1. Understanding ‘NO’: Coercion vs. Consent
Jean Nidetch Women’s Center
PAAVE Presentation 2011

2.  Workshops and presentations
 Events on campus
(Vagina Monologues, Denim Day,)
 Advocacy for violence prevention
 Academic involvement
 Four on staff, certified victim
advocates

3. Peers Advocating Anti-Violence Education
 Formerly
known as SAFE
Team,
began in 2002
 Complete 18-
hour training
on domestic
violence,
sexual assault,
and stalking

4. Statistics
 Sexual Assault
 Consent
 Coercion
 Submission
 Communication

5.  Nevada remains #1 in the nation for Domestic
Violence Homicides
 Nevada remains #4 in the nation for sexual
assault
 UNLV had one forcible rape reported in 2009,
but the largest demographic reporting to the
Rape Crisis Center is between the ages of
17-25

6.  The F.B.I. estimates that one in three
women and one in seven men in this
country will be sexually assaulted in her
lifetime.
 In the majority of rape cases, 84%, the
perpetrator is someone the victim knows- a
partner, spouse, classmate, date, co-
worker, neighbor, or family member.

7.  Nevada Revised Statutes: Sexual Assault
“A person who subjects another person to sexual
penetration, or who forces another person to
make a sexual penetration on himself or another,
against the victim’s will or under conditions in
which the perpetrator knows or should know that
the victim is mentally or physically incapable of
resisting or understanding the nature of his
conduct, is guilty of sexual assault”

8.  Sexual assault is a broader category that the
Justice Department uses to classify rape,
attempted rape and other violent felonies that
fall short of rape.
 Coercion/Seduction/Statutory
 Molestation
 Harassment
 Stalking
 Interpersonal Violence

9. What is consent?
Mentally Unable?
Physically Unable?
Explicit and Implicit Consent
Components of Consent
Both parties are fully conscious.
Both parties have equal ability to act.
Both parties are positive and sincere in their desires.
Both parties have clearly communicated their intent.

10.  Unaware consent is necessary
 Fear of Rejection
 Ruining the Moment
 May hear partner is a survivor
 May not know how

11.  Hypothetical situations…
“What if we…”
“How would you feel if we…”
“What do you think about…”
“Do you want to know how I feel about…”
 I statements…
“I was thinking it would be fun if we…”
“I want to make sure we’re both thinking the same
thing…
 Coercion is NOT consent: yes means yes!

12. Both parties are fully conscious.
Both parties have equal ability to act.
Both parties are positive and sincere in their desires.
Both parties have clearly communicated their intent.

13.  The Role of Alcohol
Alcohol is the most common drug used to
facilitate sexual assaults- particularly among
college students. As opposed to other drugs
(such as GHB and Rohypnol) that are often given
to victims without their knowledge, alcohol is
often consumed consensually.
Perpetrators often take advantage of victims
who are already intoxicated, or purposefully get a
target drunk in order to facilitate a sexual
assault.

14. Victim is too drunk to consent for 1 of 3
reasons:
 Surreptitious administration by assailant
 Mixing of prescription or over the counter
drugs with alcohol or recreational drugs
 Recreational use by victim

15.  97,000 college students between the ages of 18
and 24 are the victim of alcohol related sexual
assaults each year.
(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: A Snapshot of Annual High-
Risk College Drinking Consequences. )
 Victims of drug-facilitated or incapacitated rape
were less likely than victims of forcible rape to
report to authorities.
(Kilpatrick, Dean, PhD, et al, Drug-facilitated, Incapacitated and Forcible Rape: A
National Study (2007))

16.  Alcohol alone
 Alcohol mixed with drugs surreptitiously
administered by assailant
 Alcohol mixed with prescription, over the
counter drugs
 Alcohol mixed with recreational drugs
* synergistic effect of combining drugs

17. Synergistic Effect
 The interaction of two or more substances or
other agents to produce a combined effect
that is greater than the sum of their separate
effects

18. Did victim:
 Vomit?
 Urinate?
 Defecate?
Could victim:
 Walk?
 Talk?
 Did victim have to be helped with physical tasks?
Did defendant:
 Carry victim?
 Follow victim?

