Every April, the teal ribbons come out. You’ve seen them on lapels, in Instagram squares, and on campus banners. It’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, or SAAM as the advocates call it. Most people think they get the gist. We know it’s about consent. We know it’s about safety. But honestly? We are still struggling with the messy, uncomfortable reality of what sexual violence looks like in the 2020s. It isn’t always a stranger in a dark alley. In fact, it rarely is.
Violence is quiet. It's often domestic. It happens between people who share a Netflix password or a bed.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) has been steering this ship for decades. They started the official campaign in 2001, but the roots go back to the "Take Back the Night" marches of the 1970s. Those early activists were angry. They were tired of being afraid to walk home. Today, the focus has shifted from just "surviving" to "preventing," which is a much taller order.
The Problem With "Awareness"
Awareness is a tricky word. You can be aware that a problem exists without having any idea how to fix it. We know sexual assault happens. The CDC tells us that about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 26 men will experience completed or attempted rape in their lifetime. Those numbers are staggering. They're also likely underestimates because of how much goes unreported.
But what does Sexual Assault Awareness Month actually do?
If it’s just a month of hashtags, it’s failing. To really move the needle, we have to look at the "continuum of harm." This is a concept experts like Dr. Gail Dines have discussed for years. It’s the idea that high-level violence doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It starts with "smaller" things—sexist jokes, street harassment, non-consensual image sharing. When we ignore the bottom of the pyramid, the top stays heavy.
Digital Consent is the New Frontier
Everything is online now. Your dating life, your work, your photos. Because of this, SAAM in 2026 has to deal with things our parents never imagined.
- Deepfake pornography: This is a massive, growing threat. Using AI to put someone’s face on a body without their consent is a form of sexual violence.
- Location tracking: AirTags and "Find My" apps are being used by abusers to monitor movements.
- Digital Coercion: Pressuring someone for "nudes" isn't just "dating culture"—it's a violation of boundaries.
Honestly, we’re playing catch-up. The law is slow. Technology is fast. Organizations like the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative are working to pass laws against non-consensual intimate image sharing, but the burden often falls on the victim to prove they’ve been harmed.
Why the "Perfect Victim" Myth Persists
We love a clear-cut story. If a victim fought back, stayed sober, and immediately called the police, we believe them. But human beings are messy.
Neurobiology tells us that during an assault, the brain often enters a "tonic immobility" state. Basically, you freeze. It’s an involuntary survival mechanism. When a survivor says, "I didn’t scream," or "I didn't run," people doubt them. But their brain was actually protecting them. Dr. Rebecca Campbell, a psychology professor at Michigan State University, has done incredible work explaining the "neurobiology of trauma." She explains that trauma affects how memories are stored. They aren't linear. They’re fragmented—a smell, a sound, a feeling of coldness.
When investigators or the public expect a perfectly chronological story, they’re setting survivors up to fail.
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Men and SAAM: The Missing Piece
For a long time, Sexual Assault Awareness Month felt like a "women’s issue." That’s a mistake.
Men are survivors too. They also face a unique kind of stigma—the "men can't be raped" myth. This is fueled by toxic ideas about masculinity that suggest men should always want sex or should be able to physically overpower any threat. Groups like 1in6 focus specifically on male survivors, providing resources for men who often suffer in total silence for decades.
But men aren't just survivors; they are the primary partners in prevention. Most men don't commit sexual violence. But many men are present when "locker room talk" happens or when a friend is pushing boundaries with someone at a bar. Being an "active bystander" is the most practical way to celebrate SAAM. It means saying, "Hey man, she looks like she’s had too much to drink, let's get her a water," or "That joke isn't funny." It’s awkward. It’s uncomfortable. It’s also how things change.
The Role of Alcohol and the "Grey Area"
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Alcohol is involved in at least 50% of sexual assaults.
This is where the conversation gets heated. Some people think bringing up alcohol is "victim-blaming." Others think it’s the only thing that matters. The truth is nuanced. Alcohol is a tool used by perpetrators to incapacitate victims. It’s also a cultural lubricant that makes it easy for people to ignore red flags.
In many cases, the perpetrator is also intoxicated. Does that excuse it? No. Under the law, an intoxicated person cannot give consent. Period. If you are too drunk to drive a car, you are too drunk to agree to a life-altering physical encounter. We need to stop teaching people "don't get drunk" and start teaching people "don't have sex with someone who is drunk." It’s a subtle shift in phrasing, but it changes who is responsible for the outcome.
Support Systems That Actually Work
If someone tells you they’ve been assaulted, your first five words are the most important.
"I believe you. Thank you for telling me."
That’s it. Don't ask why they waited. Don't ask what they were wearing. Don't ask if they're sure. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) operates a 24/7 hotline (800-656-HOPE) that is a lifeline for people in crisis. They provide confidential support because, frankly, the legal system is often a second trauma.
Taking Action Beyond the Teal Ribbon
So, April is ending soon, or maybe it’s just starting. What now?
Awareness is the floor, not the ceiling. If you want to actually participate in Sexual Assault Awareness Month, you have to do the work.
- Audit your own boundaries. Do you ask for consent in small things? "Can I hug you?" "Can I share this photo of you?" Consent is a muscle. Practice it.
- Support local shelters. Large national orgs are great, but your local rape crisis center is likely underfunded and overwhelmed. They need blankets, gift cards, and cash.
- Educate yourself on "Affirmative Consent." It’s not just the absence of a "no." It’s the presence of a "yes." It’s enthusiastic, informed, and retractable at any time.
- Hold your circles accountable. If you hear someone bragging about "getting lucky" with someone who was passed out, call it out. Silence is a choice.
- Check your workplace policy. Does your company have a clear, safe way to report harassment? If not, ask HR why.
Sexual violence thrives in the dark and in the "almost." It lives in the spaces where we are too polite to speak up or too embarrassed to admit we were hurt. SAAM is about dragging those conversations into the light. It’s about realizing that "awareness" isn't a feeling—it’s a set of actions we take every single day to make sure the people around us are safe, respected, and heard.
Start by listening. Really listening. You might be surprised at what people have been waiting to tell you.
Immediate Resources:
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- NSVRC Official Website for SAAM campaign materials and toolkits.