Adultification originated as a term to describe when children are treated as older than they are, or when they are forced to grow up before their time. Now, it often specifically refers to the racist act of treating and perceiving minority children as older than they are, or expecting a level of maturity from them…
Male survivors share how the gender roles enforced upon them have influenced and shaped their healing process. The following answers are excerpts from our Male Survivors Panel. Antuan Raimone “Growing up, and once I was in college, or, middle of high school, [I began] understanding that I was attracted to other men. I was trying…
Being a male survivor can be a difficult and isolating experience. Hear what four male survivors have to say to other men on their journey as they heal from sexual violence. The following answers are excerpts from our Male Survivors Panel. Jeff Dion First, I want to say that I’m a big believer in support…
The concept of forgiveness can be activating and retraumatizing for some survivors. Nearly three out of four sexual assaults are committed by someone the survivor knows.1 When the perpetrator is someone the survivor knows, it is likely that they also know other people in their life. Unfortunately, survivors are sometimes put in the difficult position…
Survivors.org defines trauma as both: Trauma is both a specific experience and our emotional experiences that arise after that event. Survivors often report that when they discuss their trauma, others may try to tell them that their experience wasn’t “bad enough” to be considered traumatic. In reality, trauma is personal. Something that may overwhelm one…
How we react to disclosures of sexual assault significantly impacts a survivor’s healing process.1 58-94% of survivors seek informal support from a loved one.2 It’s important we learn how to respond to disclosures of sexual assault, as research shows that the way others respond to disclosure can have a great impact on a survivor’s mental…
Self-esteem can be described as an ongoing assessment of one’s sense of self and the value assigned to those perceptions. Self-esteem is based on perception. The value judgments people make about themselves may or may not be based in reality. Rather, a sense of self is shaped by the lens through which people see the…
After sexual violence, many survivors experience a negative impact on their self-esteem. All of the feelings a survivor has after sexual assault are valid, meaning that they are not wrong for having these emotions, but that doesn’t mean their self-assessments are accurate. Survivors deserve to value themselves and their place in the world, and there…
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which intends to bring attention to the unique struggles faced by minority groups. The black community has unique experiences compared to people from other racial and ethnic groups when it comes to healthcare, including mental healthcare. Sexual violence impacts black people in ways that are specific to their…
Shattering The Red Zone is an annual campaign by Promoting Awareness | Victim Empowerment (PAVE) dedicated to raising awareness and shattering the silence about college sexual violence, specifically by raising awareness on the period during the fall semester where sexual assault is most prevalent. The Shatter The Red Zone Summit is an online webinar consisting…
Shattering The Red Zone is an annual campaign by Promoting Awareness | Victim Empowerment (PAVE) dedicated to raising awareness and shattering the silence about college sexual violence, specifically by raising awareness on the period during the fall semester where sexual assault is most prevalent. The Shatter The Red Zone Summit is an online webinar consisting…
The way we respond when someone shares with us that they are a survivor of sexual or domestic violence can greatly influence their healing journey. A supportive response can promote healing and strengthen the relationship you have with one another, but an unsupportive response can retraumatize the survivor and have a negative impact on their…
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