Reframing sexual conflict as a matter of rights and responsibilities upheld or unmet takes the blame out of justice as fairness, making conflict easier to transform. Everyone comes into sexual situations with expectations about how they should be treated and what they are willing to do in return, but chaotic and underwhelming messaging normalizes and reinforces problems. The U.N. has begun to think of sexual and reproductive freedom as a series of rights; rights that the U.S. is slow to provide permanently.
The media, law and community all decide what is discussed and for how long, but no sphere of influence wants to hold the space to talk about what we owe each other in order to be invited into intimate space. We all want to protect ourselves from harm, and that is the side that we are all on! I have built a framework with multiple access points to share this useful conflict framing and gain meaningful support for rewriting of applicable social and legal code governing sexual behavior to benefit all adults. |
Engaging sexual conflict on three levels
STEP 1: Connecting with lawmakers
First, We are making connections to legislators in each state to find groups who act on sexual safety and accountability issues. Respectfully utilizing existing institutions and organizations saves effort and gets us connected to the people doing the work at home now. They can also fill us in on strategy, such as when to bring in specific elected officials, where to align, or how to connect. After building support in each of the three sections, proper public engagement could effectively fuel the introduction of legislation. We want a bill that is already popular among everyday voters who will follow and see it through. Step 2: Community Building From there, groups can connect us to more communities to start the conversations that they need to have about how to create sexual safety and accountability where they live. People need to build networks for peer support where they live, and have the difficult conversations together. This is a good way to build trauma informed community! Who doesn't need more of that?! Men's and married couples' groups would help men own their struggles and failures in smaller groups of trusted peers and get support. Though people may be facing serious consequences, getting real community-based help can be part of a better system for addressing sexual violence that we can build together! If we can pilot new ways to help, we can change the law to fit the needs of community in reality. Step 3: Using what already works We can use all types and levels of media to help fix what it's broken, by creating entertaining, ethical materials to catch up the community about sexual rights and responsibilities. If the media expects a place in our future, it must be accountable in creating positive social change. Those who have experienced victimhood or have been aggressors are offering what they know to helping others. This is both healing and restorative, and it provides necessary perspective that we all need to see the issue clearly and end sexual violence. |
ABOUT Me
“Big Mouth.” Flixster, https://resizing.flixster.com/H95NawjAD2BSt8Nc5YW8hfOH6J0=/206x305/v2/https: //flxt.tmsimg.com/assets/p14397536_b_v8_ac.jpg. Accessed 30 Nov. 2022. Shalev, Carmel. “Rights to Sexual and Reproductive Health.” United Nations, United Nations, 19 Mar. 1998, https://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/shalev.htm. The Annie E. Casey Foundation. “Https://Www.aecf.org/Blog/Thrive-by-25-Casey-Foundation-Announces-Increased-Focus-on-Youth-and-Young.” blog-thriveby25announcement-2021.jpg. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 29 Jan. 2021, https://www.aecf.org/blog/thrive-by-25-casey-foundation-announces-increased-focus-on-youth-and-young. “Volunteer.” Forest Preserves of Cook County, 14 July 2021, https://fpdcc.com/volunteer/. |