Sexual Violence

Over the years, I never really knew how to describe the personal experience of sexual violence.  Yeah, the political debate rages, and new policies have been put in place over the years.  But where does the gradient of sexual violence begin?  Why do large displays of sexual violence grab our attention, when we aren't discussing the ways that society and the ways that we interact with each other perpetuate instances of sexual violence?

How do you outline the conversation that you would have about sexual violence?

• Perhaps you could first acknowledge that humans are sexual beings: asexual, bi-sexual, gay, lesbian, straight, etc..
• Then that there are various forms of gender identities, which are not predictable based on sexual preference
• What are societal conceptions of sex? Of violence?
• What are your personal boundaries for conceptions of sex and violence?  When you consider them together?
• Do words and gestures have the ability to convey a sense of intrusion into yours/ someone else's sexual lifestyle?

Hmm, I believe that only certain acts of sexual violence should have legal ramifications, I think its important to define what your personal boundaries are so that you can communicate them to others, while being aware that this may be different for other people.

Personally, what is most harmful about sexual violence is the ability it has to depersonalize my moment-to-moment life and leave me powerless to confront the other person.  It makes me feel like an object, devoid of an outlook with which to protest what is happening.