April: Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)

April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

About Sexual Assault + Prevention

• Sexual assault is a serious and widespread problem*:
  • "Research on campus sexual assault describes 20% to 30% female (Cantor et al., 2017; Krebs et al., 2016; Lawyer, Resnick, Bakanic, Burkett, & Kilpatrick, 2010), 6.3% to 20% male (Cantor et al., 2017; Tewksbury, 2007), and 29.5% trans and gender nonconforming students (Cantor et al., 2017) have experienced sexual assault during college.  In addition, 28.5% of women experience attempted or completed sexual assault before or after entering college (Krebs, Lindquist, Warner, Fisher, & Martin, 2007) and 18.3% and 44.6% of women respectively experienced rape and other forms of sexual assault in their lifetime (Black et al., 2011).
  • Compared to White peers, racially minoritized populations also experience qualtitatively different experiences when compared to white peers (Black et al., 2011; Gross, Winslett, Roberts, & Gohm, 2006) because of experiences of sexual trauma intersecting with “societal trauma” (Bryant-Davis, Chung, & Tillman, 2009, p. 331) such as racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, and other forms of systemic oppression.
  • Despite these high rates of sexual victimization, studies have consistently demonstrated that sexual assault is extremely underreported (Fisher et al., 2003; Gardella et al., 2015; Lindquist, Crosby, Barrick, Krebs, & Settles-Reaves, 2016; Sabina & Ho, 2014; Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000, 2006)".

*Quote Source: Poon Ghaffari, G., 2020. Disclosure patterns of unwanted sexual contact among white and racially minoritized undergraduate students [Unpublished manuscript]. Department of Higher Education, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California

• However, prevention is possible and it’s happening in our community. We continue to combat the risk of sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse through conversations, programs, policies, and research-based tools that promote safety, respect, and equality.
• Want more info? Check out the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's SAAM resources and fact sheets, including “Your Consent Guide” and “We Can Stop Sexual Assault, Harassment, and Abuse Before They Happen.”

SAAM 2026 

• This year, is the 25th Year of SAAM. The national theme this year is "25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward"
  • Stanford is proud to be a part of the 25 year legacy, raising awareness around Sexual Violence. Check out the Stanford Daily Archives, discussing the first Take Back the Night on campus!
• The SHARE Office is committed to empowering our community to be part of solution by organizing, education and advocating for survivor support.
• Here is our calendar of events for SAAM 2026 (Come back April 1st to register and for further details!)
  • SAAM Day of Action - April 9th - 3:00PM - 4:30PM
  • Queer Yoga for Grad Students - April 14th, 5:00PM - 6:00PM
  • Tech & Gender Based Violence Prevention Webinar - April 16th, 12:00PM - 1:30PM
  • Take Back the Night - April 21st - 7:00PM - 9:00PM
  • Denim Day Resource Fair - April 29th - 11:30AM - 1:30PM

• History of the movement

PAST CAMPAIGNS

"My body is..." Campaign

"Consent is..." Campaign

Past Newsletters

April 1, 2022 - April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April 4, 2022 - SAAM at Stanford (feat. activist Lydia X.Z. Brown)

April 11, 2022 - Upcoming Events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (feat. activist Sarah Kim)

April 18, 2022 - SAAM: Take Back the Night

April 25, 2022 - SAAM: Denim Day (feat. activist Mia Mingus)

May 4, 2022 - SAAM Recap