In my first few weeks here at UNC, I have experienced a massive overhaul of everything I thought I knew about relationships, sex and most importantly, consent.
On one brutally hot day this past June, I sat in the Student Academics Services Building here at UNC. I was fresh-faced and eager to start my time here as a student. That day, with about fifty other incoming first-years, we watched a presentation on Title IX as part of the Summer Bridge Program. It was one of several presentations that we were made to watch and participate in as part of a first-year welcoming program. Day one: Financial Planning and Budgeting. Day Three: How to Study. Day Sixteen: Title IX. When we saw the event on our agendas, my peers and I were confused. What exactly is Title IX? And how can we get out of sitting through yet another awkward, two hour presentation?
I had no idea as an incoming student what Title IX was or how it would come to affect me as a young woman on this campus. But in that time that I sat in that I learned that Title IX was in place working for me without me even knowing it. But what was worse than my Title IX ignorance was that I had no clue what all went on below the …show more content…
How can I contribute to hate and violence if I myself am neither hateful nor violent? I’ve definitely fallen into this trap, but the truth is that while some jokes may seem harmless, they can do a lot of hurt in the long run. Or, some well-seeming advice may actually be perpetuating stereotypes or misconceptions about sexual violence. A lot of the advice that we receive as women puts the responsibility to prevent rape on us, as we are more often the victims of assault. But that doesn’t make any sense. You don’t prevent rape, at least not as a potential victim of it. Hearing things like “Don’t walk alone at night” “carry mace” or my personal favorite “watch what you wear” detrimental to progress. Instead of empowering women, it only hurts
On one brutally hot day this past June, I sat in the Student Academics Services Building here at UNC. I was fresh-faced and eager to start my time here as a student. That day, with about fifty other incoming first-years, we watched a presentation on Title IX as part of the Summer Bridge Program. It was one of several presentations that we were made to watch and participate in as part of a first-year welcoming program. Day one: Financial Planning and Budgeting. Day Three: How to Study. Day Sixteen: Title IX. When we saw the event on our agendas, my peers and I were confused. What exactly is Title IX? And how can we get out of sitting through yet another awkward, two hour presentation?
I had no idea as an incoming student what Title IX was or how it would come to affect me as a young woman on this campus. But in that time that I sat in that I learned that Title IX was in place working for me without me even knowing it. But what was worse than my Title IX ignorance was that I had no clue what all went on below the …show more content…
How can I contribute to hate and violence if I myself am neither hateful nor violent? I’ve definitely fallen into this trap, but the truth is that while some jokes may seem harmless, they can do a lot of hurt in the long run. Or, some well-seeming advice may actually be perpetuating stereotypes or misconceptions about sexual violence. A lot of the advice that we receive as women puts the responsibility to prevent rape on us, as we are more often the victims of assault. But that doesn’t make any sense. You don’t prevent rape, at least not as a potential victim of it. Hearing things like “Don’t walk alone at night” “carry mace” or my personal favorite “watch what you wear” detrimental to progress. Instead of empowering women, it only hurts