Ash fan a cow of‘ we ovrstandine C3l’6l’\ll’)C7 Menu! V coat is Good! Your Community-()wncd Grocery Store 82 South \Vlrl()<)ski .~\x’cxurc, Burlington 8(i2-863-365‘) 0 ww t_\=marker.c(>op . sir Cards anr.l rzi;rrr(il}rcturcrs' coupons. Psychoanalysis Individuals & Couples 9 Center Court Northampton MA Pastoral Counseling Jungian orientation River Road, Putney VT 802-387-5547 Janet Langdon, Mdiv, i\lCPsyA_ jliesl@sover'.ne'r Conley ‘ Country FROM THE CONNECTICUT RIVER T0 'rm«: CANADIAN BORDER REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE 179 Main Street * Derby Vermont 05829 phone (802) 766-2401 * 800—.?.43-2401 fax 766-4731 * e~ma.ll~mick@reak=s1atevermontcom Log onto C5‘ JBLACKWOOD 3. DANON, PC --—-—-- attorneys 90 Main Street PO. Box 875 Burlington. VT 05402 802-863-2517 fax: 802-863-0262 inf I kw I w. r Providing legal services addressing issues important to LGBTIQA individuals and families ~ adoptions, wills, estate planning, employment and education issues. civil rights, personal injuries, and small business matters. SEXUAL VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH //////////////////////////////////// Joyful Se / xuality A Vermont Approach to Primary Sexual Violence Prevention ' oyful Sexuality marks J the beginning of a new perspective in the sexual violence prevention movement. Since 2001, Vermont’s Sexual Violence Prevention Task Force’s workgroup on Joyful Sexuality has focused its work on the concept of Joyful Sexual- ity as Sexual Violence Preven- tion. The mission of the Joyful Sexuality approach is to shift the cultural norm toward joyful and healthy sexuality by creat- ing opportunities for individuals and communities to explore, reclaim, and discover a deeper and more expansive understand- ing of how sexuality informs our humanity. Toward this mis- sion, Joyful Sexuality promotes a sense of joyful and healthy sexuality as a critical step to- ward ending sexual violence. The Joyful Sexuality Work- group began its work with the goal of deconstructing nega- tive violent understandings of ~ sexuality and exploring ways to reconstruct joyful, healthier ways of both teaching about sexuality and preventing sexual violence. The members of _ W group explored Joyful Sexuality through intentionally experienc- ing their senses. They began to regain a broad organic defini- tion of sexuality by listening to music and poetry, writing, cooking, eating, finger painting, and talking. Recognizing that the sense of joy and self and connectedness that is often held by children is at the core of joy- ful human sexuality, the group identified that prevention might most effectively focus on help- ing children retain that sense and helping adults reclaim it. Joyful Sexuality is a pri- mary prevention strategy that is flexible enough that it can be adapted for many audi- ences or the specific needs of a group. Primary prevention involves efforts to reduce the incidence of a problem among a population before it occurs. In terms of domestic violence and sexual assault, primary preven- tion strategies introduce new values, thinking processes, and relationship skills to particular population groups that are in- compatible with violence and promote healthy, non—violent relationships. In general, pre- vention programs are intended to clarify inappropriate atti- tudes and behaviors and provide ’ positive alternatives. The Joyful Sexuality approach embraces these components while foster- ing positive, holistic messages intended to influence broad -.7 change throughout the lifespan. The architects of Joyful Sexuality in Vermont offer this Vision: We envision a culture where adults will feel free to invite wonder back into their lives and teach their children the fullness of human sexuality; where connectedness and sen- sual delight move freely within individuals and throughout their lives; where adults and children are whole and sexually healthy. The Joyful Sexuality ap- proach to sexual violence prevention work is a natural extension of the work that we have been doing for years. For as long as we have been fighting sexual violence with definitions, disheartening statistics, and rape deterrence, we have intui- tively strived for ways to bring in the positive; to balance the scales so that people come away with a sense of empowerment as well as important informa- tlon. Joyful Sexuality accepts as true that people will be less likely to use sex or sexuality as a weapon against others in a world that respects one’s sexual- 1yJoyfu1 Sgxuflity hi- losophy, an approach, a dream, and an attitude. Joyful Sexu- ality reclaims one’s sense of sexuality from a culture that separates our sexual selves from the rest of our whole- ness (intellectual, spiritual, social, physical, expressive, and sexual). Like most pri- mary prevention efforts, the Joyful Sexuality philosophy encourages a shift in societal norms. Children, teens, and adults learn to appreciate their own ‘sexuality’ in all of its wholeness, and as connected to their wholeness as a person. Primary prevention programs seek to create a sea change in the existing culture. They take a long time. One of the benefits of the Joyful Sexuality approach is a more immediate reaping of benefits. The positive changes begin first with the prevention staff. In the short time that we've been doing Joyful Sexual- ity work in Vermont, we have begun to see changes among sexual violence prevention edu- cators. We have felt a sense of rejuvenation in sexual violence prevention work and a renewed ‘sense of purpose and positive direction. Greater changes will follow and prevention programs are taking their first steps to include Joyful Sexuality think- ing into their work with children, teens, adults, and survivors of sexual violence. These results will take longer to manifest, by the seeds of change are there. As one advocate put it, “It seen to be bubbling up all over the‘ state”. This is the beginning oi the sea change in Vermont. Within our own Vermont group, incorporating a Joyful I Sexuality approach has taken on different forms for each oil us working in separate, but i related, fields. We have work ,. to help children and teens re ‘l the negative influences of thgi, environment (sexist media, viti lence, peer pressure, etc.), and have supported positive internl growth and respectful relation; ships with their peers. We had shifted our focus of child sexui abuse prevention and educatiii for children and their parents E to encourage using correct larrl guage for all body parts, tal ,' regularly and naturally about ’ «sexuality, and building foundal tions that will allow childrentrz’ feel comfortable and confident in their bodies. Such healthy E communication can break me“ dangerous practices of silence‘; and secrecy so necessary to I sexual assault.‘ Children ask for help. Perpetrators iiill choose to stay clear of chil- P ‘ dren who CAN and DO t_alk openly about healthy sexuality to the adults in their lives. ' The tasks at hand for Sexual; Violence Prevention Advocates are challenging and exciting: ’ to support a shift toward in- corporating joyful and healthy ’ sexuality into sexual violence i prevention work; to support a shift toward cultural under- standings that allow children and youth to experience and 3 express their sexuality - rather than feel forced to consider it in a narrow and scary box; and to support adults in exploring, discovering and reclaiming I personal understandings of intimacy, sensuality, and sexual ity. We are delighted to offer the world Joyful Sexuality. V g .................................................................... .....,—?t Reprinted with permission from the introduction to the manual "Joyful Sexuality:A New Look at Sexual Wolend. Prevention," which was written by sexual violence prevention advocates-from ‘ Vermont, including represdlf tatives from nonprofit age" cies and UVM staff. _________________________________________ ___,_______j For more information, i 5 contact Amy Torchia at the 1 Vermont Network Against _' Domestic and Sexual \fiO- ‘- lence, amyt@vtnetwork.0f9 or call (802) 223-1302 x 21»