“PSST OFF” Protest Activist Activity 1- 4:Preventing Sexual Assault Information Taken from: University of Alberta’s Women Centre Collective http://www.ualberta.ca/~uawcc/ BLOG ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES AT: psstoff@blogspot.com

1. “PSST OFF” ProtestActivist Activity 1:Preventing Sexual Assault Get Psst and Do Something About It. November 2009 University of Alberta’s Women Centre Collective

2. Problem with Tips!!! “Tips are based on myths or stereotypes of sexual assault: Almost all tips focus on sexual assault being committed by strangers, yet statistics say that the great majority of all sexual assaults are committed by someone the survivor knows.” “Tips are directed at women: This ignores that men can also be sexually assaulted and that women can be perpetrators.” “Tips do not put the responsibility for preventing sexual assault on the perpetrator: When you focus on what the victim should be doing or what she should have done, you are automatically focusing away from the person who is really responsible: The perpetrator.” “Tips do not empower women, they control our behaviour: Tips create fear; they limit behaviour, freedom and choices. They help reinforce patriarchal systems that support sexual assault in our culture.” “Tips don’t work so therefore provide a false sense of security: Even if a person followed every single tip, it would not guarantee their safety that they would not get sexually assaulted. If anything they create more responsibility on the individual rather than the perpetrator.” DON’T USE TIPS. Tips contribute to survivor self-blame and send the message to perpetrators that they can get away with their crimes.

3. Please distribute this list: Give it to someone who might need a helping hand…. 1. Don’t put drugs in people’s drinks in order to control their behaviour. 2. When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone! 3. If you pull over to help someone with car problems, remember not to assault them! 4. NEVER open an unlocked door or window uninvited. 5. If you are in an elevator and someone else gets in, DON’T ASSAULT THEM! 6. Remember, people go to laundry to do their laundry, do not attempt to molest someone who is alone in a laundry room. 7. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If you are not able to stop yourself from assaulting people, ask a friend to stay with you while you are in public. 8. Always be honest with people! Don’t pretend to be a caring friend in order to gain the trust of someone you want to assault. Consider telling them you plan to assault them. If you don’t communicate your intentions, the other person may take that as a sign that you do not plan to rape them. 9. Don’t forget: you can’t have sex with someone unless they are awake! 10. Carry a whistle! If you are worried you might assault someone “on accident” you can hand it to the person you are with, so they can blow it if you do. Follow these tips and prevent sexual assault from occurring the moment the thought arises!!

4. “PSST OFF” ProtestActivist Activity 2:Get Educated Get Psst and Do Something About It. November 2009 University of Alberta’s Women Centre Collective

5. Let’s Play a Game!! Before flipping this page let’s see if you really know anything about sexual assault, consent, and other things that relate to the sexualized violence in our culture. Each Question is worth points. Let’s see where you stand on your level of awareness and education regarding sexual assault. What is Sexual Assault? (1 point) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What is Consent? (1 point) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ When is a person not capable of giving consent? (5 points) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What’s the prevalence of Sexual Assault in Women? ___ in ____ (1 point) What’s the prevalence of Sexual Assault in Men? ___ in ___ (1 point) What’s the legal age of consent in Canada? (1 point) _____________________________________

6. The Facts!OK so let’s see if you really know what’s going on.... Sexual Assault as defined by Canadian Law refers to any form of sexual contact without voluntary consent. Kissing, fondling, sexual intercourse, anal intercourse and oral sex are all examples of sexual assault if they are done. Consentis defined as a voluntary agreement of the complainant to engage in the sexual activity in question. Consent is not given if: The agreement is given by someone other than the participant. The participant is unconscious, impaired by alcohol or drugs, sleeping. It is obtained through abuse of power, trust or authority. The participant says no, does not say yes, or through their behaviour implies that they do not want to participate. The participant changes her/his mind. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 8 men will face sexual assault in their lifetime. The legal age of consent in Canada is 16.

7. So Let’s See How you did: 8-10 Points: You Rock! You are an individual who knows about sexual assault, consent, you are aware of the current laws around you and the prevalence of sexualized violence. 5-8 Points: You are on your way! You have some sense of what is happening with sexualized violence in your society. Maybe it’s time to learn more about such a prevalent issue that is affecting people all around you. 3-5 Points: Uh-Oh! You are not familiar with the basic knowledge on sexual assault and this is problematic. Get involved in learning and understanding sexual assault, its prevalence and the impact it has on those around you. 0-3 Points: .....Uhem.......Please visit the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton or the Univeristy of Alberta’s Sexual Assault Centre NOW. Get Informed. Be Aware. Learn and understand sexual assault and be a part of the Anti-Rape Movement!

