sexual assault — World News, Travel and Social Action

Sexual assault prevention campaigns have been circulating on social media, giving tools to women and men around the world to remove themselves from threatening situations and ward off sexual predators.

Naval Hospital Bremerton's 'Chalk the Walk' display on a visual reminder that April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Official U.S. Navy Imagery. CC BY 2.0.

Sexual assault is a major issue across the world. From childhood bedrooms and college parties to first dates and marital beds, both women and men alike experience unwanted sexual attention and violence. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence from a partner or non-partner in their lifetime. Similarly, at least 1 in 6 men have experienced sexual abuse or assault.

In the past, survivors and allies frequently shied away from speaking about sexual assault; however, in recent years, the topic that was considered taboo is beginning to be spoken about more frequently and openly. Today, workplaces require sexual assault education courses, educational institutions encourage victims to utilize the resources available to them, and social media keeps the conversation alive with its various sexual assault resources, prevention and discussion accounts. People are now more aware of the severity of sexual assault and the long lasting psychological implications it can have on victims, as well as how to report a sexual attack, cope with an unwanted sexual experience or escape situations in which sexual abuse feels imminent.

In recent years, many sexual assault prevention campaigns have been created, often utilizing social media to share these life-saving tactics. One campaign that gained global traction online is “Ask For Angela,” which was launched in Lincolnshire, England by Hayley Child in 2016. The campaign is named in memory of Angela Crompton, a woman who was abused and killed by her husband in 2012 when an argument about redecorating spiraled out of control. Ask For Angela was created to help people escape uncomfortable and potentially threatening situations. By asking a bartender, waiter or employee of an establishment, “is Angela working tonight?” the employee will be alerted that the patron is uncomfortable and would like to be safely and discreetly escorted home. However, Ask For Angela is only effective if the establishment is aware of the phrase and has trained its staff to respond appropriately.

Not only did this campaign gain a lot of traction, but it even encouraged another code word system based on Ask For Angela. The spin-off exists in the United States where, rather than asking if Angela is working, a customer will ask for an “angel shot” when they feel unsafe. Additional setting-appropriate phrases exist to secretly and specifically identify what type of help the person needs. If the person wants the shot “neat,” they want to be escorted to their car; if they want the shot “on the rocks,” they want the establishment to call a taxi for them; and if they want the shot “with a lime,” they are requesting police assistance.

While #AskforAngela recently resurfaced on social media, it is just one of many sexual assault prevention tactics that exist. TikTok is more than an app to share Gen Z’s trendy short dances, comedy skits and shopping hauls—many people have posted videos that mimic real-time phone calls as a way to ward off threatening Uber drivers or escorts when played aloud. According to Uber’s safety report, out of 1.3 billion trips in 2018, over 3,000 sexual assaults and nine murders occured. These TikTok videos typically include a fictitious friend subtly stating that they have your live location, are tracking your ride and are awaiting your arrival, alerting the driver that whatever potential predatory plans they had in mind will not go uncaught. These videos are especially helpful and reassuring because they can be used at times when friends and family members cannot be reached.

Beyond campaigns like these, there are many social media accounts dedicated to sexual assault awareness and discussion. While there is no evidence to suggest that these social media campaigns are effective in deterring sexual violence, at the very least, these initiatives reassure men and women that they are not powerless in those situations. It is important that these posts continue to circulate on social media and inform people how to help others in danger, as well as how to get help when necessary.

TO GET INVOLVED

While it may seem hard to combat sexual assault as an ally, there are many ways to get involved. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network—an American non-profit that aims to raise awareness about sexual assault and provide resources and support for sexual assault survivors—is always looking for volunteers to help with it’s 24/7 live chat and hotline, as well as to lead fundraising efforts for research and support programs.

Similarly to RAINN, NO MORE works toward ending sexual violence by spreading awareness, selling products, accepting donations and spearheading various sexual assault prevenetion campaigns. To support NO MORE in their efforts to prevent sexual violence, take the pledge, buy their products and wear their merchandise to show allyship and raise awareness of their organization and cause.

