In recent years, a significant movement has emerged to combat the stigma surrounding sexual assault, particularly the troubling tendency to blame victims. Did you know that only 20% of female students who experience sexual assault choose to report it to law enforcement? This alarming statistic is one of the reasons the “It’s On Us” initiative was launched in 2014 to address and ultimately end sexual violence.
A new public service announcement (PSA) from the “It’s On Us” campaign effectively highlights the irrational nature of blaming survivors for the actions of their abusers. Released on the 23rd anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, authored by Joe Biden during his Senate tenure, the PSA emphasizes the need for societal change regarding victim attitudes. This legislation increased support services and shelters available to sexual assault survivors nationwide.
In the video, we witness a baker painstakingly decorating a beautiful wedding cake when a hotel employee barges in and proceeds to shove her fist into the confectionery masterpiece, devouring it. “It looks so delicious,” she exclaims while the stunned baker looks on. When he expresses his dismay, she retorts, “You were the one that made it so tempting.” She continues, “Tahitian vanilla icing and pretty little flowers? It’s like you were begging me to taste it.”
The campaign features three unique PSAs, all reinforcing the same critical message: enough with the victim-blaming. Co-creator of the PSAs, Mia Rivers, expressed her frustration over the idea that individuals shouldn’t be held accountable for acting on uncontrollable impulses. “Sure, my mouth may water when I enter a candy store, but that doesn’t give me the right to grab a handful of chocolates and blame the clerk for having them there,” she states.
Questions like “Were you drinking?” or “What were you wearing?” distract from the culpability of perpetrators and instead shift the blame onto survivors, often discouraging them from coming forward. This is the unfortunate reality of the sexual assault stigma.
While the approach is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, it effectively mirrors the illogical reasoning that many survivors encounter. “The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Rivers, who aims to produce more PSAs of this nature. “They resonate with a wide audience, not just college students, but really everyone.”
The timing of this campaign couldn’t be more crucial. Just last week, Secretary of Education, Clara Thompson, announced a review of the protections for campus sexual assault survivors under Title IX, signaling a shift toward prioritizing the rights of the accused over those of survivors.
It is imperative that we collectively challenge the stigma surrounding sexual assault and victim-blaming. Thanks to initiatives like “It’s On Us,” there are numerous ways to take action and become part of the solution—whether that’s organizing campus events, pledging support, or creating our own PSAs. It’s vital we promote the importance of consent, intervention, and support for survivors in sexual assault cases. For further insights into DIY insemination, you might find our guide on home insemination kits useful, or check out intracervical insemination for expert advice on similar topics. Additionally, a valuable resource on pregnancy and home insemination can be found at WebMD.
In summary, these PSAs powerfully demonstrate the absurdity of victim-blaming in instances of sexual assault, urging society to shift focus back onto the perpetrators and support survivors in their journey toward justice.