Let's shatter stereotypes about sexual assaults

Sexual harassment by definition is “harassment (typically of a woman) in a workplace, or other professional or social situation, involving the making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks.” It is “typically of a woman” because there is a stigma surrounding sexual harassment that makes it seems as though men are sexual beings all the time and therefore cannot be raped or harassed. While the media chooses to show women being harassed, men and children have to deal with the advances made on them by other people too. That being said, the definition should say “harassment in a workplace, or other professional, or social situation, involving the making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks” without a gender specific or limiting it to only adult “men and women” because it can happen to anyone. We should teach our communities about consent and how to recognize sexual harassment through schools and other programs to help prevent the longstanding effects of those devastating acts.

Men. Women. Children. Sexual harassment and rape can ruin anyone's life in less than 10 minutes. You can't just walk away from being sexually harassed, abused, or raped without an internal scar. Imagine waking up everyday knowing someone was strong enough, physically or mentally, to overpower you. You'd feel weak and worthless because they treated you like a piece of meat for their own sick pleasure, but you'd have to put on a brave face because society does not allow “fragile snowflakes.” According to Psychology Today, studies have shown that men in minorities are more likely to be harassed because they are not as masculine as society wants our men to be. In America, we shouldn't ask the question “What were you wearing when you were attacked” because there are children wearing overalls, muslims wearing burkas, and men wearing jeans who face the traumatic experience everyday. In no way, shape, or form is it the victim's fault they were seen as vulnerable and attacked. We should work to educate and break the stereotypes society has set for who can and cannot be harassed.

In schools and other programs, consent, sexual harassment, and rape should be talked about to decrease chances of it happening. Young children should be exposed to these topics because they are more likely to be manipulated into thinking things like that are okay by their predator at a young age. Sexual harassment and rape should no longer be sugar coated because in our society it's a reality and everyone should be educated and aware including children. Reasons given by hrlibrary.umn.edu, say that women don't reported sexual assault or rape for 3 main reasons: (1) They believe no one will do anything about it, (2) They are afraid to be blamed, and (3) They don't want to hurt their harasser. If we as a society teach about the consent and sexual assault, then as stated earlier the chances of it happening will be lowered because the predator will understand what rape is and the damages it causes or the victim will be able to defend themselves or will be more comfortable talking about it knowing it isn't their fault. While the topics may seem explicit teaching children and teens, it should be talked about because in happens too often and it may help to erase the stigma around rape and sexual assault that blames the victim and their clothes instead of the predator who decided to ruin both their lives with a simple thought that they chose to act on.

Men can be raped, too. Men can be sexually abused. Men can be sexually assaulted. Men can be catcalled. And men can not want sex. Studies have shown that yes, men in fact have higher sex drives, but that does not mean rape is excused because of this. Men are strong, but they have feelings too. They can be hurt just like any other woman or child. It doesn't make them weak to have feelings or not want sex. It doesn't make him any less of a man either. Our society has created an overtly masculine stereotype for males and that's damaging. For example, a man shared his story online about when he was younger and his cousin made him do things I don't think I'm allowed to talk about in this article. He told his mother and she called the police, but when they got there they told him that since she was a girl and he was a guy that it was okay because she was “experimenting.” They dehumanized him as an “experiment” and didn't even give the girl a slap on the wrist. He says that to this day it still affects him and that's what society doesn't tell you. That yes, men are strong in ways, but they can still have traumatic experiences that follow him throughout the rest of his life. There is no reason rape should be excused. Whether it's a female and a female, a female and a male, or even a male and a male; NO MEANS NO. If you know the meaning of no and continue to do what you're doing then you're now a predator and should start thinking of the consequences you may face.

We can prevent rape, sexual assault, and harassment by teaching about it and making everyone aware of its impact. Any of the things talked about above can happen to anyone and we need to understand that. If we work to educate, then one day we will have a society that everyone would want to live in. One that doesn't create harsh stereotypes and allow rapists, man or woman, to walk free. The world could live in harmony with each other's differences, but from where we are now we have a lot of work to do and we should start by simply talking. Speaking up against the things that aren't right.

If any AHS students have been the victim of sexual assault, contact an administrator, guidance counselor, or Officer Pratt immediately.