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Some will debate that the LGBTQ+ movement gained more rights after President Obama was elected into office. Of course, the President of the United States and Congress have strong ties, but is it strong enough to overturn a decade's worth of discrimination?  Over the decades the LGBTQ community has been fighting for equal rights. They would receive a small reward, then a huge consequence. The community was relentless, as the years went on different generations become more straightforward. Further challenging the State's Courts in marriage regardless of President Clinton's the Defense of Marriage Act (1996). Vermont becomes the first state in the U.S. to legalize civil unions (2000) and Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize gay marriage (2004). With State Courts openly saying the prohibition of gay marriage is unconstitutional. This showed the weak ties between the States Courts and Congress.  In 2011, President Obama publicly states his administration will not defend the Defense of Marriage Act. Furthermore, just 4 years later the U.S. Supreme Court declares same-sex marriage to be legal in all 50 states. Finally, giving this community a sense of identity and freedom to be themselves.

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The March for Our Lives movement started as a habit of friendship among the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who had been affected by gun violence. The friends came together to support each other and to advocate for change in response to the tragedy they had experienced. Growing through the habits of communities TMFOL movement grew as the students' call for change resonated with people across the country who shared their concerns about gun violence. The movement grew because it created a sense of community among those passionate about the issue and gave them a way to express their shared values. the movement has sustained itself through new habits that change participants' sense of self. The movement has encouraged people to see themselves as activists and to take action to make a difference in their communities. Through participation in the movement, people have developed new habits of engagement and activism that have become a part of their identities. These new habits have sustained the movement over time and helped it grow and evolve.

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Our Mission

Born out of a tragic school shooting, March For Our Lives is a courageous youth-led movement dedicated to promoting civic engagement, education, and direct action by youth to eliminate the epidemic of gun violence.

We aim to c reate safe and healthy communities and livelihoods where gun violence is obsolete.

In the days after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, we knew we had to make sure that what happened to our community never happens again.

We cannot allow one more person to be killed by senseless gun violence. We cannot allow one more person to experience the pain of losing a loved one. We cannot allow one more family to wait for a call or a text that never comes. We cannot allow the normalization of gun violence to continue. We must create a safe and compassionate nation for all of us.

Gun Violence Deaths in America in 2021

We demand bold action to end the

After the shooting on February 14, we organized the largest single day of protest against gun violence in history. Millions came together to protest our political leaders' inaction.

Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the 1960s, we toured the country on the Road To Change. Along the way, we registered over 50,000 new voters.

We also met with family members, community leaders, and survivors of gun violence across the country. This allowed us to expand our understanding of gun violence and how it affects each community differently. We'll never forget each story we heard and each ally we made in this fight for justice.

For Mayors For Our Lives, we held voter registration events with 200+ mayors, helping register 800,000 people on National Voter Registration Day - an all-time record.

We spurred a historic youth turnout in the 2018 midterm elections, with a 47% increase over the last midterm election and the highest percentage of youth voter turnout ever. Voters made it clear that the status quo was no longer acceptable - a record 46 NRA-backed candidates lost their elections that November.

Policy Agenda

It will take all of us advocating for sensible gun violence prevention reforms to make it happen. Educate yourself on the policies.

We call B.S. Team

Stay up-to-date by signing up to get texts from the We Call B.S. Team. Text CHANGE to 954-954.

Store

Grab some merch to rep March For Our Lives, whether you're running between classes or lobbying on the Hill!

Our Chapters

We have hundreds of chapters around the country led by students who enact change on the local level. Whether organizing a walkout at a high school, lobbying for better safety measures on campus, writing statewide legislation, or showing up at school board and city council meetings, our chapters make change.

Our Founders

March For Our Lives was created out of tragedy. These founders created this organization in the days following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018.

Sofie Whitney
Sarah Chadwick
Sam Deitsch
Ryan Servaites
Ryan Deitsch
Matt Deitsch
Lauren Hogg
Kirsten McConnell
Kevin Trejos

Kaylyn Pipitone
John Barnitt
Daniel Williams
David Hogg
Delaney Tarr
Diego Pfeiffer
Dylan Baierlein
Emma Gonzalez
Jackie Corin
Jammal Lemy

Brendan Duff
Alfonso Calderon
Bradley Thornton
Adam Alhanti
Cameron Kasky
Alex Wind
Charlie Mirsky
Chris Grady
Daniel Duff

Read more about what we're up to:

Can you keep an activist campaign running during a pandemic? March For Our Lives is trying

Fast Company

Fighting Gun Violence In The Age Of Coronavirus

Refinery 29

How Youth Of Color Are Reimagining The Anti-Gun Violence Movement

Refinery 29

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Make a Donation that Saves Lives

Guns are now the leading cause of death for young people in America.

