A newsletter from Rape Crisis Scotland Issue 12 - Spring 2014 In this issue Contents of Rape Crisis Walking The Tightrope News we look - p. 2-5 at an exciting range of RCS Prevention Project prevention - p. 6-10 initiatives The Rosey Project currently - p. 11-13 underway in Scotland. White Ribbon Scotland Work in Prisons - p. 14-20 Prevention work by Rape Crisis Centres in Lanarkshire & the Borders - p. 21-26 The Art of Protest - p. 27 Play Fair - p. 28-30 He’s the Stud & She’s the Slut - p. 31-33 These projects and resources aim to challenge and change deep-rooted cultural elements which allow violence against women and children to thrive and we are very grateful to all Who Are You? contributors and interviewees for their diverse perspectives - p. 33-35 on prevention from (amongst others) schools, prisons, and Prevention Resources voluntary organisations. - p. 36 Riots Not Diets by Christy Tidwell, Big Strong Boy, Little Cute Girl by goatsfoot on Flickr Walking The Tightrope Rape Crisis attend the conference as we could Scotland, accommodate, demonstrating how current the Women’s and pressing the issues are to those working with young people. Support Project and the Rosey Project held Here’s a brief synopsis of the a joint conference (‘Walking presentations: The Tightrope’) in Glasgow We were pleased that Shona Robison in October 2013. Rape Crisis MSP was able to attend in her capacity Scotland’s Sexual Violence as co-chair of the National Group to address Violence Against Women. She Prevention Coordinator Kathryn met with Laura and Matthew, two young Dawson describes the highlights: peer researchers, and discussed with them the findings of their research and The purpose of ‘Walking The Tightrope’ their own experiences of inadequate was to look at how young people are sexual health education whilst at school. affected by increased sexualisation and She acknowledged the apparent gap exposure to pornography. In particular, between the intentions of the Curriculum we wanted to highlight the links between for Excellence and practice in some different issues such as ‘sexting,’ schools, and undertook to raise this teenage relationship abuse, young with colleagues. She also addressed people’s understanding of consent, street the conference and spoke about harassment and abuses through social the importance of the issues being media. raised, and the Scottish Government’s commitment to address them. We wanted also to reach professionals working with young people in a range Linda Thompson from the Women’s of fields to stress that these issues are Support Project drew attention to the interconnected, and that if we view them risks faced by young people by a through the lens of gender inequality culture heavily influenced by the sex we can understand these connections industry. She considered the issues and address the issues with greater in the light of the definitions of child consistency. It also felt important to protection, sexual abuse and sexual highlight the role of commercial interests health provided by the World Health in driving an increasingly sexualised Organisation, UNICEF and the Scottish culture. Government, inviting delegates to consider the impact of broader culture We were keen to bring young people’s as well as individual abuses. Children influence into the conference, so were are exposed for example, at the hands delighted that Issy McConville, who had of organisations with powerful vested recently worked as an intern for Kezia interests, to sexualised and violent sexual Dugdale MSP, undertook to chair our imagery often long before they have the panel discussions, and Laura Watts and capacity to consent. Linda emphasised Matthew Docherty from the Porcupine our collective responsibility to create a campaign agreed to present the peer protective environment for children and research they conducted with Zero young people. Tolerance. Dr. Miranda Horvath of Middlesex We had twice as many requests to University presented research 2 Walking The Tightrope commissioned by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in England into what we know about the effects of pornography on children and young people. The literature review found that we have evidence of gendered differences in children and young people’s exposure and access to pornography, and that young people are more often exposed to pornography as opposed to deliberately seeking access. We also know that children and young people’s sexual beliefs and likelihood of engaging in ‘risky behaviours’ are affected by access and exposure to pornography, and also that they are affected by exposure to sexualised and violent imagery. However violence. we need more research evidence to • Girls are most adversely affected. explain how children and young people Sexting is not a gender-neutral practice; are affected, what causal relationships it is shaped by the gender dynamics of exist and what links there may be to the peer group