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Bring it Home: the
victim could be you, your sister, your brother, your mother - We
don't understand and can't relate to rape victims until it happens to
someone close to us, such as our daughter or mother. The most
effective prevention is to demonstrate that rape can happen to anyone,
men , women, children and adults. Once we see how we would feel were
we raped, we can develop understanding and compassion for those among
us who really have been assaulted.
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"Diversity"
training, including sexual stereotypes: specific tools to belief in
equality - To change our culture, we must create awareness of
myths and stereotypical attitudes that affect peoples' understanding
concerning rape.
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How to turn peer
pressure into a positive force - Society needs to be made aware of
what old thinking is established. Then this thinking needs to be
challenged by highlighting the negative outcomes of wrong behavior.
People will then be motivated to use the same pressure that reinforces
inappropriate behavior and poor choices and reverse it so that it
instead reinforces appropriate behavior and good choices. Peer
pressure can be used, instead of fueling the rape culture, to get rid
of it and inspire new ways of thinking. It can place responsibility on
the rapist, so that he is held accountable. As long as we place
responsibility on the victim, the rapists will not be rehabilitated
and there will be no change.
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Clear communication
skills; willingness to not only hear, but respond appropriately with
language and actions - NO MEANS NO. Anything but "YES"
is a NO. If a person is under the influence of drugs and alcohol, they
are incapable of giving consent, or a "YES".
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Individual norms -
what do you believe? - Regardless of individual beliefs, we all
have a responsibility to follow the law. Rape is a crime.
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