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Commentary
A few first steps against sexual violence
by Jim McDonoughThe prevention of sexual violence in Minnesota is one of my top priorities. As a Ramsey County commissioner I have many responsibilities, so perhaps you wonder whether I've had a personal experience that put sexual violence prevention at the top of my agenda. I'd have to answer yes -- but the details of that experience might surprise you. Essentially, I woke up.
Two years ago I attended a National Association of County Organizations conference in Washington D.C., where I heard a powerful presentation by Cordelia Anderson, a sexual violence prevention consultant from Minnesota. Her presentation brought to my attention the normalization of sexual violence and the losses Minnesotans suffer as a result. More importantly, I realized that sexual violence is preventable.
As a man, an elected official, a community member, a husband and a father, I woke up to a simple question: Why are so many of our citizens willing to perpetrate sexual violence on one another?
I learned that environment matters. We raise our children in a culture that commodifies and normalizes sexual exploitation and victimization. We routinely expose our young people to a confusing mix of sex and violence in entertainment, advertising, product design and media. We reinforce gender stereotypes that harm both men and women by promoting inequality. These are powerful factors that create social norms, and they are in our power to change.
Before the conference, sexual violence prevention was not in my vocabulary or on my agenda. Now I'm convinced that talking respectfully about sexuality in Minnesota needs to be as easy as talking about hockey.
I soon saw that all 22 Ramsey County departments have a role to play in sexual violence prevention. As president of the Association of Minnesota Counties, I've also urged the state's 87 counties to assess their roles. Hennepin, Wabasha, Olmsted and St. Louis counties have now adopted action plans for sexual violence prevention.
Sexual violence is not an epidemic -- it hasn't spiked; it is endemic -- steady. Once you see the environmental factors that feed the steady toll that sexual violence takes on our citizens, your only choice is how you will respond.
Minnesota is responding. The Minnesota Department of Health has developed a detailed sexual violence prevention plan that gives Minnesota leaders a role in changing the environment.
Another part of Minnesota's response is the first Minnesota summit on sexual violence prevention, scheduled for Dec. 3 and 4 in St. Paul. Invited leaders from industry, government, faith organizations, media, philanthropy and the nonprofit sector will share best practices and develop strategies for sexual violence prevention.
Sponsoring organizations include the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Minnesota Departments of Health, Education, Human Services, Corrections, and Public Safety, as well as the Mayo Clinic. The Minnesota Summit is the first in the nation and will precede a national summit to be held next year in Washington.
I'm proud of Minnesota. Our cities and counties are in the forefront of promoting a healthy environment that gives all Minnesotans the opportunity to live up to their full potential. Corporate leaders are creating safe and respectful work environments. All Minnesotans have a role in countering the normalization of sexual harm in our state.
There's a lot we can do. But for many of us, the first thing we have to do is wake up.
----
Jim McDonough is a Ramsey County commissioner.
Comments (14)
Thank you Mr. McDonough for your excellent commentary and for your support in working to end sexual violence in Minnesota. As the director of a sexual assault advocacy center in rural Minnesota I can attest to the fact that sexual abuse is a constant in our society, even in rural areas. Thank you for your courage in taking a stand against sexual violence.
Jim McDonough is a Champion of prevention. His work as a Ramsey County Commissioner is an excellent model for other counties throughout Minnesota. Recently, the MN Department of Health issued, The Promise of Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence: A Five-Year Plan To Prevent Sexual Violence and Exploitation in Minnesota (June 2009). This publication provides insight regarding how important the issue of sexual violence is to all Minnesotans. Unless we create a prevention strategy, we all will continue to pick up the pieces of shattered lives and dreams of our children, family and friends. The way we beat this problem is to deny its beginning. For example, being a bystander is no longer acceptable. We all need to share the responsibility for prevention and care for each other. Another way is to step-up and be a good role model, parent and protector so that violence using sex is no longer a part of our lives. I will join Jim McDonough and work to achieve the promise of primary prevention of sexual violence in Goodhue County. I hope you will join me. It is time.
As a rape survivor and as someone who answered my local rape crisis line for over 9 years, I want to thank Jim McDonough and everyone who is at the forefront of making primary prevention a reality.
