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Sexual Citizenship - The Model

Sexual citizenship model for sexual assault and interpersonal violence prevention and education

Sexual Citizenship acknowledges that all humans are sexual beings and emphasizes the responsibility to learn and grow for oneself, one’s partners, and the communities we inhabit. As an educational practice, Sexual Citizenship uses five key themes to build a foundation for learning and growth:

  • History of Sex and Sexual Violence

  • Consent and Sexual Communication

  • Healthy Relationships

  • Sexual Health

  • Bystander Intervention

In a world that often centers whiteness and fails to acknowledge the narratives of LGBTQ+, racial, and other marginalized groups, it is crucial that these themes provide comprehensive education accounting for multiple identities.

The concept of Sexual Citizenship incorporates the Black Women’s Blueprint recommended Socio-Ecological Model of Prevention, which expands upon Urie Bronfenbrenner’s original socio-ecological model.

 

1. History of Sex and Sexual Violence

Preventing sexual violence requires acknowledging the historical role of sexual violence in maintaining societal oppression. Education in this area helps students understand historical norms of sexual activity, which have often centered heteronormative, cisgender, male pleasure and reproduction.

 

2. Consent and Sexual Communication

Consent education is a critical component of sexual violence prevention. Many students arrive on campus without foundational knowledge for positive sexual communication. This includes:

  • Developing confidence in communicating before, during, and after sexual activity

  • Discussing what feels pleasurable or uncomfortable

  • Naming activities clearly without ambiguity, euphemisms, or metaphors

Students who develop consent and sexual communication skills are more likely to engage in positive sexual encounters.

 

3. Healthy Relationships

College students are within the age range most likely to experience relationship violence. It is therefore crucial to provide opportunities to:

  • Recognize healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors

  • Exhibit healthy behaviors in their own relationships, regardless of relationship length

 

4. Sexual Health

Many students enter college with limited knowledge of sexual and reproductive health. Comprehensive sexual education provides:

  • Resources to understand one’s own body and the bodies of potential partners

  • Knowledge and confidence to navigate sexual health as a sexual being

 

5. Bystander Intervention

At DePauw University, Green Dot is the primary bystander intervention program. Bystander intervention:

  • Goes beyond physical harm and includes any situations within the spectrum of sexual misconduct

  • Empowers students to intervene safely and effectively to prevent or reduce harm

For more information about the Green Dot program, see the relevant campus resources.