X. SEXUAL MISCONDUCT PREVENTION AND RISK REDUCTION
A. Prevention:
If you find yourself in the position of being the initiator of sexual behavior, you owe sexual respect to your potential partner and yourself. These suggestions may help you avoid committing a nonconsensual sexual act and reduce your risk of being accused of sexual misconduct:
Clearly communicate your intentions to your sexual partner and give them a chance to clearly communicate their intentions to you.
2. Understand and respect personal boundaries. Do not pressure a potential partner.
3. DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS about consent; about someone’s sexual availability; about whether they are attracted to you; about how far you can go or about whether they are physically and/or mentally able to consent. If there are any questions or ambiguity, then you DO NOT have consent and you should stop.
4. If you think you are receiving unclear or conflicting messages from your partner, this is a clear indication that you should stop, defuse any sexual tension and communicate better.
5. Don’t take advantage of someone’s drunkenness, drugged, or otherwise incapacitated state, even if they did it to themselves.
6. Realize that your potential partner could be intimidated by you, or fearful. You may have a power advantage simply because of your gender or size. Don’t abuse that power.
7. Understand that consent to some form of sexual behavior does not automatically equal consent to any other form of sexual behavior.
8. Silence and passivity cannot be interpreted as an indication of consent. Read your potential partner carefully, paying attention to verbal and non‐verbal communication and body language. If you are not sure, stop.
B. Risk Reduction
Risk reduction tips can, unintentionally, take victim-blaming tone. With no intention to victim- blame, and with recognition that only those who commit sexual violence are responsible for such conduct, these suggestions may nevertheless help you to reduce your risk of experiencing a non-consensual sexual act.
If you have sexual limits, make them known as early as possible.
2. If you do not want to engage in a particular activity, tell the other person “NO” clearly and firmly.
3. Try to remove yourself from the physical presence of a sexual aggressor, if you can do so safely.
4. If someone is nearby, ask for help or if it is safe to do so, text or call someone.
5. Take affirmative responsibility for your alcohol intake/drug use and acknowledge that alcohol/drugs lower your sexual inhibitions and may make you vulnerable to someone who views a drunk or high person as a sexual opportunity.
6. Take care of your friends and ask that they take care of you. A real friend will challenge you if you are about to enter a dangerous situation. Respect them when they do.
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