We Deserve Safety at Concerts and Festivals by blogger Ashley

With Lollapalooza at its peak, festival season is winding down for the year in most states. Thousands of people will be attending the last few major festivals before the school year gets intense and workloads grow higher. Music festivals are most common among college students and tend to be the most congested at times. Because hundreds to thousands of people are packed together at a stage, personal space is non-existent. You get used to someone bumping into you or accidentally touching/rubbing against your butt or breasts. It comes with the territory, so they say.

What you don’t get used to is someone grabbing your butt or breasts. We all know the difference between an accidental touch and an intentional grab. It makes you feel uncomfortable, disrespected, and can ruin your mood and festival experience. You’re out to have fun with friends, and someone else is out to have extra fun without your consent.

A new crop of concertgoers are rising up and speaking out against nonconsensual touching at concerts. For instance, females who crowdsurf at concerts shouldn’t have to worry about being felt up as she surfs above a sea of mostly male hands. People should stop saying, “if you don’t want to get touched inappropriately, don’t crowd surf.”

Even performers aren’t safe from perpetrators. At a June concert, female members of bands Pity Sex and Tigers Jaw were the recipients of nonconsensual kisses from a male concertgoer who jumped on stage during their performances. These bands prefer playing at shows without barricades because they feel closer to fans that way, but if people aren’t going to respect them and their bodies, then they may have to strictly play venues with barricades in the future. (I wrote a response to news of a member of another band who made a “joke” about the incident at Warped Tour and his half-apology days later.)

Everyone deserves to feel safe at concerts and festivals, rather than expect to be violated. Being drunk is not an excuse for someone to touch you without permission because many of those same people would do the same thing sober. We have to look out for each other as we are surprisingly (or maybe not so surprising) highly vulnerable in huge crowds. Have fun and don’t be afraid to call someone out for inappropriate behavior when you experience or see it. 

Consent: Clearing Up the Grey by Katiera Sordjan

     One of the most important things we can do to combat sexual assault on college campuses is to educate students on the importance of consent. This is crucial regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or the nature of the relationship between the individuals. Understanding what consent is, giving and receiving it throughout sex is crucial to ensuring that students are safe and respected.

     Our concept of rape and sexual assault is often very concrete and stereotypical; a person is physically overpowered or otherwise forced into intercourse or other sexual acts by someone else. However, many times this is not the case, and leaves victims feeling violated but not sure that they would describe the encounter as assault. These 'grey areas' are very problematic in confronting the issue of sexual assault and even more difficult to process legally.

     Consenting to sexual activity is more than just a person saying yes before sex begins. A couple or group should communicate both before and during sex about their sexual desires and wants. Consent means that a person willingly agrees to have sex. They may consent to some sexual activities and not others. Talking with each other ensures everyone is comfortable and enjoying being intimate.

     It is important to remember that not saying 'no' doesn't automatically mean a yes to any sexual activity. Pressuring or coercing someone to have sex is sexual assault. A person has the right to change their mind at any time during sex about what they want to do with their partners. If a person is intoxicated they cannot consent. Taking advantage of someone under the influence is rape.

     When having sex you should never make any assumptions, insinuations, or be vague with your partner. Even if you are in a serious relationship with your partner or have had consensual sex with them before, consent is still needed from both of you every time you have sex. Do not assume that doing one activity is permission for another. Never make inferences about someone's desire to have sex based on factors such as their gender, sexual orientation, clothing, or past sexual history. Similarly, you cannot use your own sexual and personal identity as a substitute for consent. None of these things are consent; a clear and enthusiastic 'yes' is.

     Talking about sex may seem awkward and interruptive, ruining the mood of being intimate. But having conversation before sex will make things run much smoother and be clear for everyone. During sex, partners should simply check for feedback from each other. Pay attention to words and body language, and incorporate it into your sex play by telling them what you would like to do with them next. If your partner seems hesitant it is important to ask them if it is okay to continue, plainly and nonagressively. Likewise, your partner should be paying attention to you to make sure you are engaged and comfortable during any sexual activities you do together. Using 'safe words' can be helpful in BDSM sex and roleplays. If either person is hesitant or does not continue giving consent it is important to stop having sex and talk about what each of you wants to do. Good lovers listen to their partners and are in tune with their needs. 

