How do you react when your child asks you what it means to “get raped”? How do you know if your teen has ever been sexually assaulted? Believing that sexual violence is all about forced penetration is the equivalent of going back 25 years when you thought you had to have been beaten in the schoolyard to have been bullied…
This violence so present among young people can be prevented, but it is imperative to take action now. As a society, it is our duty to better educate ourselves with experts in the field in order to be able to act upstream and not simply reactively in the face of this scourge.
Not a single day goes by without us receiving dozens of messages from young students who share their experiences in the environment which, by definition, should be the safest for them: their school.
Jade* tells us: “A boy from my school grabbed my breasts from behind when I was at my locker and he and his group of friends left, bursting out laughing. »
Emily* tells us: “My teacher said that the girls had to dress more “wisely” so that the boys wouldn’t be tempted into anything. »
These messages are among the most “censored” that we receive daily.
educate, educate, educate
In Quebec, people under the age of 18 represent the majority (62%) of all victims of sexual offenses reported by the police.
How do we avoid smashing these precious lives? Educating and training young students as well as the authority figures who surround them on a daily basis on the issues of power dynamics, socio-cultural bias, toxic masculinity and consent is an essential step towards achieving a lasting solution.
This means that everyone has a role to play in preventing such violence and that the burden of identifying such attacks should no longer rest solely on the shoulders of the survivor.
Indeed, if everyone is educated on the warning signs of potential situations of abuse, everyone is equally responsible and able to recognize and prevent them.
Pay it forward
We have already been called upon to give training in universities during initiation weeks, but the first episodes of sexual assault mostly take place well before access to higher education. This is why it is essential to educate secondary school students on this fundamental issue.
The glaring lack of knowledge about what acts constitute sexual violence as well as ignorance about misogyny and consent are problems to which there is such an obvious solution: educating the education community.
Action when they occur is necessary, but the damage has already been done. We must intervene upstream in order to prevent them. This sexual violence that occurs in the school environment, an environment where young people in full development should be able to freely spread their wings and develop in order to reach their full potential, represents a major obstacle to the achievement of these objectives.
Not having to live in fear when simply seeking education should not be considered a privilege. It must be a basic human right.
Not only will a better understanding of this problem improve the lives of today’s young adolescents, but also these notions will serve them throughout their life trajectory as adults.
They will therefore in turn be able to actively participate in establishing a safer environment for the young people of tomorrow. Whether in their relationship as a couple or through their professional, family and social journey, these sensitive and respectful adults will reap the benefits of this investment made today and which will have positive repercussions for many lives and generations to come.
Educating young people now is helping to build our society of tomorrow.
* Fictitious first name to preserve anonymity
Among the real influencers of The Press
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, PRESS ARCHIVES
Sisters Florence-Olivia and Marie-Emmanuelle Genesse
Florence-Olivia and Marie-Emmanuelle Genesse – The Sis – were nominated by The Press last November as one of Quebec’s 15 real influencers who are shaking up the status quo. They are doing their doctorate in law (specialization in sexual and domestic violence). Their mission is to educate and train governments, educational institutions, businesses, first responders and others to prevent tragedies, but also violations of fundamental rights on a daily basis.