Ninety-Seven Percent.

97%.

November 25th marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Since 1981, when three political activists from the Dominican Republic were brutally murdered by the order of the country’s ruler, countries around the world gathered together on the 25th of November to address and prevent worldwide violence against women.

Today, sexual violence is accounted as one of the main forms of violence against women. From statistics gathered in 2016, 1 in 2 trans people, 1 in 6 men and 1 in 3 women will experience sexual violence at some point in their lifetime.

1 in 3.

That is an almost incomprehensible statistic. Just look at three women in your life. Your mom, your sister, maybe even the girl you sit next to in class. One out of every three has or will experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime.

One in three.

What is sexual violence though? It is a phrase thrown around but not often understood. Sexual violence is a form of gender-based violence and “refers to any form of unwanted sexual contact”. Examples include non-consensual kissing, touching, rape, etc. Sexual violence is rooted in gender inequality and injustice. Anyone can experience this type of violence, no matter their gender, identity, or circumstances. But exponentially, women, girls and minorities are at an incredibly higher risk of sexual violence. Indeed, a recent study of women in the UK showed that devastatingly, 97% of women ages 18 to 24 have experienced sexual harassment in some form. 97%.

Ninety-Seven Percent.

This comes in addition to the perpetrators that are overwhelmingly, 99%, male. And out of all the victims of sexual assault, 91% are female while 9% are male. The overwhelming numbers make it increasingly difficult to ignore the systemic oppression in our society. Sexual assault is the only criminal offence that is not declining in Canada. Statistics Canada reported an almost 19% increase in Sexual Assaults in Ontario.

97%.

These numbers are shockingly large and devastating. Sexual violence can significantly interfere with the lives of those it has affected and can cause a number of physical and mental ailments. PTSD, depression, substance abuse and anxiety are just a few of the debilitating ways that rape and other forms of sexual violence can affect individuals.

But what can we do? How can a single individual make a chance to something that seems so large and out of control? There are three key steps, as introduced by the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre representative, Lucas Schaefer that can help change gender-based and sexual violence.

The first step is Prevention and from that, educating. Educating yourself and others about gender-based and sexual violence is the first way to halt it before it begins. A great number of people don’t understand or know what consent is or what it means. Some people even see asking for consent as ‘weird’ or ‘not sexy’. But doing so could save an individual. All individuals should be educated on consent and why it is so critical.

The second step is Intervention. That is, recognizing and acting upon instances of gender-based violence. Catcalling, harassing and making inappropriate comments about people’s bodies and their sexuality are all forms of sexual harassment. Jokes about performing non-consensual acts upon a friend or partner are not acceptable. Being able to recognize these instances and call out the behaviour by individuals will hopefully prevent another from being hurt.

The third and final step is Support. Know how to support friends and family that are experiencing sexual and gender-based violence in your community. Referring an individual to a local helpline or even just providing an open ear can be astronomical to someone struggling from an instance of sexual violence.

“Once we frame ourselves within the issue and recognize our responsibilities, we can make individual changes in our lives and larger collective ones as well.” — Lucas Schaefer KSCA rep.

When we talk about gender and sexual-based violence there is an idea, perpetuated by societal standards, that the victim is to blame for their assault. Essentially, “boys will be boys” on a devastating scale. Telling women and minorities that their clothing, looks, skin culture or beliefs are the reason they were targeted by sexual violence is victim blaming and needs to end. We, as a society, as individuals, need to hold perpetrators accountable and not the victims.

Victim blaming can even be dangerous to others. By labelling the victim as ‘asking for it’, or some other diminishing phrase, people separate themselves from the victim, isolating them. Additionally, victim-blaming makes it incredibly harder for individuals, especially minorities who are already disproportionally represented by the police and the media, to come forward and report their assault. If a survivor feels that they are going to burden people in their lives, or that society will blame them for their abuse, how are they expected to feel safe enough to come forward?

It is not, nor will it ever be the victim’s fault or responsibility to fix what is or has happened to them. The blame lies solely at the feet of the perpetrator and their actions. But by engaging in victim-blaming attitudes, society allows the abuser to perpetrate abuse or gender-based violence all the while avoiding any accountability or repercussions for their actions.

97% of women have been sexually assaulted.

Let that sink in.

Something needs to change. Because our reality, our futures cannot see that number rise any further. How is it permissible in an age that praises itself for its inclusivity, a number like 97% of girls and women can exist?

Something needs to change. And it needs to start with the 99% of men that are the perpetrators of sexual assaults and gender-based violence.

Because 97% should not exist.

What a devastating number.

97%.

Included at the end of this article are several self-help lines. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre: 1 705 741 0260

Kids Help Phone: 1800 668 6868

Youth-space: Text 778 783 0177

Trans Lifeline: 1873306366

Hope for Wellness: 1855 242 3310

Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: 1 833 900 1010

National Residential School Crisis Line: 1866 925 4419