Perspectives on responses to sexual assault

I agree with what everyone said, and maybe, just to go a little bit further, and just make like, somewhere that African Nova Scotians could specifically turn to in these situations. You know, say this…

SMU has so many international students, and if we’re thinking of the Middle East where a lot of people come with language barriers, is there the option of speaking to someone who is not Canadian…

Participant 1: Some people would still be hesitant to opening up to someone from their country, just in case they feel like they would judge them more, especially in the Middle East. Participant 2: I…

I believe that they [a person supporting a survivor] should definitely just have empathy first and foremost. But I also believe they should be able to be really understanding. I don’t know if the word…

I feel like many people [trying to support a survivor] would just jump to their own experiences thinking that would help the other one. But I feel like sometimes, that’s not needed because it should…

Participant 1: It is really easy to give advice. You can just say, “Go to the police. Go to the administrators, or faculty.” But it’s not as easy as one might think; and there is…

Some victims want to protect their anonymity. They are afraid of going to the police or confessing to anyone; because it would expose shame, or self-hate, or self-loathe; because it would be hurt their value,…

If it’s someone you care about, someone you know, you should approach them the same way: from the heart. You should just care about them and try to be there for them, because that’s all…

Protecting anonymity and privacy is very important. Keeping privacy protects the victim from the emotional pressure that he/she could experience.

I think that the best quality that a friend could have is to listen to what the person [who has experienced sexual assault] has to say. I think listening is a big part of it,…