8. “PSST OFF” ProtestActivist Activity 3:Support Your Community Get Psst and Do Something About It. November 2009 University of Alberta’s Women Centre Collective

9. Making a Difference… One person is all it takes to create change…Here are some things you can do to support your activist community and be a part of social change! Make Changes First in Your personal Life: Join an Anti-rape movement. This could mean anything from volunteering at a women’s positive centre, working at a women focused workplace to forming hobbies that break gender stereotypes. Don’t support rape music where women are reduced to objects and things. It only creates a script for rape to happen and perpetuates racial stereotypes. Don’t support media where women are raped and enjoy it, women are portrayed as victims and helpless objects. Your money spent on movies, pornography and literature only reinforces that this sexist structure is desired and valid. Use words wisely. Be conscious of how you use words and what they imply. Calling someone a “pussy” or “fag” implies that that group of people are beneath you. Even your jokes do more damage than you think. Think twice, speak once.

10. More Things You Can Do… Be an Active Listener: Sometimes if we listen and believe in people, they open up in ways that can surprise us. In such a victim blaming society, how can we expect survivors of sexual assault to come forward openly and fearlessly? Take the time to get to know what sexual assault really is, how it impacts those affected by it, how people cope and what you can do as a supporter. You could provide someone a non-judgmental, supportive environment that allows them to come forward and break their silence: Local Sexual Assault Centres: Sexual Assault Centre of EdmontonSuite #205 14964 121A Avenue University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre2- 705 Student's Union Building Sherwood Park and Strathcona CountyStrathcona Sexual Assault Centre Ltd 044, 50 Brentwood Blvd

11. More Things You Can Do… Help Local Shelters: You don’t have to always donate money. A lot of shelters in Edmonton need clothes, food, and basic necessities that you would be surprised to find go a long way. One donation can help several people stay warmer, feel safer, more comfortable and that can make a huge impact. With neoliberal governments marginalizing and individualizing sexualized violence, shelters need your help and can use your support in many ways. You could: Donate Food, clothes and other supplies (toothbrushes, soap, books, and toiletries) Visit the women in these shelters. Be a listener and supporter. Help Staff…Become a volunteer. Local Shelters Include: WEAC: 9611 101A Avenue WIN House: 3825 118 Ave ACWS:320-10310 Jasper Avenue And many more…Go check them out!

12. “PSST OFF” ProtestActivist Activity 4:Get Out There and Stir Sh*t Up Get Psst and Do Something About It. November 2009 University of Alberta’s Women Centre Collective

13. What men need to do to solve the problem of rape: • If a woman is drunk, don’t rape her. • If a woman is walking alone at night, don’t rape her. • If a woman is drugged and unconscious, don’t rape her. • If a woman is wearing a short skirt, don’t rape her. • If a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don’t rape her. • If a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you’re still hung up on, don’t rape her. • If a woman is asleep in her bed, don’t rape her. • If a woman is asleep in your bed, don’t rape her. • If a woman is doing her laundry don’t rape her.

14. What men need to do to solve the problem of rape (cont.) : • If a woman is in a coma, don’t rape her. • If a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don’t rape her. • If a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don’t rape her. • If a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don’t rape her. • If your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don’t rape her. • If your step-daughter is watching TV, don’t rape her. • If you break into a house and find a woman there, don’t rape her. • If your friend thinks it’s okay to rape someone, tell him it’s not, and that he’s not your friend. • If your “friend” tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.

15. What men need to do to solve the problem of rape (cont.) : • If your friend at a party tells you there’s an unconscious woman upstairs and it’s your turn, don’t rape her, tell your friend he’s a rapist and call the police. • Tell your father, brothers, sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends rape is about power, domination and hate, not sex. • Don’t tell your women friends how they need to behave / dress to be safe and avoid rape. • Don’t imply that a woman could have avoided it if she’d only done / not done something. • Don’t let your silence imply agreement when someone tells you he “got some” with a drunk girl. • Don’t perpetuate a culture that lets you believe that you have no control over or responsibility for rape. You can be responsible and control yourself. You can set an example for other men. Pass this along to all the men in your life… Be Safe Guys... Stop Sexually Assaulting!!!

17. University Of Alberta’sWomen Centre Collective The U of A Women's Centre exists to provide a supportive environment for education, networking and organizing around women-specific issues within the campus community and beyond. The Centre has a few functions. It is a space dedicated to community building and activism, supporting women and women-positive groups to connect, create dialogue, organize and create around issues and ideas. We offer funding and administrative resources to support groups in carrying out their projects. The Centre works to support everyone’s learning about women and feminism. Our library of books, magazines and articles is here for use by students, faculty and community members. We can also help connect individuals to various women’s service providers on and off campus. We welcome you if:- you’ve never been involved in activism of any sort- you’re new to feminist ideas- you don’t identify with feminism but with womanist or woman-centered ways of being

18. University of Alberta’s Women Centre Collective Email: uawcc@ualberta.caPhone: 780.492.2743 UAWCC Information Collected From: http://www.ualberta.ca/~uawcc/ BLOG ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES AT: psstoff@blogspot.com