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.
- Understand and respect personal boundaries. Do not pressure a potential partner.
- 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.
- 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.
- Don’t take advantage of someone’s drunkenness, drugged, or otherwise incapacitated state, even if they did it to themselves.
- 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.
- Understand that consent to some form of sexual behavior does not automatically equal consent to any other form of sexual behavior.
- 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.
- If you do not want to engage in a particular activity, tell the other person “NO” clearly and firmly.
- Try to remove yourself from the physical presence of a sexual aggressor, if you can do so safely.
- If someone is nearby, ask for help or if it is safe to do so, text or call someone.
- 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.
- 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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