19. Ethanol And Blackouts
 Blackout: Periods of memory loss for events that transpired
while a person was drinking
 (no loss of consciousness- not passed out)
 Ethanol induced memory impairment includes disruption to
the hippocampus which plays a central role in formation of
new memory.
Ethanol And Passouts
 Alcohol-induced unconsciousness
 Not asleep, but sedated-due to CNS depressant effect
 Resembles sedated state associated with surgery
 Can last for hours
 Groggy-sedated feeling can linger for 24 hours

20.  Many different forms of violence in a
relationship
◦ Often are dismissed as “isolated” or “random” acts
of anger
◦ Media images contribute to a social complicity of
violence and often portrays signs of violence in
relationships as signals of “passion” or “lust”
◦ Signs of abuse overlap and escalate

21.  Has the abuser…
◦ Called you stupid or insulted your intelligence?
◦ Criticized your appearance?
◦ Told you that you could never leave him/her?
◦ Told you that you could be easily replaced?
◦ Said that no one else would want you?

22.  Has the abuser…
◦ Ridiculed or insulted your gender as a group?
◦ Ridiculed your beliefs, morals, race, religion or
heritage?
◦ Humiliated you in public OR private?
◦ Insulted or driven away your friends or family?
◦ Manipulated you with lies or contradictions?
◦ Threatened to hurt themselves if you left?

23.  Has the abuser…
◦ Held or restrained you to keep you from leaving?
◦ Slapped or pushed you?
◦ Locked you out of the house?
◦ Refused to help you when you were sick, injured or
pregnant?
◦ Forced or aggressively pressured you to consume
alcohol or drugs?

24.  Has the abuser…
◦ Forced you to strip when you didn’t want to?
◦ Been jealous or angry, assuming you have had sex
with someone else?
◦ Criticized you sexually?
◦ Forced you into unwanted sex?
◦ Withheld sex and affection?
◦ Insisted on uncomfortable or unwanted touching?

25.  Has the abuser…
◦ Taken credit cards/checks/money away as a form
of punishment?
◦ Forced you to hand over money or your
paychecks?
◦ Refused to tell you about bills?
◦ Are they the only one “allowed” to work?
◦ Taken your name off crucial documents
(insurance, leases) to prevent your access to
them?
◦ Drained your bank account?

27.  Lesbian and gay relationships
 Transgender students, students questioning
their gender identity
 Men, often by other men
 Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault or
domestic violence. If you or someone you
know is involved with interpersonal violence
know that there are resources to help you.
Be aware & sensitive of language!
Words matter.

28.  Can be short or long term
◦ Cutting/ self-mutilation
◦ Eating disorders
◦ Depression
◦ Alcohol and substance abuse
◦ Re-entrance into a violent relationship
◦ Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
◦ Academic Career

29.  Go to a safe place
 Seek medical attention immediately. University Medical
Center (UMC) is the only hospital that will do a rape kit.
You may be injured more seriously than you realize.
Medical evidence will be needed, if you decide to press
charges.
 Call University Police (895-3668) or CALL 911. Reporting is
not the same as pressing charges.
 Call the Counseling and Psychological Services (895-3627).
 Do not blame yourself-you are the victim of a crime.
 Do NOT bathe, shower, douche, or change clothes until you
have talked with the police or nurse. However, if you have
already done these things, please do not let his stop you
from seeking medical care. If you’ve changed clothes ,
place the clothes you were wearing in a paper bag and
them to the hospital with you.
 Remember you may have an advocate to help every step
of the way

30.  Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault or
domestic violence. If you or someone you
know is involved with interpersonal violence
know that there are confidential resources to
help you.
 Rape Crisis Center
◦ 702-366-1640
 More information available at:
◦ The Jean Nidetch Women’s Center, UNLV
702.895.4475 SSC-A-rm255