Rape myths and sexual assault policies: Men are raped too
Rape myth #1: Only women are raped
Since Tufts University’s policy is consisted of a mere few sentences, there currently is no part of the policy that explicitly supports this myth. Hopefully as time goes on and a REAL policy is made, the policy will ensure that all of its services are available to all students regardless of their sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Having the Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator and the the Sexual Assault Clinician in a neutral place like Health Services is definitely a step in the right direction. The policy should show that it does not just cater to women and they are well aware that survivors can come in any gender. By showing their awareness it may make it easier for male survivors to come forward. While the SARC and the SAC may be very well aware that survivors come in all genders, shapes, and sizes other Tufts staff members may not be on the same page, which leads us to the Prevention and Education part a sexual assault policy should have.
In SAFER’s activist handbook, they say that a “Policies should include meaningful efforts at education” and those efforts should combat sexism, homophobia, racism rather than enforcing them. Not only should the education be directed to the student body, but also the administration. Academic deans, professors, deans of student affairs, etc. all play a pivotal role in a survivor’s road to recovery – whether they like it or not. Their response to a survivor’s report is the difference between feeling re-victimized or like an empowered survivor.
On basis of education – one (non-mandatory) program during Freshman Orientation for students is not enough. Attendance is not strictly enforced and these students have been so inundated with information they may think that the “rape talk” is not relevant to them. There has be events and programs available year-round that promote awareness of the dynamics of sexual assault and a conscious effort to debunk rape myths. Under the Jeanne Clery Act, Tufts University has the responsibility of making sure that students are well aware of their sexual assault policy, the steps a survivor should follow after an assault, and that Tufts can and will help them through the criminal legal system. Having one event for students over a four year period is not ensuring the student body is well-aware of the resources for victims. Unfortunately, most students don’t figure out the options for survivors until they become one themselves.
Tufts shouldn’t stop at educating students. I can’t express enough the need for Tufts employees that have to deal with students (professors, deans, etc.) need to well aware about the trauma of sexual assault. This can prevent them from not understanding when a student does not perform well or suddenly stops going to class; many survivors want to do well in school (I mean, they made it this far by getting accepted to Tufts) and an un-understanding administration can only worsen their performance. A rape victim should not be punished for something that wasn’t their fault by being suspended or expelled due to bad academic performance due to a rape.
This post has points that can be applied to more than just this one rape myth, but the basis of debunking any of them is education education education. Right now what Tufts has in place for this is seriously lacking and is in dire need of reform.
