UU150 Final: Is sexual violence a problem on Canadian university and college campuses
Is sexual violence a problem on Canadian
university and college campuses?
Unfortunately, sexual violence is quite a problem on Canadian
post-secondary campuses. According to the Canadian Federation
of Students-Ontario, “one in five women experience sexual
assault while attending a post-secondary institution” and that
“many on-campus sexual assaults occur during the first eight
weeks of classes” (2015, 1-2). Like national statistics, “80 per
cent of rapes that occur on college and university campuses are
committed by someone known to the victim, with half of these
incidents occurring on dates” (Canadian Federation of Students-
Ontario 2015, 2). It is very important that we take time to
discuss what you can do to stop sexual violence from happening.
How do you give consent?
Western University’s Centre for Research & Education on Violence
against Women & Children (2012, 3, emphasis added)
defines consent as follows:
While it is generally understood that individuals must obtain
consent to sexual activity, widespread misconceptions confuse
people’s understanding of consent and sexual violence.
Perpetrators may exploit confusion about consent or deliberately
distort the meaning of consent to justify their behavior and to
coerce victims/survivors. The Criminal Code of Canada defines
consent as it relates to sexual assault as the voluntary agreement
to engage in sexual activity with another person. (…) Consent can
never be obtained through threats or coercion.
Therefore, consent must be something given (and not presumed)
voluntarily and without coercion. The Centre for Research &
Education on Violence against Women & Children (2012, 3)
provides a list of methods of coercion which are as follows:
intimidation and threats; assaultive behaviour or physical force;
the use of alcohol or other substances; the use of power
imbalances created by social status, position or role, physical
size/strength/ ability; persistent pressure to wear down the
victim/survivor; and the exploitation of vulnerabilities.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Unfortunately, sexual violence is quite a problem on canadian post-secondary campuses. According to the canadian federation of students-ontario, one in five women experience sexual assault while attending a post-secondary institution and that. Many on-campus sexual assaults occur during the first eight weeks of classes (2015, 1-2). Like national statistics, 80 per cent of rapes that occur on college and university campuses are committed by someone known to the victim, with half of these incidents occurring on dates (canadian federation of students- It is very important that we take time to discuss what you can do to stop sexual violence from happening. Western university"s centre for research & education on violence against women & children (2012, 3, emphasis added) defines consent as follows: While it is generally understood that individuals must obtain consent to sexual activity, widespread misconceptions confuse people"s understanding of consent and sexual violence.
