A public education manager with the Sexual Support Centre for Waterloo Region says we live in a society in which sexual assault has become fairly common.
TK Pritchard told a Clinton audience at a recent information meeting on Sexual Assault and Health Relationships that their goal is to find out why.
Pritchard said they look at the underlying attitudes and beliefs that get us to what are seen as more harmful behaviours.
"That can include things like making jokes about sexual assault, grabbing people without asking, participating in sexist behaviours, or beliefs that girls are not good in math or science or girls can't participate in sports," he said.
Pritchard added rates of sexual assault over the past few years have been fairly consistent, but reporting rates have increased, more people are talking about sexual assault, and there's more education about it.
T.K. Pritchard - Public Education Manager, Sexual Support Centre for Waterloo Region (photo by Bob Montgomery)
"We have to talk about how can we prevent people from doing harm and how do we stop people from doing things that are sexist, are sexually violent, instead of saying this is how you should prevent your own harm," he said.
Pritchard said he is convinced that public dialogue will eventually bring about change to unwanted sexual behaviours.
