Sexual Violence Education in Elementary Schools

Presenter Information

Alyssa Bischoff, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 284

Start Date

25-4-2006 9:30 AM

End Date

25-4-2006 12:00 PM

Student's Major

Sociology and Corrections

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Susa Freeman

Mentor's Department

Gender and Women's Studies

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

When offered, sexual violence awareness education in elementary schools is usually taught once a year in a single lesson. Many programs neglect the latest scholarship about child sexual abuse and fail to provide practical information to the children. This study is a comparative analysis of sexual violence education curricula from three local elementary schools. The analysis evaluated messages within the curricula, including the extent to which the materials reinforced myths, stereotypes, and victim blaming. The results of this study were shared with the local schools, sent to the Sexual Violence Resource Center of Blue Earth County, and will be used to help create an out-of-school program for children to become more aware of sexual violence.