“ Authors use coded language when talking about slavery in our history. We do the same with sexual violence. We need to call shit what it is. Instead of calling it jerk-like behavior call it what it is- rapey behavior”
“ The # MeToo movement was started by a black American social activist named Tarana Burke for black and brown women and girls who are survivors. Most of the media focus has been on white women in the industry”
“ There is this image that the perpetrator is a monster, but it’ s Pop Pop, it’ s uncle, it’ s your brother... there’ s shades of grey and it’ s complicated”
“ We keep focusing on the perpetrator but there’ s so many bystanders around”
“ There needs to be healing places for perpetrators; if you throw them in jail, does that change the person? What happens when they get in a relationship?”
“ I talk to my daughter consistently about sex, her body, power, control, violence- I talk about it openly”
I didn’ t really know what to expect during my internship at FORCE this summer, but as I reflect on my experience, it could not have come at a more important time in my life. My internship at FORCE and the CIIP program has really allowed me to think more introspectively about myself as well as my friends, my family, and other people. Sexual assault, domestic violence, and rape culture pervade our society very deeply. The quotes that I have listed above were said by panelists at an event celebrating Afro-Latinx, Afro-Caribbean, and the African diaspora who are survivors of child sexual abuse. Upsetting rape culture is a tremendously difficult thing to do. There is no instant fix that is black and white. Nevertheless, that is the ultimate goal of FORCE. Upsetting rape culture is calling out people when they say or do rapey things. Upsetting rape culture is making the movement inclusive of black and brown people, children, the disabled, undocumented people, the LGBTQ community, the elderly, and the people who are forgotten and left out of the movement. Upsetting rape culture is recognizing that it can happen to you, your brother, your cousin. Upsetting rape culture is understanding that perpetrators are usually the people closest to you. Upsetting rape culture is comprehending that perpetrators need to be held accountable to their actions but also need to be healed, not isolated. Upsetting rape culture is making conversations around sex and boundaries at a young age a normality in all cultures. With that being said, I’ ve really enjoyed my internship at FORCE this summer and I hope that I can continue upsetting rape culture throughout my life.
Community Partner: FORCE Intern: Woudese Befikadu Site Supervisor: Hannah Brancato
What is FORCE? FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture creates art actions to upset the culture of rape and promote a culture of consent.
• Transcribed and coded the interviews of survivors of sexual assault
• Created a candidate questionnaire for the upcoming gubernatorial election questioning candidates’ platforms to end rape culture and domestic violence in the city
• Created fact sheets on the relationship between 1. immigration, ICE, and sexual / domestic violence and 2. black survivors of sexual / domestic violence and criminalization
• Used sewing techniques to sew quilts together and assisted with quilt workshops
• Completed a quilt for a person who is incarcerated and a survivor of sexual assault
25