- Definitions
- Workshops
- Statistics
- Myths and Facts
Terms & Definitions
Please note that the SASC provides support for anyone affected by any/all of the forms of violence described below.
Sexual assault
Consent
Sexual Harassment
Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) or Drink Spiking
Relationship Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence
Child Sexual Abuse
Hate Crime
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is any unwanted act of a sexual nature. It can include anything from unwanted sexual touching, to rape and sexual exploitation. The terms “sexual assault” can be used interchangeably with “rape”, though sexual assault’ seems to be more common in Canada.
People from all walks of life, all ages and genders can experience a sexual assault. Most people know the person who assaulted them, sometimes a little (eg. a first date), sometimes very well (eg. a good friend or partner). Many people do not tell anyone of their assault, or even realize it was an assault, until months or years later.
Though the majority of sexual assaults are committed by men to women, sexual assaults occur in many different dynamics including women assaulting women, women assaulting men, and men assaulting men. Sexual assaults occur in the Trans communities as well. No matter the dynamic, sexual assault is never the fault of the survivor, and is no less ‘real’ than any other type of violence.
In Canadian law, sexual assault happens when one person does not freely consent to the sexual activity.
At the SASC, we recognize a broader definition of sexual assault or sexualized violence, in addition to the above definitions. We support survivors or people who are still experiencing all forms of sexualized violence which includes but is not limited to: sexual assault, any kind of unwanted sexual contact, sexual abuse in childhood, relationship violence and intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual harassment, harassment or violence motivated by prejudice, sexual harassment that happens on the internet, being exposed to unwanted sexual acts or images, etc. We also support those who are/were being exposed to or forced to participate in unwanted sexual acts (ie, being forced to watch pornography, being sent unwanted sexualized pictures, receiving unwanted sexualized questions or comments, masturbating in the sight of others, voyeurism, flashing, taking sexualized pictures or movies, etc)
Sex trafficking and prostitution may also be considered by some as a form of sexualized violence. The SASC does not formally take a position on the issue of prostitution or sex work, though we would (and have) absolutely support anyone who came by wanting to seek support based on their experiences in the sex work industry. Sex trafficking is an international problem, and is highly relevant to sexualized violence. The SASC certainly would support any survivors affected by this issue as well.
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Consent
Consent is a freely given and enthusiastic “yes”. This means that you need be actively seeking and have ongoing communication in every sexual encounter with your partner(s). If you do not have consent, you are committing sexual assault.
Under the Criminal Code of Canada, ”Consent is defined as a voluntary agreement of the complainant to engage in the sexual activity in question.”(Section 273.1) The criminal code further outlines the following five specific situations in which consent is not given. Consent is not given if: It is given by someone else, the person is incapable of consenting (i.e. unconscious, drunk, stoned, or sleeping), it is an abuse of power, trust, or authority, the person does not say yes, says no, or through words or behaviour implies no, the person changes her/his mind.
Consent also means that everyone has to agree to have sex before something starts without being pressured to do it by anyone else. If one is drunk, on drugs, or feels scared or forced, the consent you give or get does not count.
The age of consent in Canada is 16, though there are some exceptions. If you are under 16 and have engaged in sexual activity with someone who does not fit the exceptions you have not broken the law, the adult has. The exceptions are: a 12 or 13 year old can consent to sex with someone less than 2 years older; a 14 or 15 year old can consent to have sex with someone less than 5 years older; a person under the age of 18 cannot legally consent to sex with someone in a position of authority (ex, a teacher, coach, babysitter, family member, employer, etc). Sex with a person under the age of 12 is illegal, and constitutes sexual assault.*
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Sexual Harassment*
(*information from: http://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/)
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and is uninvited and unwanted sexual attention made by a person who knows or ought to know that such attention is unwelcome. Comments or conduct do not have to be sexual in nature. Someone may tease a person because of gender-based ideas about how men or women “should” look, dress or behave. Sexual harassment often occurs when there is a power imbalance between parties, but this is not always the case. Common forms and examples of sexual harassment:
quid pro quo: coercive sexual conduct involving implied or expressed promises of reward for complying with sexual demands, or threats of reprisal, actual reprisal or denial of opportunity for refusal or failure to comply with sexual demands. It may take the form of an overt offer or involve subtle pressure based on position or status.
Sexual harassment is not mutual attraction or flirtation, a consensual relationship or consensual expression of affection between friends. Sexual harassment does not mean that sexuality or sexual issues cannot be areas of legitimate academic inquiry.
Discussions of scholarly research on sexuality in the classroom, for example, would not normally constitute sexual harassment. However, inappropriate discussion of sexuality — either in content, presentation style or context — may create a situation in which sexual harassment may ensue.
*taken from: http://equity.ubc.ca/discrimination/sex-discrimination/
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Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) or Drink Spiking
Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA), also known as Drug and Alcohol-related sexual assault is any form of unwanted sexual contact that happens while you are intoxicated and/or high.
Drink spiking is when someone slips a substance into another person’s drink (alcoholic or not) without their knowledge. This includes “date rape drugs” like GHB, Rohypnol, Ketamine (known as ‘Special K’), but the most common substances used to facilitate sexual assault are alcohol and marijuana. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs, like sedatives, are used commonly as well.
Drink spiking is used to facilitate sexual assault because the victim loses control over themselves, and can easily black out, leaving them with little to no memory of what happened.
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Relationship Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence
Violence in relationships is a pattern of behaviour where one person intimidates, isolates, dominates or maintains power and control over the other person. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial/economic, or spiritual. It can also be a combination of all or some of the above behaviours.