in which, primarily, boys violent victimisation. There also needs harass girls, and it is exacerbated by to be a greater focus on young people’s the gendered norms of popular culture, own perceptions, and more research into family and school that fail to recognise the possible cultural differences, as most problem or to support girls. young people included in studies have been western, white, heterosexual and You can see the full report at: able-bodied. http://tiny.cc/7eivex The full report is available at: Nadine Jassat presented the Edinburgh http://tiny.cc/fdivex Hollaback campaign. Hollaback is an international movement to end street Dr. Ros Gill of King’s College, London harassment by creating a public space presented the findings of research for people to share their experiences, she conducted with others into young offer solidarity to each other and spark people and sexting. The research report conversations. Nadine explained what recommended that professionals, parents, street harassment is and described industry and commerce develop a shared its impact, in terms of restricting the understanding of the gendered sexual liberties of women, members of the LGBT pressures on young people. community, people with disabilities, and people from minority ethnic groups, by Here are a few of the key findings: making the very streets they walk feel • There was a bigger risk to young unsafe, uncomfortable, and intimidating. people of technology-mediated sexual According to a survey they conducted, pressure from their peers, rather than 86% of 12-25 year olds said they strangers. had been harassed on the streets of • Sexting is often coercive, taking Edinburgh. Hollaback Edinburgh is run place as part of a range of activities which by volunteers and there’s a link on the are linked to harassment, bullying and website for anyone whose interested in 3 Walking The Tightrope getting involved. Visit the website at: http://edinburgh. ihollaback.org/ Matthew Docherty, Laura Watts and Laura Tomson presented peer research led by Zero Tolerance, exploring young people’s perceptions of what is ‘normal’ for young people when Baldy Bane performed an excerpt from it comes to relationships and sex, and their interactive play ‘Crush,’ which was how they respond to pornography and commissioned by the National Children & sexualised media. They received 237 Young People’s Protection & Prevention survey responses and conducted 6 focus Network and addresses issues of abuse groups. within teenage relationships and gender stereotyping with young people in high Young people were presented with a schools and youth groups. Two actors scenario, and asked to comment on how played a young woman and man in a they thought the group of friends would relationship, and David from Baldy Bane respond: facilitated audience discussion, exploring You are with a group of friends and our perceptions of the nature of the one of them shows some porn on their relationship, and our understanding of the phone. In the film, two men are having motivations underlying each character’s sex with a woman while slapping her behaviour. The audience were particularly and calling her names. The woman engaged, as demonstrated by delegates’ isn't doing anything to stop them OR feedback. to encourage them. My presentation for Rape Crisis Here are some of their responses: Scotland focused on initiatives aimed at “It depends if it’s a group of boys or girls challenging the sources of sexualised because they both react differently.” imagery, so that public and private spaces (Female, 14) are less dominated by objectification “Most of my girl friends would probably and sexualised imagery. I spoke about cringe, but the guy friends are more likely various campaigns such as No More to just laugh.” (Female, 15) p3 , Lose the Lads Mags, the Child’s “If it were males in the group they would Eyes campaign and the Front page laugh but the females would find it nasty campaign. I also outlined the outgoing towards the girl.” (Male, 18) Icelandic government’s attempt to ban pornography. The researchers also asked about norms in terms of clothing and body hair. In the second part of my presentation 4 Walking The Tightrope I gave an overview of the national Responses prevention project and some of the resources developed to facilitate We were delighted to get some really discussions around issues such as positive feedback from delegates. Here consent, sexualisation and abuses are a few highlights: perpetrated through social media. It was fantastic that all of the prevention workers funded by the national prevention project The knowledge were able to attend the conference. base is fantastic and there really “I didn’t really consider is a need for this the impact of porn. This to be practised has so changed. I can nationally. now see how normalised and desensitised I have “I would just like to say a huge thank you obviously become that I for the opportunity to attend.