…through The Duct Tape Project! I didn’t realize how many people would find it through SAI! It’s awesome!
I made sure to post more SAI pictures today! A lot of my models are Sisters even if they aren’t all wearing letters.
=D
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The Duct Tape Project
“Friend of Survivors” -
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The Duct Tape Project
“A negative reaction a victim may receive from telling, may be more emotionally harmful than the assault. Be supportive!”this happened to me. I was told to ‘Get over it.’ after trying to talk about it again with my best friend. Woooo. Now I don’t tell anyone anymore.
I’m so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, that happens too often. People need to be educated and sensitive to these things.
Please know though: “You may have to tell more than 1 person to find the support that you need and deserve. Don’t give up! Keep talking!” http://theducttapeproject.tumblr.com/post/22071269487/the-duct-tape-project-you-may-have-to-tell-more#notes
And: “You do not have to handle this on your own!”
http://theducttapeproject.tumblr.com/post/22124778201/the-duct-tape-project-you-do-not-have-to-handle#notesYou’re not alone.
-The Duct Tape Project
So glad to see girls from my organization are stepping up and speaking out! :)
I’m not a victim, nor have I met one, but I do support this completely, and I’m SO proud to see a sister Sigma Alpha Iota stepping up :)
Much love from Phi Mu Alpha :)
We appreciate the support votarient! However, I’m almost certain that you DO know at least one survivor, but you just don’t know it. That’s what this project is about. So many people involved and viewing it have learned that they DO know survivors. And more than they may think…
Thanks again for the support!
-The Duct Tape Project (founder and ∑AI Sister!) -
Understanding Acquaintance Rape
This is what my best friend went through, and I hope more people can understand her situation better.
Definition:
Acquaintance assault involves coercive sexual activities that occur against a person’s will by means of force, violence, duress, or fear of bodily injury. These sexual activities are imposed upon them by someone they know (a friend, date, acquaintance, etc.).
Key Reminders:
- A prior or current relationship or previous acts of intimacy are insufficient indicators of consent.
- Verbal consent must be obtained both in each instance of sexual intimacy and as the level of sexual intimacy increases (e.g., moving from kissing to petting, from petting to oral sex, from oral sex to intercourse or anal sex, etc.).
- Like other forms of sexual assault, acquaintance assault is motivated by a need to control, to humiliate, and to harm.
Obstacles to Coping & Recovery:
- Common social myths (e.g. the attack was incited through suggestive dress or intimate acts such as kissing)
- Fear of:
- Retaliation
- Subsequent harassment
- Future harm
- Harassment from family and friends of the person responsible for the assault
- Returning to a normal routine (this is especially the case if the assailant is a part of the victim’s daily routine)
- Family/friends may blame the survivor, or, worse, they may support the assailant.
NOTE: Despite the violation and reality of physical and emotional trauma, victims of acquaintance assault often do not identify their experience as sexual assault. Instead of focusing on the violation of the sexual assault, victims of acquaintance rape often blame themselves for the assault.
Physical & Emotional Reactions:
- Sleeping and eating disturbances
- Mood swings
- Feelings of humiliation and self-blame
- Nightmares
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Helplessness
- Substance abuse
- Suicidal ideation/behavior, self-harm
- Depression
Continued Trauma:
Because the perpetrators are known to their victims and are often someone with whom they socialize, victims of acquaintance sexual assault often have to encounter their assailants after the rape. Fear of such encounters can cause increased distress and humiliation for the victims.
Prevention:
In order to prevent acquaintance sexual assault we all need to be aware of the three stages of acquaintance rape so that, whenever possible, we can avoid or prevent such an event from occurring.
Three Stages of Acquaintance Rape:
- Intrusion- Attempt by the offender to violate the victim’s personal space and level of comfort. May draw close by revealing personal information or through “accidental” touches and stares.
- Desensitization- Occurs when the victim feels comfortable with the offender and has come to regard intrusive actions as no longer or, at least less, threatening. The victim of the desensitization may feel uneasy but convinces himself or herself that the feeling is unfounded.
- Isolation- The offender uses the victim’s trust to isolate him or her from others.
Social Norms:
Social norms put pressure on many of us to be polite and passive. Relying on these norms, many victims of such assaults may suppress feelings of fear and discomfort in an attempt not to offend. Acquaintance assault prevention demands that we set aside such social norms and listen to our instinctual sense of fear and discomfort.
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The Duct Tape Project
“Survivor”“Keep on telling your story. It will not only help you, but also many others.”
Taken right after this Survivor mustered up the strength to fulfill her promise to herself to share her story at Take Back the Night before she graduated college. She just completed her senior year. Thank you for sharing!! <3
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The Duct Tape Project
“Survivor”“You may have stole my childhood, but you will NOT take away my future”
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The Duct Tape Project
“Even if you’ve had sexual contact with your offender before, it doesn’t mean that he/she has the right to do so again without your consent.” -
The Duct Tape Project
“Healing from trauma often includes grieving.”∑AI Sister <3
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The Duct Tape Project
“Sigma Alpha Iota Sister of Survivor”
My ∑AI Sister and roommate =)Roomie!! <3
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The Duct Tape Project
“Survivor”“I was attacked when I was 7, and it became a repressed memory. I didn’t remember it until I was 12 when my mom mentioned something about it. Then it all came flooding back. Everything. Down to what day it was and what I was wearing.”
Another ∑AI Sister that was willing to let me take her picture and share her story <3
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The Duct Tape Project
“Survivor”
“It doesn’t have to be rape to be abuse. It doesn’t have to be penetration to be violent. It doesn’t matter how it happened, or with whom, or what, or why. All that matters is how it made you feel.”
∑AI Sister <3 -
The Duct Tape Project
“60% of assaults are no reported” -
The Duct Tape Project
“A negative reaction a victim may receive from telling, may be more emotionally harmful than the assault. Be supportive!”this happened to me. I was told to ‘Get over it.’ after trying to talk about it again with my best friend. Woooo. Now I don’t tell anyone anymore.
I’m so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, that happens too often. People need to be educated and sensitive to these things.
Please know though: “You may have to tell more than 1 person to find the support that you need and deserve. Don’t give up! Keep talking!” http://theducttapeproject.tumblr.com/post/22071269487/the-duct-tape-project-you-may-have-to-tell-more#notes
And: “You do not have to handle this on your own!”
http://theducttapeproject.tumblr.com/post/22124778201/the-duct-tape-project-you-do-not-have-to-handle#notesYou’re not alone.
-The Duct Tape Project
So glad to see girls from my organization are stepping up and speaking out! :)
So proud to see a sister stepping up for what is right :)
The founder of The Duct Tape Project is a sister of SAI too! ; )
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(via imgTumble)
Ahh!!
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The Duct Tape Project
“15 out of 16 offenders walk free”This is mainly due to the low report rate.
