Sexual Assault Awareness Q&A

As a case coordinator in Baylor's office of Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX, Mito Diaz-Espinoza, PhD, meets with Baylor students and community members to discuss their rights, options and resources to assist with intake administration, resolution processes, personal and academic accommodations and support for individuals involved with this process.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with Baylor joining universities and communities around the country to increase public awareness and prevention education about sexual assault and interpersonal violence. Dr. Diaz-Espinoza offers guidance on crucial considerations that surround this ever-evolving work and commitment to providing a safe and caring community.

What are the similarities and different dynamics at play when you're working towards sexual assault prevention across genders?

"Dealing with sex is always difficult. Many people are not comfortable openly discussing sex. That leads to people feeling shame or embarrassment to share details of what has occurred or they hesitate to come forward because they do not want other people to know they are sexually active, even if it was against their will. Then, if you add marginalized genders or sexual identities, it can add another layer because they may not want to share those parts of their identity with others. They may not have fully explored those identities themselves or haven't discussed their identity with friends or family, so it can add fear of what comes with an already delicate topic. When we talk about prevention, if people aren't comfortable sharing those parts of their identity, they may be hesitant to ask questions or describe situations they find themselves in because they are unsure how others will react."

What intersectionality should be considered when working with sexual assault prevention across different genders and identities?

"As mentioned before, the inclusion of marginalized identities and genders can lead to hesitation because they are not welcomed or accepted in some situations or by other people. Sharing those parts of themselves – after seeing how others are treated – can be difficult. We as educators also face our own ignorance, bias and limitations when we are doing this work. Whether in the scenarios we present or the language we use, we can unintentionally create spaces that are not welcoming and further marginalize those groups."

What challenges are present or maybe not as well understood when doing this work?

"Sexual assault is often about power, control and fear – not the sexual acts. Those committing assault use the sexual acts as the ultimate display of power, control and fear. Many focus on the act of sex itself but can ignore other signs which may signal sexual assault potential – things like stalking behavior, restriction of friends and activities, coercion or manipulation. Another challenge – especially when it includes marginalized genders or identities – are jokes. In social circles, popular culture, television, movies, etc., jokes are used in various ways, but can actually cause harm. Jokes masked as 'locker room' talk where individuals boast about their sexual conquests and what partners enjoyed or allowed – those can lead others to want to explore behaviors or compare without knowing if that is true or without having a discussion with their partner before those behaviors. This can contribute to difficult situations or distortions of reality which lead to sexual assault. Finally, another challenge is that the physiological response to stimuli can confuse people. These things return to the idea that we often are not comfortable talking about sex in the open, which leads to misunderstandings and confusion."

Why is it important to know this information regardless of gender identity?

"Regardless of gender identity, anyone can be sexually assaulted and anyone can sexually assault someone. While statistics and data show that men assault women at higher rates, men can be sexually assaulted. Also, certain gender identities, especially trans or non-binary folks, see higher rates of sexual assault and may not be as comfortable coming forward because of fear about revealing who they are and fear of how they may be treated by others.  The more information we know and acknowledge, the better prepared we are to talk about situations and change behaviors. The more we think about and include those with marginalized identities, the more we are able to help create healthy environments for everyone."

"One thing I notice when sexual assault prevention and education is discussed, is that it is often aimed at teaching women how not to be assaulted. Often with good intentions and even though it can be helpful information, women are taught to not walk alone at night, be aware of their surroundings, carry mace or 'rape' whistles, how to hold keys between fingers, not leave drinks unattended, etc. Again, all good things and well intentioned, but we are placing the onus on women to not get assaulted and we do not invest the same amount of energy teaching men not to assault others. We do not teach men how to accept rejection or what to do when someone says they are not interested. Or even though someone may be comfortable doing certain things and being intimate, doesn't mean they are comfortable or wanting to do other things, and we do not teach men enough about how to handle those situations where consent is not given or when consent is given, that consent doesn't give blanket permission to do anything they want. So, adding more education and training geared at men to not assault others and how to handle those situations is helpful. We also can invest more in bystander training and intervention training. When we see or hear of others engaging in behaviors that are either sexual assault or behaviors that may signal potential for difficult situations, we need to teach others how to safely intervene and deal with those situations."

Report instances of sexual or interpersonal misconduct by contacting the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office by calling 254-710-8454 or submitting a report through baylor.edu/reportit. Title IX also can be reached by email at TitleIX_Coordinator@baylor.edu.