Consent Week @UOW

: To pay tribute to survivors of sexual assault, all are welcome to take part in Reclaim the Night. The candle lit gathering will take place on the duck pond lawn at 6pm to recognise this ever important issue.

: “Sexual harassment and sexual assault are issues which are extremely prevalent within our community and society at large. Consent week is a method of addressing attitudes which determine this to be normal and acceptable as well as beginning to break the silence around it.” – Grace

: “I think Consent Week is so important for an institute like the University as it is educating people on the importance of Consent and how prevalent sexual harassment is in the general community. It is taking an approach of not only offering support to survivors but also confers preventative ideas so that breaking the silence of these issues is common ground.” – Courtney

: “Consent Week is about talking to people about sex, sexuality and consent. Consent Week is about addressing the fact that about 1 in 5 women, and 1 in 20 men, will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. Consent Week is about the fact that we hardly ever get to talk in an open, honest, candid way about sex, or address the fact that stuff like sexism, masculine entitlement and patriarchy smush their way into our sex lives whether we want it to or not. And the only way to fix it is by talking about it.” Jessie

: “I think it’s important that Consent Week is a public and visible activity around campus, because its messages need to reach everyone – not just the people that attend FemSoc. If just one person can be helped or given a message through Consent Week, I think it’s all worth it.” – Caitlin

: “Consent week is an opportunity to challenge rape culture and educate university students about how to have ethical sex. The Rape Crisis Centre workshops offer a confronting insight into the trauma experienced by survivors of sexual assault. We lack a language of intimacy in Australia to define and negotiate how we navigate each sexual encounter in a way which is safe, respectful, and healthy.” – Elodie

: “Consent Week is incredibly important to recognise survivors of sexual assault and harassment. Being a woman who often frequents Wollongong nightclubs I have experienced horrific sexual assault that in today’s society is considered normal which to me seems inexcusable. So it’s good to start a conversation about issues that everyday women face.” – Ainslee

: “Consent Week draws attention to the misunderstandings surrounding consent and sexual misconduct. It is important that people understand that education is key to stopping sexual abuse and harassment. Attitudes surrounding sexual misconduct are alarming and its time we change them. Consent Week helps change these attitudes.” – Chiara

: FEMSOC aims to create awareness and understanding of issues that often remain under the radar. The societies ‘Wom*n’s Space’ provides a safe place to hang out and express yourself in a threat and judgement free environment.

: UOW consent week promotes the campus’ Feminist Society (FEMSOC) slogan ‘Love Sex, Hate Sexism.’