Guest Speaker Points Out 'Myths and Realities of Sexual Assault'

Staff Writer

   The University of Arkansas-Monticello Departments of Public Safety, Student Health, and Counseling, Testing and Career Services sponsored guest speaker Mary Anne Franks to speak about the “Myths and Realities about Sexual Assault.” 

   Franks gave her seminar April 25 in the UAM Indoor Practice Facility. 

   Franks, who is originally from Pine Bluff, is an associate professor at Miami Law School. Prior to teaching at Miami Law School, Franks was a Bigelow Fellow and Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago Law School. Franks has also received her juris doctorate from Harvard Law School in 2007, and has received two degrees from Oxford University. 

   “What is good sex?” Franks asked at the beginning of her seminar.   

   Those in attendance had many reactions. At first, many were hesitant to answer the question, but soon individuals began to speak their honest opinions: “consensual sex,” “when the girl leaves scratches on your back,” “when he makes sure that my needs are taken care of,” etc. 

   “Good sex is when the other person is enjoying it as much as you are,” Franks said. She then asked, "What is the other person's resonse to the good sex?" 

   Once again, attendees had different answers: “when their eyes roll back in their head,” “moaning,” etc. 

   Franks then described the differences between good sex, and what would not be considered good sex and would be considered sexual assault. 

   “Does good sex happen when your partner is passed out?” asked Franks. “No. Good sex is not when someone is afraid; it’s not when the person you’re having sex with is passed out. Good sex isn’t when the other person isn’t enjoying the sex.” 

   Franks then asked the students how many men and women have been sexually assaulted, and how many have committed sexual assault. Students called out guesses, but none were really sure about their answers.

   The facts, according to Franks: 

• 90% of sexual assault victims are female
• 10% of sexual assault victims are male 
• 98% of sexual assaults are committed by men
• 2% of sexual assaults are committed by women

   For some of the students, these numbers were kind of a shock. 

   “Sexual assault can be a male perpetrator, female victim; male perpetrator, male victim,” said Franks. “Or it can be a female perpetrator, and a male victim. It does happen.” 

   Franks then asked who was responsible for helping prevent sexual assault 

   Many of the students, teachers and faculty who attended had very different perspectives of who was responsible, or more responsible in doing so. 

   Franks then discussed with students the different things women are culturally expected to do to prevent sexual assault, such as dressing and behaving conservatively. 

   When discussing these things, most of the students realized that the majority of the time, females take the responsibility on themselves to help prevent sexual assaults from occurring. 

   ”Ladies dress a certain way because of the social norms, but the lady-like dressing doesn’t really occur anymore,” said Jamie Ward, a junior criminal justice and psychology major. “The overall message that I got is that way too many women have to deal with rape. This is a horrible issue that needs to be made more aware of.” 

   Even after the discussion about all the things that women do to help prevent sexual assault from happening to themselves, some of the male students thought that women should be more cautious of their actions. 

   Certain reactions and comments that were said by the students about how women should act or what men expect created a lot of tension in the room; for example: “Girls should pay attention to the way they dance at the club and at parties,” “It’s 2011, and when a man goes to the club or anywhere, he expects to go home with something,” etc. 

   “Why should women be the only ones who try to prevent sexual assault from happening?” asked Franks. 

   Franks noted that women shouldn’t be the only ones worried about preventing sexual assault. Men also shouldn’t assume things just because women dress a certain way and act a certain way at different places and times, such as clubs. 

   “Just because a girl is dancing on you, doesn’t mean that she wants to have sex with you,” said Franks. “You shouldn’t just assume she wants to have sex just because of the way she’s dancing. To her, she’s just dancing--nothing else.” 

   “Sometimes (the reactions from the students) were funny, sometimes concerning,” said John Kidwell, director of the Office of Public Safety. “I hope that the presentation made some of the attendees think about their attitudes towards relationships with others.” 

   At the end of the night, the students and faculty were all aware of what a lot of male students think about women in different settings. 

   “It's so important for individuals to hear this type of speech,” said Brittney Diel, a junior social work major. “Because if they never hear it, they will never realize that their thought process is all wrong.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was changed to reflect corrections in the figures, misinterpreted by the author, about victims and perpetrators of sexual assault and other ideas falsely attributed to the speaker--specifically that she endorsed attendees' answers as to who bears responsibility for preventing sexual assault and what women should do to prevent it. Please click here to view a letter to the editor from the guest speaker featured in this article.

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