Sexual violence is a men’s issue
“Why is it an issue? Because it’s mostly done by men. And because a man is more likely to stop harassing a woman if he hears it from another man.”
-- Anonymous comment card submitted by a USC undergraduate male
As a man in American society:
Acknowledge the truth: Some men choose to sexually coerce or assault others. The National Institute of Justice reports that 99.6% of female victims and 85.2% of male victims are raped by men.
Think about how that truth affects you: your intimate relationships, your concern for friends and loved ones, and the feelings of anxiety many women and some men experience.
Remember that you likely know a survivor of sexual assault. One in 5 women experience a sexual assault during her college career and 1 in 33 men experience a sexual assault in his lifetime. Believe them, if they confide in you.
As a member of the Trojan family:
- Set the tone. Treat all your peers with dignity and respect.
- Consider how factors such as body size may intimidate potential partners.
- Seek ways to talk candidly and clearly with other men about respecting women.
- Speak out against sexist comments, homophobic language or rape jokes.
- Learn how to recognize “red flags” in the behavior of classmates.
- Intervene to stop questionable behavior by others.
- Ask for help from a professional staff if you want guidance on helping a friend.
- Understand how USC responds to sexual violence and the resources available.
- Attend Men CARE workshops to build all of these skills and more.