     Sex should be fun, and an exciting way to be intimate with someone. It is a significant and memorable part of college life for many students. It should be free of pressure, discomfort, and constraining societal expectations. Consensual sex is not about power, but giving and receiving pleasure. Everyone should be able to explore their sexuality with others in a way that is enjoyable for them, without being harmed or taken advantage of. 

Rape Prevention by blogger Shaleen

It is common knowledge that many traditional families instill the thought that men should “protect” women but when it comes to stopping or acknowledging a possible sexual assault, many question themselves. We see all the time in movies that when men see an assault, he stutters or questions himself and how he would be viewed. Many colleges are stopping the victim from speaking out of even pressing charges. The lack of prevention is outstanding because educated human beings should know that it is not a woman’s fault, ever.

Women are taught to not get raped instead of men getting taught not to rape. It’s a simple enough concept but then again, it happens. Zerlina Maxwell from Ebony.com, wrote an article called, “5 Ways We Can Teach Men Not to Rape.” I understand where articles like the get their theme of the article but that thought should be instilled in everyone from birth. It should not have to be taught.

Every man and woman are responsible for their actions, including not stopping someone be raped. Education equals prevention. There are many men who are feminists from Jimmy Carter to Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Where these men consider themselves a feminist or the media spanned their words, I’ll never know. All that aside, feminism is the radical notion that all women are human beings.

No means a big No - by blogger Snehal Gajare

"Consent"- What is it? Is it important? Who cares? How dare she refuse me?........ And then the male chauvinist monster attacks the girl/woman. He forgets that he is denying her the basic right of voicing her choice about what is happening to her mind and body. As a woman I strongly condemn such an act where a woman's right of bodily integrity and autonomy is not only neglected but crushed. Every woman on this planet has the right to say "No".  It’s simple, ‘No’ means a clear, big and bold “No”.

When 'Yes' is easily understood and accepted, what's the issue in understanding and accepting its antonym 'No'? A study conducted by United Nations by surveying 10000 men in 6 Asia Pacific countries (the word “Rape” was not mentioned, instead men were questioned if they ever forced a lady to indulge in sex) has revealed that "sexual entitlement" (a mindset where a man considers that he has an automatic control over the body of woman irrespective of what the woman wants) is the trigger that drives men to rape women. Another shocking outcome of the survey was that some men admitted to raping women for entertainment to fight boredom. A small set of men cited anger as the reason for forcing women.  Shut Up! Wake up Guys! Come out of your world of fantasy. Rape is not a joke; it’s a heinous crime that seizes the entire existence of a woman, leaving her soul panic stricken, wounded for life. Furthermore, our ‘so called patriarchal society’ depicts its double standards by drowning the Rape victim into the pond of shame with a tagline "It’s your Fault"; whereas the excuse used for the rapist is “After all he is a man, he has desires”.

Consent plays a key role in most of the sexual assault cases; as it impacts the entire prosecution process. Consent can be determined by various factors: Age of consent (the victim consenting was below the age specified by law for having sex), Inability to consent (if the victim consenting was insane, mentally retarded, intoxicated), withdrawal of consent; (if the victim gave consent out to fear, embarrassment, coercion, helplessness and later withdrew) the violation of these can attract the offence of statutory rape. In simple sense, sex without ‘consent’ is Rape.

As a feminist I intend to ask a question to the society, - The rape victim is blamed for her rape, for the injuries inflicted on her body and her mind; despite her constant refusal to entertain the advances of a man. So, what should be the punishment for the rapist who so "innocently" rapes a woman, thrashes her self- esteem, insults the essence of womanhood thereby uprooting her existence and destroying her life; against her will and consent?