Flipping the script to recognize and stop sexual violence against young women

In Canada, one in seven women experiences sexual assault at least once during their postsecondary studies. This public health issue can have long-lasting effects on students' well-being, health, and academic development. Yet, by the early 2000s, most sexual assault prevention programs were deemed ineffective. "This was a big wake up call for researchers," says Dr. Charlene Senn, a psychology professor at the University of Windsor.

To address this gap, Dr. Senn developed the Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act program (EAAA)—known as Flip the script with EAAA®. This sexual assault prevention program is grounded in research that proposed empowering women to recognize the risk of sexual violence in encounters with a male acquaintance, friend, or family member. "We are socialized from an early age to fear strangers, and yet the primary risk of sexual assault lies in situations with men we know, trust, or love," explains Dr. Senn who put theory into practical examples to enable women to assess and acknowledge these risks faster and act to defend themselves if necessary.

Then Dr. Senn realized a crucial component was missing: "We talk a lot about sexual experiences as a script in which a man desires and initiates the experience while the woman passively responds, but where is our concern about what women desire?" By shifting the focus to women's sexuality, Dr. Senn developed a revolutionary program.

A randomized controlled trial with nearly 900 university students who self-identified as women showed that Flip the script with EAAA^® decreased sexual assaults by 50% and had other positive effects for both survivors and those who never experienced sexual violence, including better risk perception and increased confidence in self-defence. Even amongst students who later experienced sexual violence, the program reduced self-blame.

An implementation study involving over 500 self-identifying female students from five Canadian universities confirmed its effectiveness in real world conditions. Flip the script with EAAA^® reduced sexual assault by 42% and provided other benefits that helped prevent acquaintance sexual violence.

Dr. Senn's science-based program has been implemented in more than 30 colleges and universities in Canada and six other countries. Dr. Senn and colleagues have also adapted it for teenage girls, Francophone university students, and trans students: "Flip the script with EAAA^® and its variations would not have been possible without CIHR funding across nearly two decades," she says.

At the University of Windsor alone, 327 students have completed Flip the script with EAAA^®, and some found its focus on sexual education eye-opening. "A better understanding of your own sexual desire plays a major protective role in resisting sexual violence," says Dusty Johnstone, director of the University's Office Sexual Violence, Prevention, Resistance & Support Office.

Community organizations like the North Shore Women Centre in British Columbia are also using the program to prevent sexual violence. The centre has delivered 15 Flip the script with EAAA^® workshops and is now piloting the fully adapted version for teens. "Both versions have given teens a safe space to discuss the topic of sexual violence and the skills to defend themselves," explains Oreofeoluwa Adeyonu, lead researcher at the centre.

By flipping the script on traditional sexual assault prevention programs, Dr. Senn is empowering young women and girls with the knowledge and tools needed to anticipate, prevent, and resist acquaintance sexual violence.

At a glance

Issue

Sexual assault is a serious public health issue with long-term effects on students' well-being, health, and academic success. In Canada, one in seven women experiences sexual assault during their postsecondary studies.

Research

Dr. Senn's Flip the script with EAAA^® program and variations are equipping teens and young women with knowledge and tools to understand their sexuality, recognize the signs of sexual assault, and act to stop it. She has also founded the SARE Centre to support organizations interested in offering the program to train girls and young women.