The cruelty and sheer numbers of people facing sexual harassment and assault annually in the United States is shocking. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) reports that one out of three women will experience sexual assault in their lives, and the number is one in six for men. Relatively, just 37 percent are reported to law enforcement. Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual contact. The statistics for rape are equally staggering, with one in five women becoming a rape victim, compared to one in 71 men.
Since the MeToo movement began late last year, that should serve to give additional impetus to the importance of sexual assault awareness. It is a year in which powerful men, including producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey, Today Show host, Matt Lauer, and others have lost their jobs due to claims over sexual assault and harassment. On April 3, participants all over the country wore the campaign’s signature color, teal, to show their support for the movement.
Embrace Your Voice
Each year, the NSVRC chooses a specific theme to focus on. The NSVRC has launched the Embrace Your Voice campaign, which encourages speaking up to end sexual violence. Embrace Your Voice includes thinking about how to speak about sexual assault and standing up to support sexual violence victims. When hearing comments that blame victims for their situation, it is important to speak up and let those individuals know you do not agree with their views. Words should also indicate that you are a safe person for a victim of sexual assault to confide in. The idea behind Embrace Your Voice is stopping sexual assault before it occurs.
Getting Involved
Individuals and businesses can get involved in various activities. Among the activities promoted by the NSVRC is an Instagram contest where participants post a photo about a daily theme. There is also the Denim Day campaign hosted by Peace Over Violence. On this day, women wore denim as a movement to stand in solidarity with rape victims. This harks back to an Italian ruling where a rape victim was considered giving consent to her rapist since she was wearing tight jeans that required assistance for removal. The day after the ruling, women serving in and working for the Italian Parliament came to work in denim.
Delaware County Sexual Harassment Lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. Fight for Those Sexually Harassed in the Workplace
If you or a loved one has been the victim of sexual assault, discrimination, or harassment in the workplace, you need the services of the experienced Delaware County sexual harassment lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. Call us today at 215-569-1999 or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation. We are centrally located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and we proudly serve clients from the surrounding areas.
