“I know and believe that the words I repeatedly use have an impact on who I am.” – Al Walker, Sheep Thief

Steam came out my ears when these little gems popped up in my inbox. If there’s a phrase that makes me see red it’s, “Well, what did you expect?” When applied to men and women working together, “rape” should NOT be the response.

Joining us today to guest blog is Marylee Sauder, community presenter on sexual assault prevention.

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape works fervently to reduce the prevalence of sexual abuse. Statistically, one in four girls and one in six boys will experience sexual abuse before they turn 18.

Wrapping up our SAAM guest blog series, Dr. Ian Elliott joins us to take apart the concept of grooming.

Before I came to PCAR, I was a stay-at-home dad. If you’re unfamiliar with that labor of love, it’s much like being handed a hang-glider and told to fly to the moon. Unprepared and ill-equipped, I spent the better part of a year free-style singing about household objects, making one ridiculous face after another and (gasp) changing my daughter’s diapers. My little explorer is 15 months old now, and I still can’t bring myself to make any reference to her private parts.

Next up in our guest blog series, Tara Murtha discusses the vital role journalists play in shaping the public perspective of sexual violence.

Lately, it’s been all rape, all the time in the news.

Kicking off our guest blog series, Marylee Sauder talks about how to talk early and talk often with middle school students.

It’s a bleak Friday afternoon in a classroom with a loud, overactive radiator. The 25 eighth-graders are looking straight ahead at the unfamiliar presenter in front of them. Some students are squirming and smirking. Others appear hesitant, and a few look downright distressed.

It’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month! It feels a little weird to be excited – it’s great to bring the conversation out into the open, but obviously not a comfortable conversation. Too often people feel it’s a conversation that isn’t necessary – though recent events have proven otherwise – or we wind up preaching to the choir.

 In light of the recent media coverage related to Jerry Sandusky, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and MaleSurvivor would like to remind members of the media about normal behaviors that are common for survivors of sexual abuse: