Chesney Mosher, Sophomore
Starting in the 1970's, people have been starting to recognize and support sexual assault awareness. Sexual assault awareness was first raised by a group of activists, whose work led to the creation of a center dedicated to the cause in the 2000s—a partnership between the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the Center for Disease Control. In 2001, the NSVRC coordinated the first formally recognized national Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign, which is held in the month of April. The color teal has become the representative color for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In the month of April, people wear teal ribbons, which symbolize support for sexual assault survivors and victims.
Throughout the United States there are many events to bring awareness to and raise money for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. For example, one event is called The Clothesline Project. It was started in Massachusetts in the 1990's, by decorating a T-shirt and displaying it as a memorial for survivors. It's intended to help heal people who have experienced sexual assault and educate society on the effects of sexual assault. There are different colored T-shirts hung which stand for different types of assault. White is for women who died as a result of violent acts; yellow or beige is for women who have been battered or assaulted; red, pink, and orange represent survivors of rape and sexual assault; blue or green is for survivors of incest and sexual abuse; purple or lavender represents women attacked due to their sexual orientation; brown or gray is for survivors of emotional, verbal or spiritual abuse; and black is for women assaulted for political reasons, those disabled as a result of an attack, and those assaulted because of a disability.
Another event that is held in April is Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. This is a men's march against rape, sexual assault, and gender violence. This is a fundraiser in which men walk a mile in heels to bring awareness and raise money for sexual assault victims and organizations seeking to help victims. There are walks all around the United States and the registration cost is normally around $20.
Several college campuses around the country are holding events to bring awareness to sexual assault, especially sexual assault that happens on college campuses. The RAINN company has been holding virtual and on campus discussions with survivors and sexual assault activists, like Kelly Yang and Chessy Prout. They talk about creating a safer environment on the college campus and making sure all survivors have the resources they need in order to heal. A popular Pennsylvania college, Penn State, already held their awareness events, which lasted a week on campus. They had a full schedule of activities, which included self defense with the local police and workshops. They even went as far as holding their own Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.
There is a national sexual assault hotline, 1-800-656-4673, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The hotline is operated by the company RAINN. It automatically routes the caller to an open advisor. Other resources like centers and assistance can be found online or in populated cities. Another important website is the U.S. Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website. The website was created in the name of a college student, Dru Sjodin, who was kidnapped and killed in 2003. The website is a public safety resource that provides the public with access to sex offender data nationwide. NSOPW is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Justice and state, territorial and tribal governments, working together for the safety of adults and children.
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