Take five minutes to think about all your past failed relationships. No, it wasn’t because there wasn’t enough love between both of you, or because you weren’t good enough for each other. Being in a relationship is always hard, but when sexual intimacy is involved, it sometimes gets overwhelming. In certain cases, you might be with a partner who is more sexually experienced than you, but this does not mean that you don’t have the right to refuse to do anything that you don’t want to. No, you are not a “bitch” or a terrible lover if you decide to set boundaries. In order for a relationship to work, you have to be able to be totally open with each other. The main reason behind relationship failure is a lack of communication or just no communication at all. When you and your partner have an intimate experience that made you feel uncomfortable, or that surpassed a specific limit, well there is no other way to say it: you were a victim of a sexual assault. If you need to talk to someone or find someone that can guide you through a rough patch, attend uOttawa’s CONSENT IS SEXY WEEK organized by the Women’s Resource Center from November 4th until November 8th, 2013.
What’s the Women’s Resource Centre (WRC)?
The WRC provides a space at the University of Ottawa that is non-judgmental, pro-choice and feminist and supports community members who want to work together to challenge gender oppression on campus and in our communities. It is a group of mostly women that lend their time to help women and men find resources for their personal life. They organize great events, interesting workshops and presentations during the entire school year about safe and non-violent sexual and reproductive health. The WRC wants to help promote strong relationships where communication is constantly present. Many of the volunteers or staff members focus their academic studies around women’s studies, but some simply have experience in organizing events and believe in social justice.
What is CONSENT IS SEXY WEEK?
CONSENT IS SEXY WEEK is an annual event that has been running for over four years. The WRC organizes this week of events in order to bring awareness to students about healthier and consensual relationships. Ms. Josée, one of their members, said that students between the ages of 18 and 25 are the ones really exposed to sexual assault for many reasons. The stereotypes don’t always hold true. You don’t always get assaulted when you’re walking home alone after returning from work or class. It might be a loved one that ends up hurting you. CONSENT IS SEXY week can also help you with communication in your friendships. As we all know, some friendships can be ruined because two people or a group of friends failed to communicate properly. The week will have many activities that are all FREE and held in a welcoming environment. Also, the events are organized to help students listen to their body and learn how not do things they might regret in the future. On Monday evening, the WRC is hosting a session on How to Flirt, which will provide you with the opportunity to practise your best pick-up lines! Learn all about Sex Positvity on Tuesday at a workshop titled “Confidence, Consent and Communication – How Sex Positivity Makes for Hotter Sex and Happier Relationships.” The week also features talks on more serious topics, such as Friday’s “That’s what friends are for”: How to support a loved one following sexual assault.
There aren’t supposed to be any ‘blurred lines” in a relationship. You’re supposed to be happy to scream, “YES”, to your partner without any hesitation. Even though the WRC was created for women, men are more than welcome to come to all of the events or join to become a volunteer in the Ally Program.
If you want to come to CONSENT IS SEXY WEEK, or learn more about the workshops being held, you can visit their Facebook page. Remember, no matter what you are going through in your life; know that you are not alone and that there is help for you at the Women’s Resource Centre!
To get intouch with the Women’s Resource Centre online:
TWEET: #CSW2013 #consentissexy #jaimecaconsensuellement @WRCCRF
Source:
Women’s Resource Centre
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