Just lay out their possible avenues
Participant 1: It's a very difficult thing to relive and the more you have to re-tell something, it can be very, very retraumatizing for individuals. So, for you [if you are supporting a survivor], it’s all about making sure that you’re adequately supporting their needs but also respecting their desires in that situation.[...]
Participant 2: Um, I think [if I was supporting a survivor] I would just try to lay out their possible avenues, like, their options of what can happen without trying to put any of my own viewpoint, or opinion, or bias on it ‘cause, like, it’s their choice- they should be the only person that has any input on what they do. So trying to lay out information in the most unbiased way possible.
Recommendations
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Consider how a student's identities might affect their expectations and concerns when accessing supports following a sexual assault, or when involved in a sexual assault investigation.
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Including male students across cultures in discussions of sexual violence, gender stereotypes, and stereotypes of masculinity.
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Ensure all sexual violence prevention and response education and training opportunities actively deconstruct victim-blaming, rape myths and gender norms. Ensure these sessions take an intersectional approach to understanding sexual violence and supporting victim/survivors.
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In education and awareness campaigns, highlight the fact that a significant percentage of men have experienced sexual violence in their lives.