This document discusses resources for victims of violence on campus and in the community with a focus on how experiences of violence differ for those in marginalized groups. It provides definitions of key terms, statistics on reports of violence, and an overview of local organizations that provide advocacy and support services for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other forms of violence, with a focus on making their services culturally competent and inclusive of all identities and communities. The goal is to broaden discussions of violence and effectively address it as a social issue.

1. Resources on Campus and
the Community: Race,
Gender and Violence
2009 PAAVE Presentation

2. Introduction
The goal of this discussion is to “shift the focus” of
dominant conceptualizations of violence that
maintain an idea of victims/survivors as typically
white, heterosexual women. In addition, we aim
to provide students with knowledge of campus
and community initiatives for victims of violence.
Ultimately, we aim to broaden the discussion of
violence in different communities to effectively
address violence as a social epidemic.

3. Overview
 Definitions
 Statistics
 Resources
 Violence in marginalized communities
 Cultural competency

4. Definitions
 Sexual Assault: a broader category that the
Justice Department uses to classify rape,
attempted rape and other violent felonies that
fall short of rape (which is defined as strictly
forced vaginal, anal or oral penetration)
 Assault/Battering: “Physical assault is a
behavior that threatens, attempts, or actually
inflicts physical harm, ranging from slapping and
hitting to using a gun” (US Justice Department)

5. Definitions
 Marginalized: We use this term as a blanket
term to encompass social identities that are not
dominant and central in our society. This
includes but is not limited to – race, ethnicity,
gender, sexual orientation, citizen status, class,
physical and mental ability, age etc.
 Advocates: Go through extensive training to
work directly with victims/survivors every step of
the reporting and court processes immediately
following experiences of violence.

6. UNLV Police Services
Reports of Forcible Sex Offenses on
Campus
2005 – 4
2006 – 0
2007 – 3
2008 - 1
*Often times these crimes occur and
are reported outside of the
jurisdiction of UNLV.

7. The Rape Crisis Center of Southern
Nevada
 Gender:
– Female – 97%
– Male – 3%
 Race/Ethnicity:
– White – 58%
– Latino/Hispanic – 18%
– Black – 16%
– Asian – 3%
– Bi-racial – 2%
– Native – <1%
– Unknown/Other – <1%
43% of the total 833 reported victims in 2007 were
between the ages of 19-29.

8. Protocol for Victims on Campus
 Go to a safe place
 Seek medical attention immediately. University Medical Center
(UMC) is the only hospital that will do a rape kit. You may be
injured more seriously than you realize. Medical evidence will be
needed, if you decide to press charges.
 Call University Police (895-3668) or CALL 911. Reporting is not the
same as pressing charges.
 Call the Counseling and Psychological Services (895-3627).
 Do not blame yourself-you are the victim of a crime.
 Do NOT bathe, shower, douche, or change clothes until you
have talked with the police or nurse. However, if you have already
done these things, please do not let his stop you from seeking
medical care. If you’ve changed clothes , place the clothes you were
wearing in a paper bag and them to the hospital with you.
 Remember you may have an advocate to help every step of the way

9. ASERTAV
 Advocacy. Support. Educate. & Response Team Against
Violence (ASERTAV)
 ASERTAV strives to coordinate a collaborative
response to student, staff, and faculty members
of our community who may have been affected
by violence. Our goal is to communicate to
survivors that they are not alone during their
recovery by providing resources, advocacy and
education.
 Members of the task force include campus and
community organizations and local law
enforcement

10. Nevada Network Against Domestic
Violence
 Resource hub to advocacy, prevention
programs and legislative lobbying
 Provides referrals to shelter services,
including SafeNest and SAFE House
 Part of the ASERTAV task force
 A member of the National Coalition
Against Domestic Violence

11. The Rape Crisis Center of Southern
Nevada
 Las Vegas’ main resource for sexual
assault victim advocacy
 Implements community programming
(Nina’s Night Out) to raise awareness
 Trains victim advocates in conjunction
with UMC
 Provides referrals to UMC for sexual
assault examinations (aka: rape kits)
 Represented on ASSERTAV task force

12. The Jean Nidetch Women’s Center
 The only on campus resource for referrals to
community organizations
 One on-staff, certified advocate (Christina
Hernandez, Outreach & Awareness Coordinator)
 Member of ASSERTAV task force
 Oversees all violence prevention programming
on campus
 Provides twice a year peer education training
(PAAVE) on domestic violence and sexual assault

13. Race, Gender and Violence
 The experience of violence carries much
stigma in our society but there are other
barriers that contribute to the lack of
reporting:
– Lack of adequate services available
– Services that lack necessary tools to properly
assess violence in marginalized communities

14. NO! Documentary
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=aRGESU0CuvI

15. Race, Gender and Violence
How are experiences of marginalized
races and ethnicities concerning
sexual assault and domestic
violence both perceived and
treated in our society?
 Reporting is a “betrayal” to the community
 Differing gender stereotypes (black women as “too
strong”, hypersexualization of Asian women)
 “That’s just how they are” – culture blaming

16. Race, Gender and Violence
How do racial and ethnic stereotypes
and cultural practices hinder one’s
ability to access adequate
resources?
 Language barriers
 Service locations
 Advocate and service provider visibility
 Institutionalized racism
 Citizenship status – fear of deportation

17. As much as the experience of violence is
isolating, services must reflect societal
demographics to adequately serve a
diverse community to prevent further
isolating the experience.
How can this be achieved?

18. Cultural Competency
 The Rape Crisis Center – “Problemas dos
Todos”
 PAAVE – January 2009 training included
an entire session on cultural competency
 Jean Nidetch Women’s Center –
programming on sexual assault and
domestic violence infused into racial
identity months (and LGBT pride and
Women’s history months, as well!)

19. Conclusion
 The small amount of local resources must
include cultural competency in order to
address violence as a larger social
epidemic
 Violence transcends all identity categories.
It’s necessary to examine the specific
manifestations of violence in each
individual and intersecting community.

20. Resources
 Nevada Network Against Domestic
Violence:
– http://www.nnadv.org/
 The Rape Crisis Center of Southern
Nevada:
– http://www.therapecrisiscenter.org/
 The Jean Nidetch Women’s Center at
UNLV:
– http://womenscenter.unlv.edu/