v-. A N Cc O U V E R RAPE RELIEF Throughout the evening he has told her how much she would “enjoy” sex with him, ignoring her response that she is not interested. He keeps pressuring her for sex and she eventually relents because of his insistence and pressure to comply Dropping her off at home after the party, he follows her into her apartment and forces sex with her. He is larger and stronger than she is and there is no one around to help her get him away from her. She is afraid to protest because he could beat her up. Both scenarios are date rape. By forcing sex with a woman, a man is taking away her control of her body and her right to choose when and with whom she has sex. All women are vulnerable to rape by the men they date. Men must respect a woman’s right to choose what she will do with her body and to listen to her when she indicates that she does not want sex. When a woman says “no” to sex and a man procedes further it is rape. Therefore men must make sure that they clearly have a woman’s consent before initiating sex. Men also must not tolerate sexist statements, attitudes and/or violence against women from themselves and other men. They must change each others thoughts and behav- iours about women. Men can and must prevent rape. There is no sure way for a woman to prevent rape on a date but there are things she can do to decrease the likelihood of attack. If a man knows that her women friends know where she is and who she is with, he knows he will be less likely to get away with violent behaviour. If a man knows you are a member of a woman's group, he will know that you have lots of women as allies who will not let him get away with violent behaviour towards women. However, if you or anyone you know is raped or sexually assaulted it is a good idea to take care of your physical health first. In Vancouver, Shaughnessey Hospi- tal has female doctors trained to take care of women after a sexual assault. It is important to see a doctor to get a Morning After Pill (M.A.T.) to prevent preg- nancy, take tests for sexually transmitted diseases and have a medical exam to ensure that physical injuries are taken care of. You can call Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter at any time of the day or night to get someone to go with you to the hospital or you can go with a friend so that you are not left alone in the emergency room to deal with doctors, your physical discomfort and your emotions after a rape. After your medical exam you can think about what you want to do next, whether you want to use the police to press charges or find other ways to tell other women who know him what he did to you. These choices are yours. Women at the University of Guelph and the University of McGill wrote the names of men who raped them on the washroom walls to warn other women not to go out with these men. Women on other campuses have confronted men in their classes or at their jobs so that lots of people know what they did. Talk to other women who have been attacked by men so that you are less isolated and get empathy from them. You are not alone because so many other women have been raped, assaulted or made afraid by men. You are welcome to call Vancouver Rape Relief and Wom- en’s Shelter at 872-8212 for more ideas, to talk to other women, to join a support group and to work with other women to fight violence against women. Submitted by Julie Linkletter Vancouver Rape Relief & Women’s Shelter Take Back the Night 1992 by Bonnie Agnew There was an unprecedented outpouring of women’s anger, unity and revolt in the downtown streets of Vancouver the night of Friday, Sept. 18, 1992. 1,400 women, called together by Vancouver Rape Relief and Women Shelter, agreed to take over the streets without having asked city hall or the police depart- ment for a permit to do so or even to voice an opinion on the matter. Lower Mainland women came to TAKE BACK THE NIGHT ’92 in double last year’s numbers. Women were thrilled for the opportunity to be civilly disobe- dient and take direct action as never before in such numbers in Vancouver. Their enthusiasm has recently been fuelled by the outrageous anti-woman remarks of local Judges McEachern and Paradis who don’t know attempted murder when they see it; by Joe Pesic hiring two men to gun down his ex-wife in the street and letting his mother take the wrap for it. It’s been fuelled by all levels of govern- ments feigning concern for violence against women. At the same time they are working to divide the organized women’s movement and doing serious damage to rape crisis centres transition houses, women’s centres that have been the most successful tactic and strategy to protect women. Lower Mainland women came in double last year’s numbers. Women were thrilled to be more unified across the nations than ever before. Women weere proud to hear and be with local women who have been national leadership in the women’s liberation movement all year. Proud of one of our own members and other B.C. women who have made significant contribution to improve the status of women in Canada and reduce violence against women. Shirley Masuda from the Disabled Women’s Network, Lee Lakeman, B.C. Regional Rep. of C.A.S.A.C., Sunera Thobani, South Asian Women’s Action Network, Florence Hackett, Indian Homemakers of B.C., spoke to us, walked with us. Zara Solomon of Vancouver's Women Against Violence Against Women was invited and accepted to be with us in solidarity. Judy Rebick, President of N.A.C., came from Toronto to walk with us for herself and to support grass-roots organizing and street action against violence against women. Singers, Linedancers, bagpipers, drummers were with us. Feminist singers, with lyrics from “Fight Back” to “O Canada, your home’s on Native land,” contributed to the solidarity of our unity celebration and our determination. VA