Prevention vs. Avoidance

When many people talk about rape or sexual violence prevention what they are really talking about is crime avoidance on the part of those they view as most likely to be raped. 

Unfortunately, avoidance advice even at its best does nothing to reduce the overall level of sexual violence since the only behavior being criticized or moderated is the behavior of potential victims. 

Avoidance advice often reinforces incorrect beliefs about the actual cause and demographics of sexual violence and can help perpetrators rationalize away their own responsibility.

In contrast, true prevention, often referred to as primary prevention, is directed at deterring the harmful actions at the source. "Don't drink and drive," and "Friends don't let friends drive drunk," are prevention messages while "Don't drive sober so drunk drivers won't hit you," is avoidance advice.

Much of the stereotypical rape avoidance advice is predicated on victim blaming. "Don't send mixed messages." "Don't wear sexy clothing." 

A frequent assumption is that those girls and women who follow this stereotypical advice will be protected from rape while those who do not follow the many limitations choose to put their safety at risk or don't care if they are raped or not.

Unlike avoidance advice related to stranger rape where it's assumed that the rapist is a monster waiting to pounce, date rape avoidance advice generally tells girls and women how to avoid creating sexual violence within another person.

Primary prevention

Primary prevention education is being developed in Minnesota and one program which educated professionals in different fields is called Stop it Before it Starts.

Safety & crime prevention tips for college students
Personal safety tips with a focus on putting responsibility for crimes onto the criminals while understanding that those concerned for their own safety don't want to be in a powerless position.

There are several keys to primary rape prevention.

1. Make those who seek sexual actions be 100% legally responsible for all of their own actions and any actions of the other person which happen through force or coercion.
2. Reject the idea of assumed consent. Genuine consent is never in the eye of the beholder.
3. Teach everyone that they are required to respect other people's sexual boundaries and if those boundaries are unclear those boundaries must be assumed to be absolute.
4. Teach everyone that consent isn't genuine if it isn't freely given. If you coerce someone into sexual contact or behavior that person is not freely consenting.
5. Teach everyone that consent is never a blank check. Consent is always limited and is never transferable.
6. Judge rape where the alleged rapist claims, "it was consensual," based on whether the alleged victim freely and legally consented, not on whether the alleged rapist seems like an otherwise decent person who perceived his/her actions to be rape.

For more on issues related to genuine consent, see the insight  and legal pages.