Theory & Concepts

WCSAP Webpage
April, 2017

While we do have an emerging evidence base for effective prevention programs, it is still relatively limited and may not be appropriate for the community you are working with. Sometimes we hear that a research evidence-base is the most important factor in programming. However here in Washington State, and many other places too, we also prioritize community specific, community-driven prevention initiatives and these do not always have an evidence-base established. This tip shares resources to…

Topic
  • Best Practices
  • Theory & Concepts
WCSAP Webpage
April, 2016

Washington State has 37 accredited community based advocacy agencies serving each county, as well as many community based by and for community specific advocacy agencies. Some counties also have system based advocacy; many ask why have both and what are the differences? It is crucial for system partners, advocates and communities to understand the importance of the differences, and it is our role as community based sexual assault advocacy agencies to be able to clearly communicate this to…

Topic
  • Program Provision
  • Theory & Concepts
Making Connections With Advocacy and the Experiences of Survivors
Webinar
January, 2016

Diversity, non-discrimination, cultural competency, anti-oppression, & social justice are not synonyms — they are not words that replace one another, nor are they words that connote the same meaning or the same type of interaction.

As advocates and preventionists, it is vital that we take into account power relations and oppression. Advocating on behalf of survivors and being an ally includes thinking about services, survivors, and yourself in terms of diversity, non-…

Topic
  • Anti-Oppression
  • Theory & Concepts
WCSAP Webpage
September, 2014

In our work to end sexual violence, sometimes best practices in prevention and what communities want to hear about (i.e. awareness and education) are not the same thing. Large school assemblies and tips for staying safe at parties are often welcomed by our communities — these make them feel safe and don't ask too much of them. With limited resources to do our prevention work, it is important that we are able to distinguish between primary prevention and awareness or risk reduction activities…

Topic
  • Best Practices
  • Awareness Raising
  • Theory & Concepts
PDF
March, 2013

Statistics can help people who are not familiar with an issue to understand it better. In the case of statistics about sexual violence, they can help community members, allied professional partners, and funders understand

  1. how big the problem is,
  2. how sexual violence impacts society as a whole rather than just individuals and families,
  3. and why sexual assault advocates are necessary.

It is important to use statistics correctly…

Topic
  • Theory & Concepts
The Virginity Movement's War Against Women
PDF
June, 2012

This documentary is an adaptation of Jessica Valenti's 2009 bestselling book "The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women." The documentary, which Valenti co-wrote the documentary with director Jeremy Earp, brings to life her argument by allowing the audience to see the pop-culture examples of the American media's problematical portrayal of women's sexuality.

The book and documentary both build upon Valenti's concept of the "purity myth," which she…

Topic
  • Faith Communities
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Healthy Sexuality
  • Theory & Concepts
PDF
February, 2009

This issue of Partners in Social Change explores current prevention strategies in our state and delves into community development as a primary prevention strategy. Additionally, it discusses educational presentation efficacy.

Topic
  • Program Design
  • Theory & Concepts
PDF
April, 2008

Around the state of Washington we are working to promote social change by encouraging communities to take an active role in identifying the root causes to sexual violence in their community and taking steps to address these conditions. In this issue of Partners in Social Change are articles on community development, logic models and the statewide prevention planning meetings.

Topic
  • Strategies
  • Theory & Concepts
& Promising Practices
PDF
November, 2007

The theme for this issue is "integration" — integration of direction from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, integration of lessons learned from the field and integration of promising practices. When we weave together these elements with our current prevention strategies, we begin to create best-practice sexual violence prevention plans for our local communities.

Topic
  • Theory & Concepts
PDF
June, 2007

This issue of "Connections" presents relevant information and dialogue on the parallels of racism and a rape culture for those of us who work in the anti-rape community and who advocate on behalf of victims and survivors.

It is important that we break the silence and begin and continue dialoguing about these parallels to ensure that we continue to strengthen and cultivate a path that leads to social change and social justice.

Topic
  • Theory & Concepts
PDF
May, 2007

This issue of "Partners in Social Change" explores the ecological model of health behavior. As the word "ecological" implies, this structural model explores the relationship between human behavior and the environment. The beauty of the model lies in its assertion that our natural environment includes not only our corporeal surroundings, but also social and cultural forces, making the model particularly useful in program planning. It gives us a systematic approach to determine the appropriate…

Topic
  • Theory & Concepts
PDF
March, 2007

This issue of "Partners in Social Change" is intended to provide an overview of public health theory that is relevant for anti-rape advocates, and to provide the inspiration and desire to engage in the collaborative effort.

Topic
  • Theory & Concepts
PDF
May, 2005

Washington State has embarked on the implementation of a contemplative, systematic plan focused on moving us toward our ultimate goal. Prevention, and more specifically, social change work were identified as essential components to include in our range of activities.

All of us together have designed service structures, implemented new strategies (community development) and provided services to survivors in addition to educating ourselves and communities about the multi-faceted issue…

Topic
  • Theory & Concepts
PDF
May, 2003

"Is feminism still valid?" is the question that became the basis of this issue of Connections. As we began to contemplate that question it came became clear that the question has always been, "Is feminism valid?" First wave feminism, the women's suffrage movement 1860-1920, was viewed as a radical doctrine, focused on dividing the genders. It was thought to be a construct of white, middle class, heterosexual, educated women. Second wave feminism, the women's liberation movement 1960 - 1982,…

Topic
  • Theory & Concepts
Using a Public Health Model
PDF
January, 2003

Sexual violence can be viewed many ways. Some of the more common perspectives are mental health, criminal justice, medical, social and political. In the 1970’s the anti-rape movement clearly operated from a socio-political analysis of the issue. As service delivery structures were created our analysis expanded to accommodate the collaborations taking place in the criminal justice, mental health and medical systems.

Over the past decade there has been a push to incorporate the public…

Topic
  • Theory & Concepts
What's Really Happening on College Campuses
-> TYPE MISSING, FIX ME <-

According to a wave of recent new reports and high-profile books, "hookup" culture is in the process of replacing traditional dating on college campuses — radically altering how young people think about intimacy and sex, and liberating young women from patriarchal rituals and norms. But for anyone looking to get a handle on these allegedly transformative changes, there's been little beyond speculation and anecdotal evidence. This presentation by Stanford University's Paula England, a leading…

Topic
  • Campus
  • Schools & Campus
  • Theory & Concepts