Disclaimer: although this opinion column is titled “Girl Talk,” sexual assault can and does affect all people regardless of gender identity.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, also known as SAAM. SAAM is “an annual campaign to raise public awareness about sexual assault and educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.” For this column, I thought I would reflect on the history of SAAM, explain “Denim Day,” and address why this movement is so important to me.
Although the discussion was limited at the time, the fight for survivors began as early as the 40s and 50s in the United States. The movement continued to gain traction into the 70s, with increasing support for survivors and raising awareness. The following years continued to amplify the voices of survivors, as well as push for funding that would support survivors, such as the Violence Against Women Act of 1993 (VAWA). Finally, “in 2000, the newly launched National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the Resource Sharing Project polled sexual violence coalitions. They asked organizations about their preferred color, symbol, and month for sexual assault awareness activities. The results showed that those in the movement preferred a teal ribbon as a symbol for sexual assault awareness, and SAAM as we know it was born.”
In the early 2000s, the main goal of SAAM was raising awareness for the teal ribbon and the meaning behind it. By the mid 2000s, SAAM began to focus on the aspect of prevention, creating campaigns in workplaces and on campuses which highlighted how to stop sexual assault before it happens. As stated on the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website, “While each campaign has a different theme, they all share same common goals: to raise visibility about sexual assault and share how it can be prevented, whether that’s through education about healthy sexuality, consent, or bystander intervention.”
This year, SAAM’s campaign is all about building safe spaces online. Sexual assault can happen anywhere, including online platforms. This campaign will emphasize how to practice online consent and making sure online spaces are safe for everyone to use. You can read more about the campaign here.
To continue, National Denim Day is a campaign in honor of SAAM which is held on a Wednesday in April. This year, it will take place on April 28. Millions of people across the world will be wearing denim to support survivors while educating themselves and others on all forms of sexual assault. As stated on Denim Day’s website, 10,679,597 people wore denim in honor of Denim Day 2019. If you would like to donate or fundraise for Denim day, you can visit their website here to learn more.
For me, this movement is important because I believe in supporting survivors and listening to their stories. Educating communities on proper terminology, prevention, consent, and more is vital, which SAAM addresses. When I was in high school, I conducted a large research project about sex trafficking and sexual assault which I presented in front of my school. Although I was able to begin to educate myself and my school, it’s important that others do the same, and that I continue my education. Addressing sexual assault can be an extremely difficult task, and I think SAAM creates a supportive environment for survivors to come forward.
Stevens has their own organization titled “Stevens Take Back the Night,” which fights against sexual assault and domestic violence. Currently on Instagram, they are posting for “#30DaysOfSAAM.” Also, they are holding a number of events this month, which can be seen in the photo below. Their DuckLink can be found here, and their Instagram can be found here. Please support them!
@takebackthenight_sit on Instagram
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you are not alone. Resources for help can be found here. If you would like to donate or get involved with the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, you can do so here.
Girl Talk is an Opinion column written by a current female student to discuss issues surrounding women, whether it be feminism, current events, personal experiences at Stevens or in life, and more.
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