A feminist author addressed a group of University of Wisconsin community members Thursday, emphasizing the importance of an updated approach toward dealing with sexual violence, as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Jennifer Baumgardner, founder of the Rape Awareness Project, discussed the importance of a complex, holistic approach toward sexual violence, stressing the need for more education on sexual assault.
“This is an important event for our campus and community,” Dean of Students Lori Berquam said. “There have been instances of late that have made it to the front pages of our paper. There have been instances that have not made it to our papers.”
Baumgardner said sexual assault and its aftermath are often more complicated than what most people think.
“There [are] a lot of things that make me think we need more complexity or different ways of talking about [rape] that build on the work of women,” Baumgardner said.
Baumgardner said rape is no less common now than it has been in the past, and she is looking for a way for the conversation on sexual assault prevention to evolve.
While she admitted to not having any new theories at the moment, Baumgardner said the old 1970s feminist ways of addressing rape are “inadequate.”
“I do wonder if our children were in college … and there was still ‘Take Back the Night,’ how would you feel about that?” Baumgardner said. “I think I would feel really bad about it. I would like there to be something else. I would like there to be some movement.”
Baumgardner stressed the importance of having an atmosphere in which victims can come forward to share their stories. She added it is therapeutic for the victim to feel their story can educate others.
Baumgarnder also said a new, clear vocabulary needs to be developed for sexual partners to communicate their wishes, preventing the unnecessary sexual assault arising from ambiguous intentions.
UW freshman Kadie Ray attended the lecture and was “pleasantly surprised” by what Baumgardner had to say.
“I think it is an important issue to bring about and to make sure we are doing all we can to increase the safety and comfort of our campus with these issues,” Ray said. “I think it’s something people need to start talking about.”
Also in attendance was UW senior Christa Edwards.
“[Sexual assault is] something that affects everyone,” Edwards said. “Not just the women. It affects their friends and family members, and it has a far-reaching effect.”
However, Edwards said she would have liked Baumgardner to further elaborate on how society can prevent rape, not just how women can prevent it.
The lecture — part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month — was sponsored by the Wisconsin Union Directorate Society and Politics Committee, and co-sponsored by Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, the Campus Women’s Center and the Weisberg Fund.