Violence can happen in relationships where people are married, living together, or dating. Violence and abuse can also happen in friendships and other relationships. It can occur in heterosexual and same sex relationships, and happens among people of all ages, genders, religious and cultural backgrounds.
Violence and abuse are not a sign of love, and are not “asked for” or “provoked” by the person being abused.
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Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse happens anytime a child is tricked, forced, or bribed into any sexual act, contact, or behaviour. Child sexual abuse can include (but is not limited to) exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, sexual touching, and/or penetration.
Most children are abused by someone they know, often someone they love and trust. An abuser’s power, knowledge, and resources are far greater than those of the child and an abuser may use a variety of tactics to gain access to a child, to maintain power and control over the, and to prevent them from telling. Abuse may happen once or may happen many times over a period of months or years. The form of abuse may change over time.
Once the survivor has become an adult, even though the abuse may have happened a long time ago, it will often continue to have an impact. Often people don’t start to talk about, or heal from the abuse until they are adults, some people begin to recall memories of abuse that they had forgotten in order to cope.
Statistics currently estimate that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys will experience some form of unwanted sexual contact before they are 16 (Family Violence in Canada: A statistical profile, Statistics Canada 2006). Child sexual abuse is rarely reported, though everyone in Canada has a duty, or is obligated to report if they know of a child 18 and under being abused.
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Hate Crime
In Canada, a hate crime is a criminal offence committed against a person, group of people, or property that is motivated by the suspect’s hate, prejudice or bias, based on race, colour, national or ethnic origin, language, religion, sex, age, mental or physical (dis)ability, or sexual orientation. Transgender/transsexual people are protected by the ground of ‘sex’ and/or ‘disability’.
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SASC Workshops
Why Host a workshop?
What to expect from a workshop
How do I book a workshop
Who are workshops appropriate for?
What kind of Workshops are there?
Why Host a workshop?
One of the best ways to prevent and challenge sexual assault is to be educated about this issue. According to Statistics Canada, it is estimated that 1 in 4 women before the age of 25 in Canada will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, and women are most likely to be assaulted between the ages of 15-24. That means you probably personally know someone who is a survivor of sexual assault, whether they have told you so or not. Indeed, since the majority of women doing their undergraduate degree at university in Canada are around the ages of 17-24, you can see how relevant this topic is for UBC students. This being said, people of all ages can experience sexual assault and other forms of sexualized violence, so it is important to learn about issues that may be important across one’s lifetime.
This information is relevant to everyone, even if you think that it is not important for you or your group. We can create a stronger, safer campus if we have lots of people who are willing to learn about this issue, and to act as allies whether or not they have been directly affected by sexual assault.
What to expect from a workshop
We offer a variety of interactive workshops that cover material related to sexual assault and other forms of sexualized violence. Our workshops are available in English only, and we provide relevant materials for attendees if desired.
Our workshops are non-judgmental, and are for people of all genders. We can tailor our workshops to be as broad or specific as you would like. We recognize that not everyone is interested in or aware of anti-violence issues, so we make sure to create and maintain a safe space for people to ask questions, as well as to explain all the terminology we use.
To make this the best and most informative workshop for you, we ask for a minimum of 1.5 hours (90 minutes) to do a workshop. Additionally, to make the workshops as accessible and interactive as possible, we ask for a maximum of 20 people, unless you are doing a more extensive training (i.e, can accommodate for two or more hours of time) for a bigger group. We also ask that you give us an expected head-count of who is attending. We need at least a week’s notice to book a workshop.
How do I book a workshop?
Please email the SASC outreach worker at Sascoutreach@ams.ubc.ca for more information or to book a time.
Who are workshops appropriate for?
Our workshops are free and appropriate for:
- Student groups, such as the Peer Programs
- Clubs
- Staff and faculty of UBC and the AMS
- Undergraduate and graduate societies
- Administrative groups of all levels
- Sororities and Fraternities
- Resource Groups
- Residence Advisors (RA’s), Res Life Staff, and student groups in Res.
- Classes at UBC that are covering relevant material
- Publication/media groups (ie, groups that publish newspapers, online blogs, or other such public productions)
- Groups interested in maintaining safe space
- LGBQTTI groups and initiatives
- Academic advisors
- Bar and pub staff on campus
- People involved in health, wellness, and safety initiatives on campus
- Other campus community services who feel this kind of knowledge might be relevant to their work, or who are interested in learning more about these issues.
Some groups that we have given workshops to in the past includes:
- Residence Advisors (RA’s) in Vanier and Totem
- Equity Ambassadors
- Wellness Peer Educators
- Women’s Centre Coordinators
- The Fiji frat
- Upper-level Psychology classes
- Social Work classes
- Pit Pub staff
- …as well as many other groups!
What kind of Workshops are there?
We have six main workshops that we offer, and they are described below.
Got Consent? (1.5 hours)
Re-Thinking the Concept of Consent. We’ve all heard “no means no” when it comes to sex and sexual assault. On the other hand, there is a newer way of looking at consent that emphasizes “yes means yes!” This fun, informative, and interactive workshop is a more in-depth conversation about specifically about consent and covers:
- How to recognize consent
- How to consider consent from the viewpoints of “no means no” as well as “yes means yes”
- How you can help change the culture around sex and consent
- Common questions about consent
- What consent actually “looks like”
- Thought-provoking and engaging interactive activities
This workshop is 1.5 hours long, and is best suited for groups of 20 or less people. This workshop is best hosted in a space that has a projector, screen, and a whiteboard/chalkboard as well.
Partying 101: Drinking, Sex, & Consent (1.5 hours)
We all know that a university setting encourages students to party it up as much as possible- but how can students stay safe and ensure they have consent when engaging in sexual activity under the influence? This workshop will clear up all the myths surrounding drinking and sexual assault. We will discuss drug-facilitated sexual assault (also known as drink-spiking), boundaries, bystander intervention, etc. We also go over the sometimes-blurry issue of consent and drinking because we understand that it is a common concern. Finally, we discuss where one can get help if they feel they have been drink spiked or otherwise sexually assaulted while under the influence. This workshop is inclusive of all genders, and is appropriate for a mixed audience (or, if you prefer, a more select audience). Our workshops are set up in a very non-judgmental way, in order to allow for lots of questions.
Supporting a Survivor (1.5 hours)
Sexual assault unfortunately is a very common crime, and happens to people of all genders and backgrounds. Chances are you know someone who is a survivor. When sexual assault happens, it not only affects the survivor, but often their friends, family, and partner as well. In this workshop we go over how you can support a survivor, and what to say if someone tells you about their experience with sexual assault. We also tell you about the services out there where survivors can go to seek help if they want to.
Breaking the Cycle: Relationship Abuse (1.5 hours)
Whether you and your partner have been going out for a week or a year, relationship abuse and violence can occur, and occurs in all couples, including same-sex relationships. Violence and abuse is not a sign of love, and are not “asked for” or “provoked” by the person being abused. Abusive behavior can take many forms, and in this workshop we extensively go over what relationship violence looks like and how it happens, and how someone in an abusive relationship can get help.
Setting the Record Straight on Sexual Assault (1.5 hours)
At the SASC, we define sexual assault as any unwanted act of a sexual nature. This workshop is a good ‘introduction’ to understanding what sexual assault is and how to prevent it. We go over the many forms in which sexual violence manifests itself, the myths and facts about sexual assault, how the law defines sexual assault, ways to get help, etc. We go over what the SASC is and does, and ways we can help survivors of sexual assault. The best way to prevent sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence is to learn and get educated about this issue, and this workshop is a good place to start for people of all genders and backgrounds.
What if none of these workshops are what I’m looking for?
We have five main workshops that we do, but if you’re looking for something that isn’t listed (i.e., child sexual abuse, abuse and violence in same-sex or same-gender couples, sexual assault and people with disabilities, etc) by all means contact us and we would be happy to accommodate your needs. Please email the SASC Outreach worker to find out more information, or to book a time at Sascoutreach@ams.ubc.ca
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Statistics
With the following statistics, it is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of these statistics reflect the experiences of cys-gendered women. Statistics for trans-identified folks and men are practically non-existent because of the barriers these people face when reporting their assaults or trying to seek help.
Nevertheless, these statistics prove that women are disproportionately the victims of sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence, speaking to the continued prevalence of violence against women.
The following statistics are from a report by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics entitled, “Sexual Assault in Canada 2004 and 2007”. You can read the full report here: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85f0033m/85f0033m2008019-eng.pdf.
- Less than 1 in 10 sexual assaults are reported to the police, compared to robbery (47%) and physical assault (40%).
- In 2004 81% of reported sexual assaults took the form of unwanted sexual touching
- Women are 5 times more likely to be victims of sexual assault than men.
- The majority of sexual assaults reported to police are by individuals between the ages 15-24.
- In 2007, 58% of sexual assault victims were under the age of 18, with children under the age of 12 making up 25% of this group. Of these young victims, 81% were female.
- 97% of people accused of sexual assault in 2007 were male. This is higher representation than any other form of violent crime (78%).
- In 2007, 82% of cases reported to the police showed that the victim and the offender knew one another, with 18% of assaults being commited by a stranger to the victim. (p. 13).
- Of this 82%, a third of the accused were family members of the victim. The victims that reported such experiences were of all ages.
- Over half (56%) of sexual assaults occur in or near the residence of the victim
- 51% of survivors of sexual assaults reported to the police that they had difficulty carrying on their day-to-day activities after their assault
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Myths and Facts about Sexual Assault
Sexual assault myths give people a false sense of security by minimizing, legitimizing, and/or denying the occurrence of sexual assault. They often accomplish this by blaming the victim and making excuses for the perpetrator. In effect, these myths perpetuate sexualized violence because they fail to address the realities of sexual assault. Many myths about sexual assault are connected to oppressive patterns of thought including sexist, classist, homophobic, racist, and heteronormative attitudes (as well as many other types of oppression).
Most of the following myths are from WAVAW and can be found in their original format here.
Myth 1: Women lie about being sexually assaulted to get revenge, for their own benefit, or because they feel guilty afterwards about having sex.
Reality: Women rarely make false reports about sexual assault. Acquaintance sexual assault is the most underreported crime in Canada. Only 6% of sexual assaults are reported to the police. As well, false accusations of sexual assault happen no more often than false reports of other types of crime: about 2 to 4%, which means 96 to 98% of the reports are true.
Myth 2: The best way for a woman to protect herself from sexual assault is to avoid being alone at night in dark, deserted places such as alleys or parking lots.
Reality: Most assaults occur in a private home (60%) and the largest percentage of these occur in the victim’s own home (38%). Furthermore, women have the right to move about freely without fear of being raped. It is up to would-be perpetrators not to rape.
Myth 3: Women who are sexually assaulted “ask for it” by the way they dress or act; rape only happens to young “sexy” women.
Reality: Reports show that there is great diversity in the way targeted women act and dress. According to accounts of rape, rapists chose women based on their vulnerability, not their physical appearance. Women from two months old to ninety years old have been sexually assaulted. However, most women who are assaulted are between the ages of 14 and 24.
