Tag: disclosure

Agents of Change: Meredith Vizzini

There are many people in our community working to create positive change to end sexual violence. We want to feature as many of them as possible. If you would like to submit a recommendation, please email prevention@star.ngo. I am often surprised at how many incorrect assumptions people make about sexual assault. I hope that in sharing correct information,… Read More

The Good News: September 2015

THE BIG PICTURE “Lady Gaga’s powerful new video shows the reality of campus sexual assault.” [Trigger Warning] The best way to combat sexual assault is to believe survivors. To stand beside them when they share their stories. To make sure their voices are heard. –Wagatwe Wanjuki Lessons Learned “Stranger Danger,” shouldn’t be the focal point of… Read More

Pro(social) Tips: Responding to disclosures of sexual trauma

Yesterday in our weekly staff briefing at the STAR office, we discussed how sexual trauma survivors are more likely to consider and attempt suicide. We asked Nicole, one of our counselors who has over a decade of experience working with sexual trauma survivors, what she thought contributed most to survivors’ suicidal ideation and attempts. Her response? “I… Read More

The Good News: July 2015

THE BIG PICTURE “35 women tell their stories about being assaulted by Bill Cosby, and the culture that wouldn’t listen” ‘I’m no longer afraid,’ said Chelan Lasha, who came forward late last year to say that Cosby had drugged her when she was 17. ‘I feel more powerful than him.’ In 2005, Bill Cosby still had control… Read More

Hold your breath: Refusal to report sexual violence isn’t just about stigma

Antigravity Magazine published the following essay in January 2015. The essay’s author, Ann Glaviano, is a New Orleans copy editor and grant writer. We at STAR thank Ann Glaviano for authoring this piece and Antigravity Magazine for publishing it. I spent my first six months of graduate school being stalked and sexually harassed, verbally and physically, by another student. I… Read More

Sisterhood Solidarity

DIG Magazine published the following essay in its online opinion section on Feb. 10, 2015. The essay’s author, Leslie D. Rose, is a Baton Rouge journalist, poet, photographer and artist. You can follow her on Twitter at @DanielleGlamour. We at STAR thank Leslie D. Rose for authoring this piece and DIG Magazine for publishing it. Nearly every day… Read More

The Scarlett “R” – Stigma, Shame and Speaking Out

“When I returned to work [after I was raped] and was on the elevator with people I knew—I felt like I had a scarlet ‘R’ in the middle of my forehead. I felt branded by my assault and was confident that my scarlet R was all they saw.” (Source: Putting the Focus on Victims) Stigma,… Read More

To Report or Not To Report: Pouring fuel into the “Blaming the Victim” machine

Reporting rape and seeking help are probably the most delicate issues that the survivors of sexual assault face. Today we want to talk about these issues and present an inspirational piece to our readers. According to Nicole Gillum, Sexual Trauma Specialist at STAR, statistics in Baton Rouge, LA, match the national statistics. Only about 5%… Read More