The #MeToo movement is shifting the power landscape for women and victims of sexual assault. From Hollywood to our own provincial legislature, consequences for abuse and harassment are becoming very real. At the root of negative attitudes is the way society trains boys to be aggressors and view sexual relationships with girls as an inherent right. In this month’s round-up we explore the changing landscape and learn how we can work for positive and healthy change for all members of society.

As former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein faces criminal charges, the #MeToo movement gains a crucial victory. The list of prominent men accused of bad behaviour towards women continues to build; the latest includes veteran actor Morgan Freeman. The movement has affected the legal frontier with several countries enacting laws that protect victims of sexual abuse and harassment. Read more ….

From the beginning, boys receive negative and confusing messages about relationships with the opposite sex. They come to view sex as a rite of passage to become “real men” and feel they need to prove themselves in the sexual arena. Boys place pressure on girls ranging from persistent pursuit to outright physical intimidation. This article explores ways we can rewrite these scripts and instil healthy attitudes in youth towards sexuality.
Read more …

Closer to home, the handling of a sexual assault conviction of a University of Saskatchewan Huskies athlete proved the increasing political clout of women. In a recent legislature session, NDP interim leader Nicole Sauauer raised the issue of the athlete allowed to play on the team despite the conviction and the comments made by the coach expressing concern for the player rather than the victim. Advanced Education Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor’s response was unequivocal, “Mr. Speaker, I am angry. And this is not OK…” Consequences were rapid; by the end of the day the coach was fired. Sauauer and Beaudry-Mellor galvanized authorities to assume responsibility and take action for change. Read more …

Welcome to the first issue of SSAIC’s monthly reading list. Each month, we will curate a collection of videos, memes, books, articles, and other resources related to sexual violence. Check out our June selection:

John Krakauer’s Missoula

This is excellent journalism from a well-established, credible writer and the story is bound to infuriate you; a timely read given the discussion surrounding the Brock Turner case. (If you need a primer, you can find all the relevant information on the controversial case here.)

A quick synopsis of this non-fiction book:
“A DOJ report released in December of 2014 estimates 110,000 women between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four are raped each year. Krakauer’s devastating narrative of what happened in Missoula makes clear why rape is so prevalent on American campuses, and why rape victims are so reluctant to report assault.” For more information visit his website; available through Chapters Indigo, Amazon, and at your local library.

The Stanford Rape Victim’s Impact Statement

Speaking of Brock Turner, let’s turn our attention to the woman deserving of our attention: his victim. Her letter quickly went viral and for good reason: it’s a visceral, no-holds-barred account of her experience as a victim of sexual assault, and as a victim of media misrepresentation. Read the full letter here.

A video that explains consent perfec-tea

(The pun will make sense in a moment!) If you have a hard time explaining consent, or need the perfect non-confrontational analogy to get your point across, let this video do the talking.

An analysis of pop culture’s refusal to take male rape seriously

Bitch Media is a feminist magazine, worth checking out if you like well-written feminist commentary on all things pop-culture. In this article the author runs through some popular movies that misrepresent and even make a joke out of male sexual assault, and the issues that male survivors face on account of pop culture’s failure to take the issue seriously. Read the full article here.

And finally, some good news!

Check out these Calgary heroes, who demonstrated courage and quick judgement in a difficult situation. They refused to be passive bystanders–they chose to act, and as a result a woman was saved from further abuse.

Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre

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