. In California, Executive Director of Peace Over Violence Patti Occhiuzzo Giggans started the denim day protest, encouraging all people to wear denim to protest victim blaming and show solidarity with survivors. This year, Denim Day is Wednesday, April 30, and will be celebrated for its 27th year. 

Victims often don’t report their sexual assaults because of rulings like this. By setting a legal precedent that blames and discredits victims because of what they were wearing, drinking or saying, we are telling predators that they can get away with violence. Wear denim on Wednesday to support victims everywhere. 

Sophie Denmark | Features Reporter 

I grew up in Alabama, where sex education emphasized abstinence if taught at all. Ignoring sex or preaching that people should wait until marriage does nothing except create a stigma around it, which only strengthens the narrative that sexual assault should be kept private. 

In Alabama, the subjects of both consensual sex and assault are surrounded by environments of toxicity and religious guilt. Because of this, survivors are made to feel like they have done something wrong, and they are not given the opportunity to come forward with their stories.  

I consider myself lucky that my parents taught me about consent, because otherwise I would’ve never heard the word. I know girls who grew up with religious families that refused to have healthy conversations about consent to promote abstinence. Some of those girls were sexually assaulted and had a hard time understanding what had happened to them. On top of the trauma of experiencing sexual assault, they struggled with feelings of sinfulness. 

While sexual assault is far from destigmatized in our society, Southern culture especially invalidates the experiences of survivors. SAAM opens conversations, offers support and community and teaches people what sexual assault looks like, especially those who come from places where those discussions are not present.  

Kaylie Foster | Features Editor  

When I was a junior in high school, two different men came very close to raping me. On both occasions, they told me things like, “I just want to tease you,” “It’ll only be the tip,” and “I promise I’m not going to f— you.” I told them both something like, “Fine, I just don’t want to have sex,” and soon dealt with more than what I had consented to.  

Nothing gets you into fight or flight mode like someone handling your body how they want, despite you telling them “No.” I slapped one of those boys across the face and kneed the other one in the side until he moved off me. After that, I found myself with watery eyes, a knot in my throat and a twisted stomach. 

I remember being gaslit into believing I was the problem for hurting these guys. I would tell myself I was being dramatic, and for years after, I struggled with consent and intimacy. I didn’t know what sexual assault looked like, and I didn’t come to terms with the fact that I had experienced sexual assault twice as a 16-year-old girl until I was 20.  

That’s why Sexual Assault Awareness Month is so important – to educate people on what sexual assault looks like. I didn’t know how to say “no” for a long time, and the trauma from those interactions caused me to struggle with consent. I hope that people use this month to learn what consent looks like, so women of the future can feel more empowered in their “no” than I did.  

Abigail Katharin | Features Reporter 

 
My first sexual experience wasn’t consensual, but I told myself over and over again that it was. It is not easy to accept that the first time you experienced physical intimacy with someone was against your will. 
 
Soon after I was raped, I found myself in a relationship with a man who used sex as a tool of control, abuse and manipulation. He would tell me that couples who “actually loved each other” had sex upwards of three times a day. He would grow increasingly erratic and moody each time I declined sex.  

One day without sex earned me backhanded compliments, like, “You look good, but I wish your stomach was smaller.”  If two to three days passed without sex, he wouldn’t do the dishes or fold the laundry. My partner asked for sex so often that it became easier to just give in to his demands, even when I didn’t want to have sex. 
 
I now realize that I was repeatedly sexually coerced by my partner. I wasn’t aware until after we broke up that sexual abuse and assault can happen in committed relationships.  
 
SAAM is important because of instances like this. Every person should know that they don’t owe sex to anybody, and that being in a relationship does not justify violating boundaries.  Looking back with the knowledge I have now, I would have run as far away from both of those relationships as I could. 

Ava Knox | Opinion/LotB Editor 

One of the most overlooked aspects of sexual assault is the fact that it is never limited to a single act. We exist in a culture that invalidates the feelings of survivors, ignores the social processes that serve as the root of sexual violence and convinces us that assault is a localized, individual problem. 

The catcall, the crossed boundary and the “compliment” all comprise a larger culture that normalizes and rationalizes sexual violence. We are often taught that these things are unrelated or less important to the conversation of sexual assault. However, if we allow these violations to pass silently into what we consider “uncomfortable” rather than unacceptable, we do a profound disservice to those who have been or will be affected by sexual violence. 

You are not crazy. It is that serious. It is not your fault, nor is it your responsibility to justify the behaviors of those who are violating your safety. You are not alone. To do right by survivors, we all need to reject a culture that minimizes unacceptable behaviors and attempts to convince us that the “little” things don’t matter. 

SAAM is a crucial part of an ongoing mission to remind survivors that they have a community, and that their experiences will not be ignored. With support from others, we may begin to challenge the aspects of our society that isolate survivors and create a better, safer environment for everyone.  

Zee O’Donnell | Co-Editor-in-Chief 

If you have experienced sexual harassment, violence or assault, you are not alone. One focus of SAAM is emphasizing resources for those who have experienced sexual assault and focus on education, advocacy and prevention. 

For UCCS students, the Wellness Center offers crisis counseling Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your first three mental health sessions at the Wellness Center are free. After that they are $20, but the price can be negotiated down. 

RAINN offers online chats, phone calls and other resources to help in a crisis. Both of these options are confidential, but therapists at the Wellness Center are obligated to report threats of harm, harm to yourself or others, suspected abuse or neglect, and in the case of court subpoenas.  

If you want to learn more about SAAM and why it’s important, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s learning page is a great resource for education. 

If you want to be an advocate for awareness and prevention, start by looking around for events and movements on campus. Events like the Slut Walk and Walk A Mile have taken place this year. 

Spread awareness by calling public officials like senators, organizing coverage of events by local news organizations and sharing information on social media. You can submit guest opinions about SAAM to the Scribe by emailing a Word document copy to [email protected].  

Creating art displays, watching films focused on sexual assault education and discussing the topic with friends are also great options for advocacy. Breaking the silence on sexual harassment, violence and assault is always important, even if it’s only with a small group. 

Photo courtesy of Nebraska Today.