people stand together during a rally and hold hands with a purple overlay and text that says 'Sexual Citizens Workshop: Responding to sexual assault and creating community equity, Friday, May 5, 2020, 9AM-3PM' also includes a picture of the book Sexual Citizens

Jennifer S. Hirsch and Shamus Khan join SCCADVASA May 5th

Columbia, S.C., May 3, 2023 – The South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA), South Carolina’s leading voice for the prevention of sexual and domestic violence, has partnered with leading experts for an upcoming Sexual Citizens Workshop. 

The book Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study of Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus transforms how we understand and address sexual assault. It reveals the social ecosystem that makes sexual assault a predictable element of life on a college campus. The research reshapes our understanding of sexual assault and provides a new roadmap for how to address it. 

The authors of Sexual Citizens, Jennifer S. Hirsch and Shamus Khan, will headline the event and discuss concepts of sexual projects, sexual citizenship, and sexual geographies. They will provide attendees with a new language for understanding the forces that shape young peoples’ sexual relationships and how we can address them in our unique communities.

“We are incredibly pleased to welcome Ms. Hirsch and Mr. Khan to South Carolina to speak in depth about their research and work in developing Sexual Citizens” said Kelly Premo, SCCADVASA’s director of prevention and specialized advocacy. “We recognize that there is a tremendous amount of insight that can be gained from these experts to help create greater equity and safety in the physical spaces on our college campuses and within our communities.”

“Our goal in writing Sexual Citizens was to create a new approach and change the conversation about assault on campus,” said Jennifer S. Hirsch. “We need to shift our thinking to see sexual assault as a public health problem in order to expand the focus from individuals and how they interact, to systems.”

“In researching this book, we interviewed more than 150 college undergrads to learn about their sex lives,” said Shamus Khan. “What we found was that our communities – parents, schools, religious organizations — have consistently failed young people by not raising them up to be responsible sexual citizens. We’ve got to change the conversation and begin talking to young people about sex as something that will be an important and positive part of their lives rather than through the lens of fear and shame.” 

The event will take place this Friday, May 5, 2023, from 9AM – 3PM at the Cooperative Conference Center at 169 Laurelhurst Avenue, Columbia, SC 29210. For more information, you can view the event flyer or visit the event page on SCCADVASA’s website. 

To learn more about SCCADVASA and ways to support survivors visit www.sccadvasa.org

About SCCADVASA:

The South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) serves as the collective voice promoting the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault in South Carolina. Our vision is a South Carolina free from domestic violence and sexual assault. Our statewide coalition is made up of the 22 sexual assault and domestic violence direct service and advocacy programs in South Carolina and other allied organizations. Since 1981, SCCADVASA has been a leader in representing the critical needs of survivors and their families. Our dedicated staff advance our work through advocacy, education, and collaboration. Learn more at www.sccadvasa.org.  

Contact Person: Megan Finnern (SCCADVASA) – [email protected] / 989.798.6905

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