Myth 4: If a person consents to have sex at the start of making out with their partner, then changes their mind but their partner keeps going, it is not an assault.
Reality: Legally, a person has the right to change their mind about having sex at any point of sexual contact. If a sexual partner does not stop at the time a person says ‘no’, this is sexual assault. If a person is in a relationship with someone or has had sex with a person before, this does not mean that they cannot be assaulted by that person. Consent must be given every time two people engage in sexual contact.
Myth 5: If a person has had many sexual partners then she cannot be sexually assaulted.
Reality: The number of sexual partners a person has had does not forfeit their right to say ‘no’ at any time.
Myth 6: If a man pays for dinner or a movie, the other person on the date owes him sex.
Reality: “No” means “no”, whether a man pays for the date or not. No one is ever obligated to have sex.
Myth 7: When a woman says ‘no,’ she really means ‘maybe’ or ‘yes.’
Reality: Although a person may believe they are receiving mixed messages, this is no excuse for sexual assault. When a person says ‘no,’ their partner should stop; they should never assume that ‘no’ means anything else but ‘no.’ If someone is unclear about what their partner wants, they should ask. The onus for obtaining consent is on the person initiating sexual contact. Ignorance or pleading misunderstanding is not a legitimate legal defence for sexual assault.
Myth 8: If the attacker is drunk at the time of the assault then they cannot be accused of sexual assault.
Reality: The attacker is responsible for their actions no matter how intoxicated they are. Being drunk is not an excuse to force anyone into having any sexual contact. A person accused of sexual assault cannot use being drunk as a legitimate legal defence.
Myth 9: Women secretly want to be raped
Reality: There is a big difference between fantasizing about aggressive sex and wanting to be raped. A woman is in control of her fantasies; however, women are not in control when they are being sexually assaulted. Rape is a violent, terrorizing, and often humiliating experience that no person wants or asks for.
Myth 10: If a person does not scream or physically resist they were not sexually assaulted; It is only sexual assault if a person is physically injured.
Reality: Force or the threat of force is often used by attackers to assault their victims. Attackers will often choose victims they believe they can physically overcome. It is important to know that no matter what a person does during an assault, whether they physically resist or not, the assault is not their fault. They did what they had to do in order to get out of a dangerous and traumatic experience alive. Also, most people who are sexually assaulted do not have visible injuries. This does not make the experience less of an assault; nor does it mean that a person will not have any negative effects from the assault.
Myth 11: You can tell if a someone has been sexually assaulted by the way they act.
Reality: It is important to remember that, although reactions like anger, mistrust, and sadness are common, not all survivors experience the same emotions or express them in the same way. How a person responds after a sexual assault can be influenced by factors such as their cultural background, whether they know the attacker or not, their support system, their gender identity, and many others.
Myth 12: Sexual assault does not occur often.
Reality: Statistics show that one in four Canadian women will be sexually assaulted during her lifetime. (3) In BC this number is almost double (47%).
Myth 13: Sexual assault is committed by strangers.
Reality: Over 80% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.
Myth 14: Men who sexually assault women are either mentally ill or sexually starved; when men become sexually aroused they have to have sex and cannot stop.
Reality: Studies of men convicted of sexual assault show that they are “ordinary” or “normal” men. The majority of attackers assaulted for the emotional gratification they received from the violent act, not out of sexual frustration. (4) Although a man may want to have sex, there are no negative consequences if he does not have sex when he is aroused. One person’s desire is never more important than another person’s right to choose who they do and do not have sex with.
Myth 15: Rape is a sexual act that is taken too far.
Reality: Rape is an act of violence; it involves asserting control over another person and taking their power away from them. Rapists are not people who cannot control their sexual desires; rape is often a premeditated crime.
Myth 16: Men of certain races and backgrounds are more likely to sexually assault women.
Reality: Men who commit sexual assault come from every economic, ethnic, racial, age, and social group. As well, women who are sexually assaulted are from every economic, ethnic, racial, age, and social group.
Myth 17: It is only sexual assault if weapons are used.
Reality: Sexual assault is any unwanted touching of a sexual nature that one person imposes on another. A weapon and visible physical injuries do not have to be present in order for a person to have experienced sexual assault.
Myth 18: Women cannot be sexually assaulted by their husbands or boyfriends.
Reality: Legally, a person has the right to say ‘no,’ to any form of sex with anyone, including their spouse or the person they are dating. Sexual assault within relationships has been illegal in Canada since 1983.
Myth 19: If a person is drunk or passed out from drinking too much it is okay to have sex with them.
Reality: If a person is unconscious or their judgment is impaired by alcohol or drugs, legally, they are unable to give consent. Having sex with a person when they are intoxicated and unable to give consent is sexual assault.
Myth 20: It is okay for a person to pressure someone else into having sex.
Reality: Any type of verbal or physical coercion that is used to obtain sex is legally considered sexual assault.
Myth 21: Men cannot be sexually assaulted.
Reality: The majority of sexual assaults are committed against women and are perpetrated by men; however, anyone can be sexually assaulted. The FBI estimates 1 out of 8 men will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime and these men need support as well.(5)
Myth 22: Women cannot rape other women.
Reality: Again, the majority of sexual assaults are committed by men against women, but anyone one can be sexually assaulted and emotional, physical, and sexual abuse does happen in same-sex relationships. Often when women are assaulted by other women they fear others will not believe them. It is important to realize that women who are assaulted by other women experience trauma as well.
Myth 23: In abusive relationships between women, the butch woman is always the abuser and the femme woman is always the victim.
