Take Back The Tech Campaign

Take Back The Tech! is a collaborative campaign that takes place during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence (25 Nov - 10 Dec). It is a call to everyone - especially women and girls - to take control of technology to end violence against women.

http://www.takebackthetech.net/

CALCASA asks TSA to cease new screening methods

http://calcasa.org/publicaffairs/message-cease-new-tsa-screen-methods/

Article: So What If She Said Yes

From Guest Blogger: Carol Norris

So What If She Said Yes

At no point did the survivor of the brutal gang rape in Richmond consent to sex. She's made that very clear.

But, so what if she had? The subtext of the headline of the following article brings up one of the myths about sexual assault. It pervades our culture and our media: if a survivor at any point during an encounter says "yes," then somehow all bets are off. "She asked for it." "It's not really sexual assault." "He's a tease." "You can't really blame the perpetrator."

What?! Coercing someone by force or threat to engage in unwanted sexual activity is sexual assault. Period. Nowhere does the law say, "but if you said yes then you have no right to say no." When consensual sex becomes sexual assault it can create confusion and shame in some survivors. That's where volunteers can help. You can let your clients know:

You have the right to say yes and then think better of it.
You have the right to realize your boundaries have been crossed and to change that boundary.
You have the right to expect a sexual partner to have the common sense to realize if you lose consciousness you can't consent, and it's time to back off.

You did not ask for it. You are not a tease. And, yes, it's just as much assault as any sexual assault. And, hell yes, you can hold the perpetrator accountable.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/22/BAK21GFSF5.DTL&tsp=1

Kids Corner: "It's Perfectly Normal"

Finding resources for children who are survivors of sexual assault in the Bay Area is no small feat. Finding people who are experts and have extensive experience are even harder to come by. So we're bringing to the blog a tag called Kids Corner! We'll be sharing books, resources and information regarding child survivors here.

First stop at Kids Corner is a book called "It's Perfectly Normal" by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley. When children are sexually abused at a young age, children respond in a couple of ways as they grow up. They may want to completely avoid all things sexual until a very late age or they may begin exploring things related to sex at a very young age.

Video: NBC’s Law & Order SVU and "Grey Rape" Discussion

Discussion here:
http://www.datesafeproject.org/2010/nbcs-suv-and-grey-rape-discussion/