Lawmakers continue to play political games with our lives. Our generation can and will be the ones to end this epidemic.

Make a donation today to support our youth-led movement to save lives at this critical moment.

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Our Mission We aim to c reate safe and healthy communities and livelihoods where gun violence is obsolete. In the days after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, we knew we had to make sure that what happened to our community never happens again.

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Kesha Stultz

The Three Patterns of Social Movements

Chapter eight of Charles Duhigg "The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in Life and Business" details the actions of Rosa Parks and African American citizens whose acts of defiance are the epicenter of the rise of civil movements that contributed to positive societal change. When a driver asks her to leave her seat and let a white man have it, she is reluctant as she observes that she has not occupied the spaces reserved for White passengers. Ultimately, the police arrest her. Duhigg details that social movements start due to friendships and close acquaintances (2). Consequently, weak ties bind communities together due to common problems
affecting them. Eventually, communal habits sustain a renewed sense of self, making them adopt a new identity and ownership (Duhhigg 3). Sustaining through new habits arises because interacting with others in society is a form of indoctrination that obliges one to accept ideologies
familiar to groups. The aftermath is that people eventually disregard their previous beliefs and accept new ideas. Even though many are jailed afterward because of such misfortunes in transport, the arrests do not lead to boycotts, as activism is an action that ordinary people cannot initiate by taking bold steps to file court cases. The arrest of Parks sparks friendship among
Black communities, consequently leading to the formation of small civil and social
organizations. The formation of such groups results from the third domain in the pattern, where growth in communal habits makes individuals adopt new ideologies and sustain them, endeavoring to support others for the common good. The power of friendship helps Parks be bailed out of prison, allowing the people to challenge the Montgomery segregation laws (Duhigg
5). Ultimately, the action of Rosa Parks and the formation of friendships make individuals who do not even know her engage in a society-wide activity. The motivation is the development of
new habits that change their sense of self; peer pressure contributes to people feeling obliged to conform to group dynamics.
Black Lives Matter is a social movement that has used the chapter's principles to promote change against police brutality. Alicia Garza triggered the movement's formation in 2013 on her Facebook page, following the murder of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, through a letter
to African American populations (Chang et al. 2). Habits of friendship contribute to the growth of the movement. Immediately after Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza's friend adds a hashtag on her social media page and broadcasts the letter to Black people, opposing groups create their hashtags, bearing the names "#All Lives Matter"  and "#Blue Lives Matter"  in refuting racism by
police and supporting law enforcement respectively (Chang et al. 2). The weak ties that bind communities together make individuals support the social movement and advocate against police brutality. They have a shared sense of habit that makes them endeavor to curtail hate and racism
in society. Duhigg observes that the three patterns need to have fulfillment as a way of enhancing self-propelling behavior (3). Thus, social habits make individuals attain a sense of self after Derek Chauvin kneels on the neck of George Floyd in 2020. The action stirs public outrage; musicians create albums, making millions join the movement (Chang et al. 2). Even though some individuals had joined the social media communities and developed habits of supporting the ideas, the action creates an appeal that strengthens their beliefs, as a way of indoctrination that makes them adopt and sustain new habits. Communities develop the habit of cooperating to discourage the actions of systemic racism by police departments and eventually sustain the trend of advocating for change through public participation over social media. King et al. observe that communities find ways to express their frustrations with governments if the latter fails to protect them or contribute to harm (1741). Similar to how Parks's case leads to the formation of social groups, Black Lives Matter helps create a social fabric that makes people have different perceptions of self and muster responses to sustain society  apathy. In both cases, the sustenance of new habits is through emotional appeal and peer pressure. Ideals that operates on weak ties that make people find it difficult not to join activism groups. Additionally, social media makes individuals sustain the new activist idea. Social platforms have information that creates pathetic and logical appeals which motivate people to advocate for real change. Even those who are not courageous in expressing their ideas in fear of castigation from the public are now bold, as social media platforms enhance privacy and security. The social domains can also reach many people of all races, cultural groups, and regions, increasing the public urge to join the movement and fight against police brutality. Conclusively, the civil rights movement during the Montgomery protests and Black Lives Matter both follow the three patterns of the formation of social
movements.

Works Cited

Chang, Ho-Chun Herbert, et al. "#JusticeforGeorgeFloyd: How Instagram Facilitated the 2020
Black Lives Matter Protests." PLoS One, vol. 17, no. 12, 2022, pp. 1-19.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0277864.
Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Memories of Ages Press, 2021.
King, Brayden G., and Edward J. Carberry. "Movements, Societal Crisis, and Organizational Theory." Journal of Management Studies, vol. 57, no. 8, 2020, pp. 1741-1745.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joms.12624.