Reality: Anyone can be an abuser. There is not always one butch and one femme in relationships between women. This myth is based in heteronormative assumptions and can be used to deny that sexual assault has occurred
Myth 24: Some children are just plain seductive (“Lolitas”), and therefore invite sexual contact from other people.
Reality: Humans are born sexual beings and children have a natural curiosity about their bodies. They need and seek safe, appropriate and healthy physical affection. Sexual offenders exploit children’s curiosity and their need for affection. Children who are sexually abused learn, usually at a very young age, that the price they have to pay for attention and affection is sexual activity. This learned sexually reactive behaviour is interpreted by adults as seductive.
Most children are abused by someone they know, often someone they love and trust. An abuser’s power, knowledge, and resources are far greater than those of the child and an abuser may use a variety of tactics to gain access to a child, to maintain power and control over the, and to prevent them from telling. Abuse may happen once or may happen many times over a period of months or years. The form of abuse may change over time.
Once the survivor has become an adult, even though the abuse may have happened a long time ago, it will often continue to have an impact. Often people don’t start to talk about, or heal from the abuse until they are adults, some people begin to recall memories of abuse that they had forgotten in order to cope.
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Education and Workshops
Terms & Definitions
Please note that the SASC provides support for anyone affected by any/all of the forms of violence described below.
Sexual assault
Consent
Sexual Harassment
Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) or Drink Spiking
Relationship Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence
Child Sexual Abuse
Hate Crime
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is any unwanted act of a sexual nature. It can include anything from unwanted sexual touching, to rape and sexual exploitation. The terms “sexual assault” can be used interchangeably with “rape”, though sexual assault’ seems to be more common in Canada.
People from all walks of life, all ages and genders can experience a sexual assault. Most people know the person who assaulted them, sometimes a little (eg. a first date), sometimes very well (eg. a good friend or partner). Many people do not tell anyone of their assault, or even realize it was an assault, until months or years later.
Though the majority of sexual assaults are committed by men to women, sexual assaults occur in many different dynamics including women assaulting women, women assaulting men, and men assaulting men. Sexual assaults occur in the Trans communities as well. No matter the dynamic, sexual assault is never the fault of the survivor, and is no less ‘real’ than any other type of violence.
In Canadian law, sexual assault happens when one person does not freely consent to the sexual activity.
At the SASC, we recognize a broader definition of sexual assault or sexualized violence, in addition to the above definitions. We support survivors or people who are still experiencing all forms of sexualized violence which includes but is not limited to: sexual assault, any kind of unwanted sexual contact, sexual abuse in childhood, relationship violence and intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual harassment, harassment or violence motivated by prejudice, sexual harassment that happens on the internet, being exposed to unwanted sexual acts or images, etc. We also support those who are/were being exposed to or forced to participate in unwanted sexual acts (ie, being forced to watch pornography, being sent unwanted sexualized pictures, receiving unwanted sexualized questions or comments, masturbating in the sight of others, voyeurism, flashing, taking sexualized pictures or movies, etc)
Sex trafficking and prostitution may also be considered by some as a form of sexualized violence. The SASC does not formally take a position on the issue of prostitution or sex work, though we would (and have) absolutely support anyone who came by wanting to seek support based on their experiences in the sex work industry. Sex trafficking is an international problem, and is highly relevant to sexualized violence. The SASC certainly would support any survivors affected by this issue as well.
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Consent
Consent is a freely given and enthusiastic “yes”. This means that you need be actively seeking and have ongoing communication in every sexual encounter with your partner(s). If you do not have consent, you are committing sexual assault.
Under the Criminal Code of Canada, ”Consent is defined as a voluntary agreement of the complainant to engage in the sexual activity in question.”(Section 273.1) The criminal code further outlines the following five specific situations in which consent is not given. Consent is not given if: It is given by someone else, the person is incapable of consenting (i.e. unconscious, drunk, stoned, or sleeping), it is an abuse of power, trust, or authority, the person does not say yes, says no, or through words or behaviour implies no, the person changes her/his mind.
Consent also means that everyone has to agree to have sex before something starts without being pressured to do it by anyone else. If one is drunk, on drugs, or feels scared or forced, the consent you give or get does not count.
The age of consent in Canada is 16, though there are some exceptions. If you are under 16 and have engaged in sexual activity with someone who does not fit the exceptions you have not broken the law, the adult has. The exceptions are: a 12 or 13 year old can consent to sex with someone less than 2 years older; a 14 or 15 year old can consent to have sex with someone less than 5 years older; a person under the age of 18 cannot legally consent to sex with someone in a position of authority (ex, a teacher, coach, babysitter, family member, employer, etc). Sex with a person under the age of 12 is illegal, and constitutes sexual assault.*
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Sexual Harassment*
(*information from: http://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/)
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and is uninvited and unwanted sexual attention made by a person who knows or ought to know that such attention is unwelcome. Comments or conduct do not have to be sexual in nature. Someone may tease a person because of gender-based ideas about how men or women “should” look, dress or behave. Sexual harassment often occurs when there is a power imbalance between parties, but this is not always the case. Common forms and examples of sexual harassment:
quid pro quo: coercive sexual conduct involving implied or expressed promises of reward for complying with sexual demands, or threats of reprisal, actual reprisal or denial of opportunity for refusal or failure to comply with sexual demands. It may take the form of an overt offer or involve subtle pressure based on position or status.
Sexual harassment is not mutual attraction or flirtation, a consensual relationship or consensual expression of affection between friends. Sexual harassment does not mean that sexuality or sexual issues cannot be areas of legitimate academic inquiry.