Ending Rape on Campus is an organization that works to prevent sexual assault by providing educational resources in school environments. Help EROC by signing up for its “Action Alerts,” and stay informed about what petitions to sign, events to attend and protests to support.

To slow the spread of COVID-19, the government banned alcohol sales. Now, the country asks, “Was it worth it?”

A South African enjoying a glass of wine. World Bank Photo Collection. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

South Africans woke up before dawn to line up in front of liquor stores. Since March 27, alcohol sales had been prohibited to curb the spread of COVID-19, but on June 1, nine long weeks of sobriety ended. With the threat of another surge in cases—and another prohibition on booze—looming over the country, drinkers nationwide stocked up while they had the chance.

The ban was a forceful and unprecedented measure for a country that has suffered the most cases of COVID-19 in Africa. The long lines demonstrated the important role alcohol plays in South African culture and social life, as does the annoyed reaction of many citizens. In a crowded country with many shared living spaces in urban areas, the ban on alcohol has often been viewed as an extraneous measure that has endangered innumerable small businesses and infantilized the South African people.

Alcohol figures into the country’s history in a variety of ways. Under apartheid, Black South Africans were forbidden from buying or consuming alcohol, so its consumption became an act of rebellion against racial injustice. For mixed-race workers in rural areas, many were paid in liquor rather than money, leading to dependency on the substance for thousands. In other areas, traditional methods of brewing beer have long provided locals with their own source. Under the ban, South Africans of every background, race and class have had to cut their consumption down to zero.

A South African woman brewing umqombothi, a traditional beer. GioRetti. CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0

The logic behind the ban was simple: limit alcohol use and more hospital beds will remain open. Though most abstain from drinking altogether, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies the majority of those who use alcohol as binge drinkers. As a result, drinking-related incidents account for 40% of all of South Africa’s emergency hospital admissions. In addition, crime fell by 29% over the course of the ban, including rates for domestic abuse and sexual assault. It is estimated that because the ban allowed more space for COVID-19 patients, 515 lives were saved.

A similar logic was used to implement a ban on cigarettes. Citing research from the WHO, the government has claimed that the ban is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19. Cigarette smoke can carry the virus in air molecules for longer distances, and smoking itself weakens the lungs and makes the body more susceptible to severe symptoms. While the ban on cigarettes was lifted on Aug. 18, its implications continue through a vibrant black market.

Smokers found numerous ways to buy cigarettes under the table, leading many to question whether the ban actually curtailed the spread of COVID-19. Cigarette dealers interact with dozens of clients a day, creating the potential to hasten the spread of the virus.

The growth of the black market has been an unforeseen consequence of the alcohol and cigarette ban, but it will have lasting repercussions on South Africa’s economy. Illegal operators have gained a significant foothold by doing business with thousands of drinkers and smokers who previously had no interaction with South Africa’s criminal underworld. Reversing the growth of these criminal enterprises is predicted to take years.

Moreover, the South African revenue service lost out on a total of 12 billion rand, equal to $726 million, in taxes it would have collected had alcohol never been banned. This loss of revenue is all the more frustrating when the government has struggled to provide hospitals with the necessary supplies to handle COVID-19. On a smaller scale, too, the economy has been devastated. Innumerable businesses face financial ruin since restaurants derive roughly 60% of their profits from alcohol sales.

A street party on Long Street in Cape Town. Flowcomm. CC BY 2.0.

It is impossible to say whether the alcohol ban will ever be implemented again; this largely depends on whether South Africa experiences another surge of cases. When cases spiked a second time this summer, the ban was reimplemented from July 12 to Sept. 20. There is no guarantee that the ban will not be needed again.

If it does become necessary yet again, many have learned how to fulfill their desire for a drink without liquor stores. Homebrewing has enjoyed a resurgence because of the nationwide prohibition. City dwellers have begun experimenting with beers typically made only in rural areas. Online video guides for brewing pineapple beer and a traditional corn and sorghum beer known as “umqombothi” have garnered thousands of views. Try as the government might, South Africa’s thirst for alcohol will most likely prove insatiable.