5 Things You Should Know About Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Every April marks the start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM for short). In an effort to promote awareness and activism towards sexual assault, organizations and activist leaders around the nation band together to educate the public on sexual assault prevention and the laws pertaining to it. Here are some things you should know about SAAM!

Sexual Assault Awareness has Existed for Decades. Even though SAAM has officially been around for 19 years, civil rights movements advocated for proper education of sexual violence as early as the 1940s. Many civil rights activists, especially women of color, advocated for intersectional advancements of equity and equality. Over time, sexual assault awareness has shifted based on the broader needs of the national community. The movement has integrated a variety of organizations, plus added unique programs to address sexual assault awareness.

Sexual Assault Prevention Didn’t Gain Traction Until Recently. Some of the first rape crisis centers were established in the early 1970s, and the Violence Against Women Act was first athorized in 1993. For a lot of millennials, Gen-Xers and Boomers, sexual violence didn’t even enter the political and civic atmosphere until their young adult/teen years.

Sexual Assault Awareness is Intersectional. Most people seem to think that only women experience sexual assault. And, while a majority of sexual assault survivors are women, anyone can experience sexual assault. It transcends identity lines, which makes it intersectional. Many organizations are focusing on reaching out to indigenous populations, men and college campuses to promote sexual assault awareness.

Sexual Assault Goes Hand-in-Hand with Domestic Violence. For many years, sexual assault and domestic violence were treated one and the same. And, while they do share many similarities, they also share many differences. Someone doesn’t have to be in a romantic partnership to experience sexual assault - but domestic violence isn’t limited to married couples of family units. Even still, the ways the traumatic experiences affect the brain of a survivor of any type of violence are similar. And, many survivors of domestic violence also experience sexual violence, including marital rape.

Sexual Assault Prevention is About Education. Sexual Assault prevention isn’t about telling women how to protect themselves from predators - it’s about educating people on why perpetrators do what they do, as well as how society has influenced behaviors towards sexual assault. Much of today’s prevention strategies target dismantling institutional behaviors that influence rape culture, such as toxic masculinity and myths about purity and sexuality.

Everyone can participate in Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Contact your local rape crisis center to find out how you can get involved! Many organizations host fundraisers, webinars and other events to educate the community on sexual assault.