Rape Awareness Month…AKA the month from hell for victims….

Maybe I am alone in this thought—maybe it is just the me who is in the process of recovery that feels this way, but I really hope not.

It’s rape awareness month here on my college campus. A year ago, I would have thought “Awesome! Rape is bad! Let’s prevent it! Signs with statistics are a great way to raise awareness. Lets plaster them everywhere!”

But, see, I learned better. I know a sickeningly large number of women don’t need a sign to remember that rape exists. My disgust with my campus’s approach to this entire thing has been growing steadily over the last few weeks–first with the huge bulletin board directly across from the elevator with the word “RAPE” in enormous black letters, then with the signs plastered on the outside of the bathroom doors sighting that great 1 in 4 statistic. But it finally came to a point I had to speak up. Last night, after walking into the bathroom and discovering they had placed sheets inside of our very tiny stalls will rape statistics, including ones like “Rape victims are 4 times more likely to commit suicide,” I had to do something. I sent my PA the following email:

“Hey-

I understand the importance of Rape Awareness month and the
attention it brings to an important issue, but I have a question
regarding the signs currently hanging in the women’s bathroom. To have
signs with such graphic statistics, especially like the last few
mentioned, hanging in such a small and private space is very
uncomfortable. The bathroom is already somewhere one feels
understandably more vulnerable, and these signs just feel
inappropriate. Is there any way they could be taken down or moved?

Thanks,

Emily”

What this really is about though, is a much bigger point. It is
irresponsible and short sighted for anti-rape campaigns to forget about
the millions of men and women who already know the pain and devastation
sexual assault brings. Shouldn’t we always try to remember them? 

Lets move to the personal…hopefully it will strengthen my point.
Imagine if you were very much still in the middle of a recovery
process, and then found yourself stuck in an incredibly small place
(like the bathroom stall) with your pants down looking at statistics
that tell you that you will probably become an alcoholic or contemplate
suicide. Imagine trying to forget sometimes, but facing a bulletin
board reminding you of your life every time you want to leave your dorm
or come back in and crawl into bed. Rape awareness month doesn’t let me
take a break from being reminded, and I’m getting exhausted.

Rape awareness month is important–it is, but some of us are already aware, and your reminders just don’t do much to help.