Discussions of scholarly research on sexuality in the classroom, for example, would not normally constitute sexual harassment. However, inappropriate discussion of sexuality — either in content, presentation style or context — may create a situation in which sexual harassment may ensue.
*taken from: http://equity.ubc.ca/discrimination/sex-discrimination/
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Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) or Drink Spiking
Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA), also known as Drug and Alcohol-related sexual assault is any form of unwanted sexual contact that happens while you are intoxicated and/or high.
Drink spiking is when someone slips a substance into another person’s drink (alcoholic or not) without their knowledge. This includes “date rape drugs” like GHB, Rohypnol, Ketamine (known as ‘Special K’), but the most common substances used to facilitate sexual assault are alcohol and marijuana. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs, like sedatives, are used commonly as well.
Drink spiking is used to facilitate sexual assault because the victim loses control over themselves, and can easily black out, leaving them with little to no memory of what happened.
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Relationship Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence
Violence in relationships is a pattern of behaviour where one person intimidates, isolates, dominates or maintains power and control over the other person. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial/economic, or spiritual. It can also be a combination of all or some of the above behaviours.
Violence can happen in relationships where people are married, living together, or dating. Violence and abuse can also happen in friendships and other relationships. It can occur in heterosexual and same sex relationships, and happens among people of all ages, genders, religious and cultural backgrounds.
Violence and abuse are not a sign of love, and are not “asked for” or “provoked” by the person being abused.
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Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse happens anytime a child is tricked, forced, or bribed into any sexual act, contact, or behaviour. Child sexual abuse can include (but is not limited to) exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, sexual touching, and/or penetration.
Most children are abused by someone they know, often someone they love and trust. An abuser’s power, knowledge, and resources are far greater than those of the child and an abuser may use a variety of tactics to gain access to a child, to maintain power and control over the, and to prevent them from telling. Abuse may happen once or may happen many times over a period of months or years. The form of abuse may change over time.
Once the survivor has become an adult, even though the abuse may have happened a long time ago, it will often continue to have an impact. Often people don’t start to talk about, or heal from the abuse until they are adults, some people begin to recall memories of abuse that they had forgotten in order to cope.
Statistics currently estimate that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys will experience some form of unwanted sexual contact before they are 16 (Family Violence in Canada: A statistical profile, Statistics Canada 2006). Child sexual abuse is rarely reported, though everyone in Canada has a duty, or is obligated to report if they know of a child 18 and under being abused.
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Hate Crime
In Canada, a hate crime is a criminal offence committed against a person, group of people, or property that is motivated by the suspect’s hate, prejudice or bias, based on race, colour, national or ethnic origin, language, religion, sex, age, mental or physical (dis)ability, or sexual orientation. Transgender/transsexual people are protected by the ground of ‘sex’ and/or ‘disability’.
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SASC Workshops
Why Host a workshop?
What to expect from a workshop
How do I book a workshop
Who are workshops appropriate for?
What kind of Workshops are there?
Why Host a workshop?
One of the best ways to prevent and challenge sexual assault is to be educated about this issue. According to Statistics Canada, it is estimated that 1 in 4 women before the age of 25 in Canada will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, and women are most likely to be assaulted between the ages of 15-24. That means you probably personally know someone who is a survivor of sexual assault, whether they have told you so or not. Indeed, since the majority of women doing their undergraduate degree at university in Canada are around the ages of 17-24, you can see how relevant this topic is for UBC students. This being said, people of all ages can experience sexual assault and other forms of sexualized violence, so it is important to learn about issues that may be important across one’s lifetime.
This information is relevant to everyone, even if you think that it is not important for you or your group. We can create a stronger, safer campus if we have lots of people who are willing to learn about this issue, and to act as allies whether or not they have been directly affected by sexual assault.
What to expect from a workshop
We offer a variety of interactive workshops that cover material related to sexual assault and other forms of sexualized violence. Our workshops are available in English only, and we provide relevant materials for attendees if desired.
Our workshops are non-judgmental, and are for people of all genders. We can tailor our workshops to be as broad or specific as you would like. We recognize that not everyone is interested in or aware of anti-violence issues, so we make sure to create and maintain a safe space for people to ask questions, as well as to explain all the terminology we use.
To make this the best and most informative workshop for you, we ask for a minimum of 1.5 hours (90 minutes) to do a workshop. Additionally, to make the workshops as accessible and interactive as possible, we ask for a maximum of 20 people, unless you are doing a more extensive training (i.e, can accommodate for two or more hours of time) for a bigger group. We also ask that you give us an expected head-count of who is attending. We need at least a week’s notice to book a workshop.
How do I book a workshop?
Please email the SASC outreach worker at Sascoutreach@ams.ubc.ca for more information or to book a time.
Who are workshops appropriate for?
Our workshops are free and appropriate for:
Some groups that we have given workshops to in the past includes:
What kind of Workshops are there?
We have six main workshops that we offer, and they are described below.
Got Consent? (1.5 hours)
Re-Thinking the Concept of Consent. We’ve all heard “no means no” when it comes to sex and sexual assault. On the other hand, there is a newer way of looking at consent that emphasizes “yes means yes!” This fun, informative, and interactive workshop is a more in-depth conversation about specifically about consent and covers:
This workshop is 1.5 hours long, and is best suited for groups of 20 or less people. This workshop is best hosted in a space that has a projector, screen, and a whiteboard/chalkboard as well.
