Throughout this week, we are focusing on the work research of Jennifer Hirsch and Shamus Khan documented in their book, “Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study on Sex, Power and Sexual Assault” on campus.
In chapter four, “What is sex for?” Hirsch and Khan discuss the pursuit and challenges for students to understand and define the distinctions between sexual assault and sex:
Students have a word for this – they describe some sex as being “rapey.” Initially we found this disturbing. Calling something rapey, with raised eyebrow, seemed to be joking about something that was not funny; we wanted, and still want, a bright line between “rape” and “sex.” But the words that students use are a window into their world. When students talked about sex as “rapey,” part of what they were indicating was that they were having sex that they were unwilling to name “assault” but that they recognized as having a lot of similarities to assault. And when students talk about other things as rapey – whether it’s a 1980s classic teen movie like Sixteen Candles, with a scene that borders on date rape; a Disney scene, such as the song sung by Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, where he claims he’ll make Belle his wife, regardless of her objections; or an old jazz standard such as “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” where a man tries to keep a woman from leaving, even as she insists she wants to – what they are flagging is a shift in cultural sensibilities that is part of the emerging contemporary collective acknowledgment of sexual assault as a social problem. (pg 90-91)
Want to talk more about the research and the authors’ recommendations? Plan on attending an LLCC community discussion led by Dr. Karen Sisk tomorrow, April 13, 12:30-1:30 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons and via Teams. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunches and a smart device to participate in an electronic conversation. Light snacks and water will be provided.
Additional information and resources on sexual assault are available on LLCC’s website. You may also contact Nikki Baker, compliance and prevention coordinator at nikki.baker@llcc.edu or 217-786-3426.