Making Sexual Violence Prevention a Priority The Importance of Sexual Violence Prevention
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By Becca Mattingly Lanham & Ariel Norvell
Culture That Perpetuates Sexual Violence
Becca Mattingly Lanham is the Groups Coordinator at Ampersand Sexual Violence Resource Center (Ampersand), where she strives to connect survivors to one another and the movement to end sexual violence. Becca graduated from Murray State University with degrees in chemistry and agriculture, and she received a Master's in public health from the University of Kentucky. She is also a member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority. Ariel Norvell is the Prevention Coordinator at Ampersand, where she advocates for survivors and fights rape culture. Ariel graduated from Transylvania University with a B.A. in sociology and is currently pursuing her Master’s in public health at the University of Florida’s College of Public Health & Health Professions. She is also a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. For more information about Ampersand, visit: ampersandky. org.
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Sexual violence is not something new. Sexual violence on college campuses is not new. However, in the last few years, survivors’ voices are finally being elevated and the truth of the prevalence of sexual violence is becoming known. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization and has reported that college women between the ages of 18-24 are three times more likely to experience sexual violence than the general public. There is a culture on college campuses that perpetuates sexual violence. It is the same culture that perpetuates sexual violence outside of college campuses. We call this culture rape culture. It can be defined as the social acceptance and normalization of sexual violence. Rape culture will not be
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There is a culture on college campuses that perpetuates sexual violence... We call this culture rape culture. It can be defined as the social acceptance and normalization of sexual violence.
THE PHI GAMMA DELTA|FALL 2021
fixed overnight but there is a lot we can do to start changing the culture. Culture is made of our collective beliefs and actions – this means we all have a part to play.
Creating a Culture of Change Those who commit violence must be held accountable for their actions. The systems that are in place that perpetuate violence must be held accountable for their impact and compliance. Most importantly, we are all responsible for changing the culture. Culture change can seem like a daunting challenge, but each of us already contributes to the cultural norms and changes around us every day. Through our individual attitudes and behaviors, we can initiate those cultural changes that ultimately prevent this violence from happening in the first place. Everyone can influence on the cultural norms around them, in both positive and negative ways. The way we choose to use that influence is what can make a difference. While necessary, culture change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time for the impact of our individual attitudes and behaviors www.phigam.org
