Being Accused of Consent Violation: How to Respond & Repair
How do you respond when someone tells you that you’ve caused harm, or you realize you’ve crossed their boundary?
#WLC Toolbox Series: Supporting Sexual Violence Survivors
Rachel Clark2021-05-03T12:04:39-07:00As much as we wish it weren’t true, sexual violence IS a problem in nightlife, EDM, music, and festival community. Based on your responses to our recent Instagram story poll, 60% of you have experienced sexual harassment or assault in festival or nightlife settings and 74% of you have witnessed someone being sexual harassed, touched without consent, or dosed. This means that if you are not a survivor of sexual violence yourself, you likely know someone who is. If we believe in consent culture and are connected to our sense of compassion and empathy, we should want to support...
#WeLoveConsent: Do Year Resolutions
Rachel Clark2021-02-10T20:00:48-08:00Happy Do Year from #WeLoveConsent Have you ever flirted with someone who wasn’t sober? Has someone borrowed your things without asking? Have you had a sexual encounter with someone who was way older or younger than you? Received an uncomfortable and unwanted hug from a stranger - or a relative? Been the person who gave that hug, and felt uncertain afterwards about whether it was well-received? These scenarios are all examples of the areas where consent isn’t as simple as just a “yes” or a “no.” Most people have heard the word “consent,” and most people think that they really...
Welcome to the Team: Sloane Ferenchak
Rachel Clark2020-12-01T09:45:38-08:00As part of our #WeLoveConsent program, DanceSafe is welcoming Sloane Ferenchak as a resident expert contractor! Sloane has provided services to DanceSafe as an intern for the #WeLoveConsent program since 2018, creating educational materials, designing the soon-to-be released Bystander Intervention Training Program, assisting in the planning of outreach events, and writing #WLC toolbox series blog posts. Sloane has also been a panel member on the intersections of consent, sex, and substance use at international drug war conferences on #WLC’s behalf. Sloane has volunteered with DanceSafe since early 2018. Sloane first became involved in harm reduction at Boston University when she joined...
Consent is Hot, Assault is Not: Always Ask First!
Madalyn McElwain2021-05-18T07:37:23-07:00Although DanceSafe is mostly known for harm reduction related to recreational drug use, we are also an organization that believes in the importance of affirmative, informed consent. Affirmative and informed consent is a knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity. Consent can be given by words and/or actions, as long as those words and/or actions create clear permission regarding willingness to engage in the sexual activity. Silence or lack of resistance does not affirm consent. The definition of consent does not vary based upon a participant’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender...