Our community leaders need to be involved in this effort, but each of us can be part of the solution. I've choosen to volunteer in this specific area but other people can help right where they are by actively supporting positive, non-violent behavior and making it clear that there is never any excuse for exploiting anyone sexually and that sexual violence is never a trivial violation.
This means shifting the burden and the blame off of those who are most likely to be victims. We must give our greatest focus to reducing the number of people willing to perpetrate.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
I find it ironic and counterproductive to know that a frequently played song on The Current is A Kiss With a Fist (Is Better Than None) while mprnewsq features Jim McDonough's transformational commentary on fighting sexual violence. A Kiss With A Fist is just re-enforces our cultural norm of accepting violence (or threats of violence) in an intimate relationship. Would Bob Collins/Mary Lucia want to comment on this ironic juxaposition?
Best to all, Sheila Crowley
Thank you so much for bringing the issue of sexual violence to the forefront. I am the Director of a sexual violence program in norhtern Minnesota and can attest to the fact that it does occur...not only in large metro areas but everywhere. We need more people to take a stand against sexual violence and to speak out about it. Communities must come together and make the prevention of sexual violence a priority. It is important to remember to put the blame on the perpetrator and not on the victim. Sexual violence hurts us all...it can happen to anyone.
The primary prevention of sexual violence work being done in Minnesota is a wonderful model for the rest of the nation. Thank you Commissioner McDonough, Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, advocacy agencies, and Minnesota Department of Health, and others for the work you are doing!
Bravo! Thank you for taking such an active stance on the issues of violence using sex. By educating each other we all take part in cleaning up our "toxic waters" that we live in. I hope many others see your comments and realize that it's not too late to make a difference.
As the director of Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota (www.pcamn.org), I work on the prevention of all types of child abue and neglect. While they are all traumatic for children, sexual assault or exploitation is the hardest for me to imagine a child going through. It is critical that we work together as a state to do all we can to protect the potential victims of such crimes by prevention this terrible tragedy. Our kids deserve the very best, yet sexual abuse takes away the self esteem, spirit, and hope of so many. Together we can make the change.
Thank you Commissioner McDonough for addressing the issue of sexual violence in our community, and thank you MPR for giving him a platform to do so.
Raising awareness of sexual violence is the first step to finding an end. The harm it does to us all individually and as a community is undeniable. I feel fortunate to live in a state that recognizes this and is actively taking steps to make a change.
It's so good to hear that a person from the political world has a focus of prevention of sexual violence, instead of some stand on arenas or some other topic that doesn't look at the lives of familis in Ramsey County. Good for him! And good for MPR for publishing his commentary.
Commissioner McDonough exemplifies a man using his influence to support a climate that nurtures safe, healthy and equitable realtionships.He woke up to the fact that public policies and organizational practices determine the social norms of our communities that contribute to sexual and domestic violence and men have a unique opportunity and responsibiliity to shape those norms. Men need to step up and join women to stop this violence before it starts. Because when men stop sexual and domestic violence, sexual and domestic violence will end.
Chuck Derry, MN Men's Action Network: Alliance to Prevent Sexual and Domestic Violence.
Thank you Commissioner McDonough, Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, advocacy agencies, and Minnesota Department of Health, and others for the work you are doing to help end sexual violence in Minnesota.
We, at The Advocates for Human Rights (www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org) support you and join with you in raising awareness and advocating for changes in our laws to ensure that the victims of sexual violence, which is a grave violation of human rights, are protected. We also seek to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable and to prevent them from happening by holding our government accountable to its obligations under international, federal and state laws.
Thank you for your work!
I think this article was well written. We do all need to wake up and realize how big of a problem this is around the world, not just in the United States. It is true that sexual violence is accepted as a part of our culture. So many people only react to the problem of sexual violence and do not work on preventing it. I agree that we all need to stand up against it and show people that it is not acceptable behavior to our society and culture.
How wonderful to see so many men AND women stepping up to make a difference in preventing sexual violence and exploitation. It takes every one of us to speak up and to insist that our communities designate meaningful resources into prevention. Our kids deserve to grow up in a world free from sexual harm.
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