Redefining the conversation about consent and sexual assault

REGINA – Does what a woman wears and how much she drinks provoke sexual assault? 19 percent of respondents to a recent survey by the Canadian Women’s Foundation think so – and that has many angry.

“We keep going back to that conversation – the woman is still the ‘temptress,'” said Tina Beaudry-Mellor, a policy analyst and women’s studies instructor at the University of Regina.

Even more recently, these posters have popped up in Edmonton, a parody of an educational campaign run by police in both Edmonton and Regina called “Don’t be that guy.”  Backlash to the posters has renewed debate about a culture of victim blaming.

When asked if being drunk implies consent, Beaudry-Mellor said emphatically, “No. It has to be the word “yes” – a clear, unequivocal ask of the question with a “yes” response.”

The Canadian Red Cross has a lofty goal of eventually reaching every young person in Saskatchewan through their RespectED programs to have a discussion about healthy relationships and how to minimize those situations where the lines are blurred.

“We need more education and we need a greater understanding about the whole concept of sexual assault and consent and what that all means,” said Norm Jakubowski, manager of education for Western Canada at the Red Cross.

“Victims often feel that it’s their fault and so how do we overcome that?” he said.