N Cc oO U Vv E R RAPE RELIEF ‘Throughout the evening he has told her how much she would “enjoy” sex with him, ignoring her response that she is not interested. He keeps pressuring her for sex and she eventually relents because of his insistence and pressure to comply Dropping her off at home after the party, he follows her into her apartment and forces sex with her. He is larger and stronger than she is and there is no one around to help her get him away from her. She is afraid to protest because he could beat her up. Both scenarios are date rape. By forcing sex with a woman, a man is taking away her control of her body and her right to choose when and with whom she has sex. All women are vulnerable to rape by the men they date. ‘Men must respect a woman's right to choose what she will do with her body and to listen to her when she indicates that she does not want sex. When a woman says “no” to sex and a man procedes further itis rape. Therefore men must make sure that they clearly have a woman’s consent before initiating sex. Men also must not tolerate sexist statements, attitudes and/or violence against women from themselves and other men. They must change each others thoughts and behav- fours about women. Men can and must prevent rape. ‘There is no sure way for a woman to prevent rape on a date but there are things she can do to decrease the likelihood of attack. Ifa man knows that her ‘women friends know where she is and who she is with, he knows he will be less likely co get away with violent behaviour. Ifa man knows you are a member of a ‘woman's group, he will know that you have lots of women as allies who will not let him get away with violent behaviour towards women. However, ifyou or anyone you know is raped or sexually assaulted itis a good idea to take care of your physical heath first. In Vancouver, Shaughnessey Hospi- tal has female doctors trained to take care of women after a sexual assault. Ie is important to see a doctor to get a Morning After Pill (M.A‘T.) to prevent preg- nancy, take tests for sexually transmitted diseases and have a medical exam to ‘ensure that physical injuries are taken care of. You can call Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter at any time of the day or night to get someone to go with you to the hospital or you can go with a friend so that you are not left alone in the ‘emergency room to deal with doctors, your physical discomfort and your emotions aftera rape. After your medical exam you can think about what you want to do next, whether you want to use the police to press charges or find other ways to tell other ‘women who know him what he did to you. These choices are yours. Women at the University of Guelph and the University of McGill wrote the names of men who raped them on the washroom walls to warn other women not to go out with these men. Women on other campuses have confronted men in their classes or at their jobs so that lots of people know what they did. Talk to other women who have been attacked by men so that you are less isolated and get empathy from them. You are not alone because so many other women have been raped, assaulted or made afraid by men. You are welcome to call Vancouver Rape Relief and Wom- en's Shelter at 872-8212 for more ideas, to talk to other women, to join a support group and co work with other women to fight violence against women. Submitted by Julie Linkletter Vancouver Rape Relief &- Women's Shelter Take Back the Night 1992 by Bonnie Agnew ‘There was an unprecedented outpouring of women’s anger, unity and revolt in the downtown streets of Vancouver the night of Friday, Sept. 18, 1992. 1,400 women, called together by Vancouver Rape Relief and Women Shelter, agreed to take over the streets without having asked city hall or the police depart- ment for a permic to do so or even to voice an opinion on the matter. Lower Mainland women came to TAKE BACK THE NIGHT '92 in double fase year’s numbers. Women were thrilled for the opportunity to be civilly disobe- dient and take direct action as never before in such numbers in Vancouver. Their enthusiasm has recently been fuelled by the outrageous anti-woman remarks of local Judges McEachern and Paradis who don’t know attempted murder when they see it; by Joe Pesic hiring two men to gun down his ex-wife in the street and letting his mother take the wrap for it. It's been fuelled by all levels of govern- ‘ments feigning concern for violence against women. At the same time they are ‘working to divide the organized women’s movement and doing serious damage to rape etisis centres transition houses, women’s centres that have been the most successful tactic and strategy to protect women. Lower Mainland women came in double lst year’s numbers. Women were thrilled to be more unified acrass the nations than ever before. Women weere proud to hear and be with local women who have been national leadership in the ‘women’s liberation movement all year. Proud of one of our own members and ‘other B.C. women who have made significant contribution to improve the status ‘of women in Canada and reduce violence against women, Shitley Masuda from the Disabled Women’s Network, Lee Lakeman, B.C. Regional Rep. of C.A.S.A.C., Sunera Thobani, South Asian Women's Action Network, Florence Hackett, Indian Homemakers of B.C., spoke to us, walked with us. Zara Solomon of Vancouver's Women Against Violence Against Women ‘was invited and accepted to be with us in solidarity. Judy Rebick, President of N.A.C,, came from Toronto to walk with us for herself and to support grass-roots organizing and street action against violence against women. Singers, Linedancers, bagpipers, drummers were with us. Feminist singers, with lyrics from “Fight Back” to “O Canada, your home’s on Native land,” contributed to the solidarity of our unity celebration and our determination.