Research
Taking Action Together (TAT): An annual, intersectional, peer-based sex education program
Authors:
Rebecca Schoon
Pacific University, US
About Rebecca
Public Health, Assistant Professor
Abstract
College students are at high risk for experiencing sexual violence. Living without parents, lack of understanding of consent, new relationships, high stress, and experimenting with drugs and alcohol are some factors that increase the risk of sexual violence among college students. Pacific University has existing prevention programs aimed to decrease the incidence of sexual violence, but existing workshops only target first year students and athletes. There is a gap for students who don’t fit in either category. Post-test surveys from these existing prevention programs shows that students favor peer-led workshops. Other sexual violence prevention programs report the benefits of peer-education and find that students need information repeated to them to retain new information. New research involving intersectionality in health education programs report higher student involvement within workshops and improve education around varying identities. Using an intersectional model, TAT aims to reduce the incidence of sexual violence among undergraduate Pacific University students through a multi-year, peer-based education program. Pacific University undergraduate students will be required to attend this program each school year to improve retention rates of the material. TAT will educate on topics of sexual violence prevention, healthy relationships, consent, root causes, bystander intervention, and available resources. As a result of this program, we foresee a 30% decrease in sexual violence incidence and a 40% increase in student’s self-efficacy by believing that they can successfully intervene in a potentially dangerous situation.
How to Cite:
Frick, M.C. and Schoon, R., 2020. Taking Action Together (TAT): An annual, intersectional, peer-based sex education program. International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, 12(2), pp.1–9. DOI: http://doi.org/10.7710/2168-0620.0302
Published on
03 Sep 2020.
Peer Reviewed
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