Sexual Violence Prevention on University Campuses: Implementing Sexuality 101 Seminars

Abstract

Universities are important institutions in fighting against sexual violence. Sexual violence, defined as any sexual act that involves physical force, pressure, threats, and non-consensual contact, poses a serious risk to college students’ mental health and well-being. In the last 20 years, college sexual violence prevention efforts have increased, and In Turkey, such activities are undertaken by prevention units that exist only in a limited number of universities. This article introduces a primary prevention model, named Sexuality 101 Seminars, developed with an egalitarian, emancipatory, and inclusive approach to be implemented on college campuses. The seminars are grounded on the concept of sexual agency which refers to an array of capacities that include students’ knowledge, awareness, critical analysis, and relational skills about sexuality and sexual violence. The risk of individualizing sexual violence and sociocultural constraints are discussed as limitations. Suggestions for future prevention efforts in universities are shared.