Understanding & Preventing Sexual Violence

Reviews

Navigating the world of dating relationships can be difficult enough for teenagers, but the rising rate of sexual violence can make this world more confusing and scarier than ever. Created by the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, this program tackles five major issues: gender stereotypes, sexual harassment, dating violence, sexual assault, and media safety. Each problem is explored in a brief video clip where teenagers act out various aspects of the topic. The scenarios, while overly scripted with somewhat too-good-to-be true endings, show how common teenage behaviors may be seen under the lens of sexual violence. Each vignette builds upon the next, making a complete story and showing how one seemingly innocent action, like admiring someone's body or sending a provocative text, can have far-reaching and unintended consequences. The 90-page teacher's guide is the key to pulling together all the information and making the program a useful teaching tool. Educators will find lessons, definitions of key terms, facts, video discussion questions, activities to further illustrate the lesson, frequently asked questions, and a page of resources for each topic. This video can be a valuable addition to a health or social skills curriculum if the educator utilizes the tools provided in the teacher's guide and doesn't rely solely on the video clips.

—Amanda Rollins, Northwest Village School, Plainville, CT 
School Library Journal

Highly Recommended   The DVD’s considered for this review, all youth related programs that spotlight and confront issues that teenagers tackle on a daily basis, includes

• Confronting Sexual Harassment in School: What Every Student Needs to Know
• Understanding and Preventing Sexual Violence
• Dealing with Teen Dating Abuse: Crossing the Line
• Before you Hook Up: Dating Rights and Responsibilities
• How to Say No and Really Mean It

Each video educates students on how to prevent unhealthy interactions with others by understanding the issues at hand, along with having the power and skills to set boundaries and “just say no.” Video reenactments of teenagers coping with different sensitive situations add to the eye-opening explanations of topics concerning gender stereotypes, media safety, teen violence, sexual harassment, and peer pressure.

Consideration and careful reflection is given in revealing the stories of victims who have battled emotional anguish and misfortune from schoolmates. Narratives pertaining to teens who have struggled to get through these various life changing events are very moving. Each video smartly confronts teenage problems and gives real advice and hope on how to change the outcomes and build peer interactions that are healthy and respectful. Exceptional acting/role playing help to make each video credible and viewers will relate to the teens being portrayed as they are very recognizable and could be part of their own family.
These DVDs come with a Teacher’s Resource materials that make learning objectives clear and help to promote classroom discussions. Student activities are included in the materials which makes each DVD thought-provoking and comprehensive while allowing students the opportunity to reflect on their own peer relationships. These titles are highly recommended and should be purchased for programs and schools interested in promoting an equal and just environment for students at every level.

—Hope Marie Cook, Curriculum Center Librarian, Eastern Connecticut State University
Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO)