Session 15

Learning Objectives:

This session explores the difficult and important topic of sexual assault. Teens will examine some myths, facts, and what to do if they are a victim of sexual assault. They will also explore how clear communication between males and females can help prevent acquaintance rape.

 Tips to Enhance Session 15:

• Use the scenario below to facilitate a discussion about dating safety (to supplement step D):
  
  Stacy met Shawn at a teen center dance. The two of them really clicked. Even though he was a little older, they seemed to have a lot of interests in common, from sports to favorite bands. When the dance ended, Shawn invited Stacy over to his house. He had already mentioned that his parents weren't home. Stacy got the feeing he wanted something more physical than friendship. It was awkward for Stacy to say “no” because she liked Shawn and wanted to see him again.
  
  Have students brainstorm five ways Stacy could have said “no” to Shawn’s invitation, and five ways Shawn could have responded positively to her decision so they could remain friends.
• NCPC offers free, downloadable PDF brochures about sexual assault, date rape, and rape that you can share with your students.

 Web Resources:

• National Center for Victims of Crime, Sexual Assault: Offers a comprehensive definition of sexual assault, as well as a list of possible physical, emotional, and behavioral reactions that a victim might experience.
• Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network: Provides information and statistics about rape, incest, and sexual assault, as well as contact information for local counseling centers.
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center: Provides resources, statistics, and policy updates about sexual assault.
• Men Against Sexual Violence: Includes statistics on the number of male victims of sexual assault, and urges men to speak out against sexual assault.
• MaleSurvivor: Offers information, statistics, and resources for male victims of sexual abuse.

 Community Resource People:

Rape crisis counselor: Can discuss victims’ reactions to sexual assault, which will help build empathy among students. This CRP can also be helpful in case a student discloses a personal experience with sexual assault.

Don’t forget to give the community resource person the session materials at least one week before he or she will participate in your class.

 Service-Learning Project Ideas:

• Short Project: Students can write and perform a skit about how to be a good date, and present it to other students, friends, or youth groups. They can use the information they learned in Session 14 to help with the skit content.
• Medium-Length Project: Students can coordinate and sell tickets to a fundraising dinner. At the event, students can display and distribute facts about dating violence and sexual assault. All proceeds from the event could be donated to a victim service provider that specializes in sexual assault.
• Long Project: Students can organize a “Take Back the Night” rally and march to raise awareness and speak out against the violence that many people (particularly women) experience while walking alone at night. Give students the Promoting Your Service Project (PDF) handout, which will help them obtain media coverage for the event.