Lost Prevention? Assessing Secondary and Tertiary Prevention Potential in Sexual Assault Awareness Month Events

Abstract

During Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), nonprofits place heavy value on delivering events, often with little evidence of their value to tertiary, secondary, and primary prevention. This multiple case design employed ethnographic methods to assess five SAAM events and the logic by which they contribute to prevention. Articulated through a pairing of communication and planned behavior theories, the findings indicated that events were mainly deployed in service of today's survivors, almost as an extension of intervention programming. Art exhibits, panel discussions, and group activities centered on survivor stories. The events’ functions were not to prevent future sexual assault or target perpetrator accountability but, instead, to increase awareness of survivor impact.

Keywords

sexual assault awareness month nonprofits awareness public health prevention sexual violence

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