S***: The Play Performance in DC Was a Call to Action for Consent Education

[niyad]

SLUT: The Play Performance in DC Was a Call to Action for Consent Education


Last night, SLUT: The Play, a powerful play about the realities of sexual assault in high schools, was performed for thousands at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC.



In attendance was Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), House of Cards creator Beau Willimon, many advocates working to end sexual violence, and hundreds of local high school and college students. The multi-media play, which incorporates elements of social media and the lived experiences of real American teenagers,was performed by high school students and was followed by a panel discussion.

SLUT was written by Katie Cappiello and created by The Arts Effect All-Girl Theater Company in collaboration with New York City High school students after dozens of conversations and interviews with real teenagers about rape culture in American high schools. SLUT follows the journey of Joey Del Marco, a sixteen-year-old girl who is sexually assaulted by three friends during a night out. Through Joey’s narrative, with help from the girls in her community, the audience witnesses the damaging impact of “slut culture” and the importance for victims of sexual assault to be both heard and believed. SLUT and accompanying #StopSlut workshops have toured to great acclaim in locales as diverse as LA, NYC, and Fargo, North Dakota reaching repeatedly sold-out audiences of thousands.

“Theater teaches empathy,” said Winnifred Bonjean-Alpart, who has played the character of Joey for the past two years. Bonjean-Alpart spoke of the importance of addressing rape culture openly and comprehensively before students reach college.

“When it comes to activism, when it comes to really making a change, storytelling- the act of sharing voices- are by far the most effective means,” Cappiello said at the performance.
Although SLUT includes a national call-to-action, cast member Mary Miller told the audience one step each of them could take in combating rape culture. “If someone in your school says that she was raped,” said Miller, “believe her, and do it openly.” Miller and the entire cast emphasized that all genders are affected by rape and rape culture.

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http://feminist.org/blog/index.php/2015/05/20/slut-the-play-performance-in-dc-was-a-call-to-action-for-consent-education/

[malthaussen]

1. I suppose it could be seen as a quibble...

... but the concept of being raped by "friends" rubs me the wrong way. They obviously were not the character's friends, or they would not have harmed her. At best, they were liars whom she thought were friends. I think it is a distinction that has substance: if we call them "friends" we are setting up all sorts of narratives that can injure the character's psyche even more. Maybe if it was made clear that the soi-disant friends betrayed her it would be okay, and I haven't seen the play so I don't know if it does so. But among the first of assurances she should receive in such an incident is that it is not her fault, she was wronged. This assurance is blurred if her attackers are called her friends.

-- Mal

[niyad]

2. no, you raise a very important point. reminds me of the old saying, "with friends like that, who

needs enemies?"

the play and guidebook is available from amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/SLUT-Guidebook-Combating-Sexism-Violence/dp/1558618708/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432221090&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=slut+feminist+free+press