Partying 101: Drinking, Sex, & Consent (1.5 hours)
We all know that a university setting encourages students to party it up as much as possible- but how can students stay safe and ensure they have consent when engaging in sexual activity under the influence? This workshop will clear up all the myths surrounding drinking and sexual assault. We will discuss drug-facilitated sexual assault (also known as drink-spiking), boundaries, bystander intervention, etc. We also go over the sometimes-blurry issue of consent and drinking because we understand that it is a common concern. Finally, we discuss where one can get help if they feel they have been drink spiked or otherwise sexually assaulted while under the influence. This workshop is inclusive of all genders, and is appropriate for a mixed audience (or, if you prefer, a more select audience). Our workshops are set up in a very non-judgmental way, in order to allow for lots of questions.
Supporting a Survivor (1.5 hours)
Sexual assault unfortunately is a very common crime, and happens to people of all genders and backgrounds. Chances are you know someone who is a survivor. When sexual assault happens, it not only affects the survivor, but often their friends, family, and partner as well. In this workshop we go over how you can support a survivor, and what to say if someone tells you about their experience with sexual assault. We also tell you about the services out there where survivors can go to seek help if they want to.
Breaking the Cycle: Relationship Abuse (1.5 hours)
Whether you and your partner have been going out for a week or a year, relationship abuse and violence can occur, and occurs in all couples, including same-sex relationships. Violence and abuse is not a sign of love, and are not “asked for” or “provoked” by the person being abused. Abusive behavior can take many forms, and in this workshop we extensively go over what relationship violence looks like and how it happens, and how someone in an abusive relationship can get help.
Setting the Record Straight on Sexual Assault (1.5 hours)
At the SASC, we define sexual assault as any unwanted act of a sexual nature. This workshop is a good ‘introduction’ to understanding what sexual assault is and how to prevent it. We go over the many forms in which sexual violence manifests itself, the myths and facts about sexual assault, how the law defines sexual assault, ways to get help, etc. We go over what the SASC is and does, and ways we can help survivors of sexual assault. The best way to prevent sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence is to learn and get educated about this issue, and this workshop is a good place to start for people of all genders and backgrounds.
What if none of these workshops are what I’m looking for?
We have five main workshops that we do, but if you’re looking for something that isn’t listed (i.e., child sexual abuse, abuse and violence in same-sex or same-gender couples, sexual assault and people with disabilities, etc) by all means contact us and we would be happy to accommodate your needs. Please email the SASC Outreach worker to find out more information, or to book a time at Sascoutreach@ams.ubc.ca
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Statistics
With the following statistics, it is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of these statistics reflect the experiences of cys-gendered women. Statistics for trans-identified folks and men are practically non-existent because of the barriers these people face when reporting their assaults or trying to seek help.
Nevertheless, these statistics prove that women are disproportionately the victims of sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence, speaking to the continued prevalence of violence against women.
The following statistics are from a report by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics entitled, “Sexual Assault in Canada 2004 and 2007”. You can read the full report here: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85f0033m/85f0033m2008019-eng.pdf.
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Myths and Facts about Sexual Assault
Sexual assault myths give people a false sense of security by minimizing, legitimizing, and/or denying the occurrence of sexual assault. They often accomplish this by blaming the victim and making excuses for the perpetrator. In effect, these myths perpetuate sexualized violence because they fail to address the realities of sexual assault. Many myths about sexual assault are connected to oppressive patterns of thought including sexist, classist, homophobic, racist, and heteronormative attitudes (as well as many other types of oppression).
Most of the following myths are from WAVAW and can be found in their original format here.
Myth 1: Women lie about being sexually assaulted to get revenge, for their own benefit, or because they feel guilty afterwards about having sex.
Reality: Women rarely make false reports about sexual assault. Acquaintance sexual assault is the most underreported crime in Canada. Only 6% of sexual assaults are reported to the police. As well, false accusations of sexual assault happen no more often than false reports of other types of crime: about 2 to 4%, which means 96 to 98% of the reports are true.
Myth 2: The best way for a woman to protect herself from sexual assault is to avoid being alone at night in dark, deserted places such as alleys or parking lots.
Reality: Most assaults occur in a private home (60%) and the largest percentage of these occur in the victim’s own home (38%). Furthermore, women have the right to move about freely without fear of being raped. It is up to would-be perpetrators not to rape.
Myth 3: Women who are sexually assaulted “ask for it” by the way they dress or act; rape only happens to young “sexy” women.
Reality: Reports show that there is great diversity in the way targeted women act and dress. According to accounts of rape, rapists chose women based on their vulnerability, not their physical appearance. Women from two months old to ninety years old have been sexually assaulted. However, most women who are assaulted are between the ages of 14 and 24.
Myth 4: If a person consents to have sex at the start of making out with their partner, then changes their mind but their partner keeps going, it is not an assault.
Reality: Legally, a person has the right to change their mind about having sex at any point of sexual contact. If a sexual partner does not stop at the time a person says ‘no’, this is sexual assault. If a person is in a relationship with someone or has had sex with a person before, this does not mean that they cannot be assaulted by that person. Consent must be given every time two people engage in sexual contact.
Myth 5: If a person has had many sexual partners then she cannot be sexually assaulted.
Reality: The number of sexual partners a person has had does not forfeit their right to say ‘no’ at any time.
Myth 6: If a man pays for dinner or a movie, the other person on the date owes him sex.
Reality: “No” means “no”, whether a man pays for the date or not. No one is ever obligated to have sex.
Myth 7: When a woman says ‘no,’ she really means ‘maybe’ or ‘yes.’
Reality: Although a person may believe they are receiving mixed messages, this is no excuse for sexual assault. When a person says ‘no,’ their partner should stop; they should never assume that ‘no’ means anything else but ‘no.’ If someone is unclear about what their partner wants, they should ask. The onus for obtaining consent is on the person initiating sexual contact. Ignorance or pleading misunderstanding is not a legitimate legal defence for sexual assault.
