Flowers (or, A Beginner’s Guide to Surviving Sexual Assault) by Daniel Garcia

1. On the days where you feel more victim than survivor, remember that this was not your fault. There is no blueprint for dealing with trauma, so know that whatever you are feeling is valid. With that said, 2. You will be revictimized. You won’t deserve it, you’ll never ask for it, there’ll never be […]

#ThisDoesntMeanYes: A Campaign Against Sexual Assault and Myth Busting

On April 11th, 2015, four feminists — Nathalie Gordon, Lydia Pang, Abigail Bergstrom, and Karlie McCulloch, alongside renowned photographer Perou — took to the streets to take photos of women for the Rape Crisis center in South London. Through his pop-up photography studio, he got to know more about these women’s stories and their thoughts on rape culture. […]

The Critical Spotlight of Sexual Assault Pt. 2

Hello, Germs, and welcome back! The other day we talked about a pretty heavy topic: sexual assault. To recap, part one focused on how the only discussion about rape is about the victims rather than about the perpetrators themselves.  To once again quote Jackson Katz: “The dominant group is rarely challenged to even think about its […]

It’s Denim Day! Wear Denim Today to Protest Sexual Assault

Today is Denim Day! Wear jeans today to show your support for those who have been sexually assaulted. For more information, head to denimdayinfo.org. As the website rightly states, “There is no excuse and never an invitation to rape.”   Below is an excerpt from Germ Magazine’s article “What You Need to Know About Sexual […]

What Is Sexual Assault?

We’ve all heard of rape, but what exactly defines sexual assault? Sexual assault is any involuntary sexual act in which a person is coerced or physically forced to engage against their will — or any non-consensual sexual touching of a person. This means that sexual assault doesn’t just mean rape; simply forced kissing or touching […]

First-Ever Super Bowl Ad to Address Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

One of the things I like most about this ad is the minimalism. We never see the woman’s face. We never see her abuser. We never see the actual abuse. Instead, we hear a woman who’s too scared to even call 911. The camera then shows us the destruction throughout her house, and we are […]

Expulsion Rates Low for Sexual Assault Cases on College Campuses

While a nightmare to most students, those facing sexual assault charges from their universities can sleep well knowing they will probably never face real punishment. The Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) has administered a set of guidelines for college campuses all over the nation to use when dealing with sexual assault cases. Unfortunately, they […]