April is both Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Autism Awareness Month. These underrecognized communities are being brought into the campus consciousness with two weeks of events April 18-29, starting with Disability Awareness Week and culminating with Sexual Violence Prevention Week.
Sexual assault and disability are closely linked in terms of the prevalence of sexual assault against people with disabilities especially those living with developmental, cognitive and communication related disabilities. People with disabilities are often categorized in three stereotypical ways concerning sex and sexual violence: We are seen as asexual, undesirable as partners and/or are considered by perpetrators as an easy target. These myths perpetuate the belief that sexual abuse is not something that would happen to “them.” Combine that with the fact that perpetrators view people with disabilities as easy and noncredible targets, and you have the makings for a epidemic of violence and apathy. According to accessibility, it is more likely for a woman — with or without a disability — to be assaulted by someone she already knows. People with developmental disabilities are at a four to 10-times higher probability to be assaulted and repeatedly abused by a caretaker, medical professional, family member or friend. Often, they will not report these incidents, afraid that freedoms will be withheld from them by the perpetrator who is in a position of power.
People with disabilities also may not have easy access to help and support due to an inaccessibility of safe places, information, transportation and a belief that they have no choice or places where people will know how to support them. These barriers contribute to continued abuse and ongoing underestimation of the severity of this problem. As people with disabilities make great advances into society, expressing their independence and realizing their abilities as valued members in their communities, they should also enjoy the same rights and expectations for education, safety and support as non-disabled people who may be or have been victims of sexual violence do.
Jackson Katz, author of “The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help,” said, “These are not women’s issues. These are men’s issues.”
I do not think that goes far enough. These concerns do not belong to one group or another, they are part of society and need to be addressed by everyone.
Katz, who spoke at the University last year, stated “Social change is a messy process. We need more men with the guts to stand up and say abusive behavior is abusive behavior, and it’s not right, and it doesn’t make me less of a man to point that out.”
Men are statistically more often the perpetrators and therefore can stop it before it starts.
On campus this month, there are a variety of events concerning sexual violence prevention and disability awareness. From April 18 to 29, everyone is strongly encouraged to attend and show their solidarity with these populations in order to broaden the public consciousness and promote for the bettering of the human condition.
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