Myth 8: If the attacker is drunk at the time of the assault then they cannot be accused of sexual assault.
Reality: The attacker is responsible for their actions no matter how intoxicated they are. Being drunk is not an excuse to force anyone into having any sexual contact. A person accused of sexual assault cannot use being drunk as a legitimate legal defence.
Myth 9: Women secretly want to be raped
Reality: There is a big difference between fantasizing about aggressive sex and wanting to be raped. A woman is in control of her fantasies; however, women are not in control when they are being sexually assaulted. Rape is a violent, terrorizing, and often humiliating experience that no person wants or asks for.
Myth 10: If a person does not scream or physically resist they were not sexually assaulted; It is only sexual assault if a person is physically injured.
Reality: Force or the threat of force is often used by attackers to assault their victims. Attackers will often choose victims they believe they can physically overcome. It is important to know that no matter what a person does during an assault, whether they physically resist or not, the assault is not their fault. They did what they had to do in order to get out of a dangerous and traumatic experience alive. Also, most people who are sexually assaulted do not have visible injuries. This does not make the experience less of an assault; nor does it mean that a person will not have any negative effects from the assault.
Myth 11: You can tell if a someone has been sexually assaulted by the way they act.
Reality: It is important to remember that, although reactions like anger, mistrust, and sadness are common, not all survivors experience the same emotions or express them in the same way. How a person responds after a sexual assault can be influenced by factors such as their cultural background, whether they know the attacker or not, their support system, their gender identity, and many others.
Myth 12: Sexual assault does not occur often.
Reality: Statistics show that one in four Canadian women will be sexually assaulted during her lifetime. (3) In BC this number is almost double (47%).
Myth 13: Sexual assault is committed by strangers.
Reality: Over 80% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.
Myth 14: Men who sexually assault women are either mentally ill or sexually starved; when men become sexually aroused they have to have sex and cannot stop.
Reality: Studies of men convicted of sexual assault show that they are “ordinary” or “normal” men. The majority of attackers assaulted for the emotional gratification they received from the violent act, not out of sexual frustration. (4) Although a man may want to have sex, there are no negative consequences if he does not have sex when he is aroused. One person’s desire is never more important than another person’s right to choose who they do and do not have sex with.
Myth 15: Rape is a sexual act that is taken too far.
Reality: Rape is an act of violence; it involves asserting control over another person and taking their power away from them. Rapists are not people who cannot control their sexual desires; rape is often a premeditated crime.
Myth 16: Men of certain races and backgrounds are more likely to sexually assault women.
Reality: Men who commit sexual assault come from every economic, ethnic, racial, age, and social group. As well, women who are sexually assaulted are from every economic, ethnic, racial, age, and social group.
Myth 17: It is only sexual assault if weapons are used.
Reality: Sexual assault is any unwanted touching of a sexual nature that one person imposes on another. A weapon and visible physical injuries do not have to be present in order for a person to have experienced sexual assault.
Myth 18: Women cannot be sexually assaulted by their husbands or boyfriends.
Reality: Legally, a person has the right to say ‘no,’ to any form of sex with anyone, including their spouse or the person they are dating. Sexual assault within relationships has been illegal in Canada since 1983.
Myth 19: If a person is drunk or passed out from drinking too much it is okay to have sex with them.
Reality: If a person is unconscious or their judgment is impaired by alcohol or drugs, legally, they are unable to give consent. Having sex with a person when they are intoxicated and unable to give consent is sexual assault.
Myth 20: It is okay for a person to pressure someone else into having sex.
Reality: Any type of verbal or physical coercion that is used to obtain sex is legally considered sexual assault.
Myth 21: Men cannot be sexually assaulted.
Reality: The majority of sexual assaults are committed against women and are perpetrated by men; however, anyone can be sexually assaulted. The FBI estimates 1 out of 8 men will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime and these men need support as well.(5)
Myth 22: Women cannot rape other women.
Reality: Again, the majority of sexual assaults are committed by men against women, but anyone one can be sexually assaulted and emotional, physical, and sexual abuse does happen in same-sex relationships. Often when women are assaulted by other women they fear others will not believe them. It is important to realize that women who are assaulted by other women experience trauma as well.
Myth 23: In abusive relationships between women, the butch woman is always the abuser and the femme woman is always the victim.
Reality: Anyone can be an abuser. There is not always one butch and one femme in relationships between women. This myth is based in heteronormative assumptions and can be used to deny that sexual assault has occurred
Myth 24: Some children are just plain seductive (“Lolitas”), and therefore invite sexual contact from other people.
Reality: Humans are born sexual beings and children have a natural curiosity about their bodies. They need and seek safe, appropriate and healthy physical affection. Sexual offenders exploit children’s curiosity and their need for affection. Children who are sexually abused learn, usually at a very young age, that the price they have to pay for attention and affection is sexual activity. This learned sexually reactive behaviour is interpreted by adults as seductive.
Most children are abused by someone they know, often someone they love and trust. An abuser’s power, knowledge, and resources are far greater than those of the child and an abuser may use a variety of tactics to gain access to a child, to maintain power and control over the, and to prevent them from telling. Abuse may happen once or may happen many times over a period of months or years. The form of abuse may change over time.
Once the survivor has become an adult, even though the abuse may have happened a long time ago, it will often continue to have an impact. Often people don’t start to talk about, or heal from the abuse until they are adults, some people begin to recall memories of abuse that they had forgotten in order to cope.
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