SAFE: breaking the silence

Contents

About SAFE

SAFE stands for Survivors and Allies For Education on Childhood Sexual Abuse and Incest. It is an activist group at Smith College that raises awareness of and acts on issues related to CSA and incest. Some of the things we have done in the past include workshops, information and resource sheets, film screenings, speakouts, and bringing the Clothesline Project to Smith during Sexual Abuse Awareness Week. General meetings are held on Wednesday nights at 9:30 in the Women's Resource Center (3rd floor of Davis). Although not a support group, SAFE is a very supportive group. Members can choose to commit to the group at whatever level they feel comfortable. We have group social events during the year which usually involve yummy food. SAFE is a gender-inclusive organization, and all meetings and events are always open to both survivors and allies so everyone is welcome.

What do we mean when we talk about childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and incest?

These are working definitions that may change as our own ideas change. CSA is the act of sexually engaging a child and can include inappropriate gesturing, staring, verbal interaction, or touching. Rape is also considered CSA if the survivor was under the age of 18 at the time. Incest is sexual relations occuring between family members of any age. It is not limited to blood relations and can include step-families and partners of family members. A survivor, as we use the term, is a person who has experienced childhood sexual abuse or incest. Identifying as a survivor is about self-perception and self-definition. An ally is a person who is not necessarily a survivor, but who is committed to stopping the cycle of abuse, and supporting survivors and offenders in their process of healing. An offender is someone who has sexually abused another person or persons. The term "offender" holds people responsible for their actions but allows for the possibility that they can work to change.

CSA and incest are more pervasive than commonly thought. In the United States, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men (based on biological sex) are sexually abused by the age of 18. To put this in perspective, these statistics would indicate that approximately 900 Smithies are survivors. Statistics for offenders and survivors reach across gender, race, class, religion, sexual orientation, etc. As a result of this reality, most people's lives have been touched in some way by CSA and incest whether they are aware of it or not. SAFE aims to make survivors feel supported by knowing that they are not alone and there is help available. By breaking the silence surrounding childhood sexual abuse and incest, we aim to open up all available structures and resources with in our communities in order to deal with and end such abuse. We hope to provide a forum for survivors and allies to positively channel their efforts to work against CSA.

For more information on childhood sexual abuse, click here.

Useful Information

Contact Information

E-mail address: safe@smith.edu

Web address: www.smith.edu/safe

Co-heads: Wanjiku (x5620), Elizabeth (x7011), Caroline (x7632)
 

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