Awareness:

• Know your individual rights
• Know which behaviors constitute rape and sexual assault.
• Know how alcohol and drug consumption impacts your own andothers behavior and how altered judgment affects your intimaterelationships.
• Know basic personal safety information and victim preventiontechniques.  Pay attention to what is happening around you,and avoid, when possible, vulnerable and potentially dangeroussituations.

Personally:

• Think about what you really want in a relationship.
• Be aware of stereotypes that prevent you from acting as youwould like.
• You have the right to feel good about yourself and to get helpif you choose.
• If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, seek the supportthat you need.
• Act on your needs and wants while not exploiting others.

In Relationships:

• Develop personal intimacy communication skills and communicatewhat you really want and what you are really thinking. Passivity may be misinterpreted as permission.  Be direct andfirm with someone who is pressuring you sexually.  Assertyourself.
• Know your sexual desires and limits.  Believe in yourright to set those limits.  Communicate your limitsclearly.  If someone starts to offend you, tell them firmlyand early.  If you are not sure, STOP and talk about it.
• Listen and pay attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues youor your partner may be sending.  Be aware that nonverbalactions send a message.  It is important to be aware ofpossible misunderstanding.
• Trust your intuitions.  If you feel you are beingpressured into unwanted sex by your partner or peers, you probablyare.
• View each person in the relationship as a uniquely equalindividual.

Other Suggestions:

• Believe and act as if your needs are important.  Respectyourself and your partner.
• Feel good about yourself.  If you don't feel good aboutyourself, get involved in activities and with people who will helpyou feel better.
• Drink responsibly.  Most acquaintance sexual assaultshappen when one or both people are drunk or high.
• Be aware that you have the right and the ability to stop sexualactivity at anytime.
• Be aware that you also have the right to say no to sexualactivity regardless of whether or not you have had sex before.
• Use positive peer pressure to help stop abusive behaviors thatmay lead to acquaintance sexual assault.  For example, whenover-hearing someone talk about taking advantage of a partnersexually, let them know you think this is wrong.  Silence canbe mistaken for approval.

Information created & compiled by Jean M. Leonard, Ph.D.from training materials from Duke University, Colorado StateUniversity & Ithaca Rape Crisis.