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During my high school years, I was actually apart of a social movement. From 2009 to 2012, I was involved in an educational sorority called Phi Delta Kappa! Within this sorority, we learned mannerism, etiquette, community, relationship, history, and discipline with our educational studies. While reading chapter 8, it reminded me of how my close friendship ignited tremendous growth within this group through weak ties. In high school, I was very popular because of my personality, talent, and relativity. My grandparents decided to involve me in this sorority to use my popularity in good use. When the sorority first started, it was only me and 4 others who stayed committed to the cause of helping each other and helping others. However, once the coordinator decided to make me the President of this sorority, my influence and relationship with my peers caused our organization to grow. As the book explained, through my close acquaintances I was able to recruit 50 plus new members into the sorority without even being present. Because of my close relationships, they were able to tell their friends about the organization I was apart of and convinced them into joining. My close friends trusted me, therefore, they did the recruiting for me. Social peer pressure is a powerful thing just as it was expressed in chapter 8. Within my years of being apart of this sorority, we were able make a huge impact to the community by feeding the homeless, giving motivational speeches, tutoring, helping in the church and volunteer work. In the end, all 50 recruits stayed committed and developed their character through their own actions. We were taught to focus on three things; character, integrity, and friendship! Consistency in those three things developed new social habits that stick with us up until this day!

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When I was in high-school I was part of the LGBTQ Alliance. We were a group that focused on equality within the high-school and support and aid to those who were out or advocating for the LGBTQ community. I was part of this Alliance because I didn’t get the support at home when I came out and it made me feel normal and realized that I wasn’t the only one out there. I remember that same sex marriage was still not legal in Illinois. We used to have meetings weekly to provide updates on the Equal Marriage Bill and other laws that were in process pro-LGBTQ. When reading Chapter 8, I could relate the LGBTQ Alliance to the social movements that were talked about in the Power of Habit. The power of weak ties was essential in this alliance. There was persuasion to get the word out throughout high school that it was okay to be gay and that we supported any sexual orientation. Once I got to college, I wasn’t in any alliances but sparks were made when President Obama legalized same-sex marriage. I remember hundreds of students marching to the Quad and everyone was embracing each other just such a very positive, very heartfelt, and emotional day. This day triggered the social habits of friendship and unity throughout the UIUC community. Now Chicago has one of the most welcoming LGBTQ+ communities. Above you can see Pride parade in Chicago.

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https://online.maryville.edu/blog/understanding-the-me-too-movement-a-sexual-harassment-awareness-guide/

One social movement that has used the principles in Chapter 8 of The Power of Habits to create lasting social change is the #MeToo movement. The movement began as a habit of friendship when Tarana Burke, an activist and survivor of sexual assault, started using the phrase "Me Too" in 2006 to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual violence. The movement gained momentum in 2017 when actress Alyssa Milano used the hashtag #MeToo on Twitter to encourage survivors of sexual assault to share their stories. The hashtag quickly went viral and sparked a global conversation about sexual harassment and assault.

As the movement grew, it relied on the habits of communities to sustain its momentum. Survivors of sexual violence shared their stories and supported one another through online and offline communities. The movement also created new habits, such as holding perpetrators accountable and changing the culture of workplaces and institutions to prevent sexual harassment and assault. These new habits changed participants' sense of self by empowering them to speak up and take action against sexual violence.

The #MeToo movement illustrates the three patterns of social movements described in Chapter 8 of The Power of Habits. It began as a habit of friendship when Tarana Burke started using the phrase "Me Too" to connect with other survivors of sexual violence. It grew through the habits of communities as survivors shared their stories and supported one another. And it sustained through new habits that changed participants' sense of self by empowering them to speak up and take action against sexual violence.

In conclusion, the #MeToo movement is an example of how social movements can use the principles in Chapter 8 of The Power of Habits to create lasting social change. By beginning as a habit of friendship, growing through the habits of communities, and sustaining through new habits that change participants' sense of self, the movement has brought attention to the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault and has sparked a global conversation about how to prevent it.

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The "Me Too" movement, which focuses on the experiences of sexual violence survivors, has earned a large response in part because sexual harassment and sexual assault impact people every day.

By sharing their own experiences, the movement's proponents make clear just how common sexual harassment is. The hope is that, if people are more aware of sexual harassment and how casually it is sometimes treated, then tolerance for it will decrease and support for victims will rise.

This guide from Maryville Online will help you to understand the origins of the Me Too movement, the facts about sexual harassment, and the options available for someone who has been sexually harassed.

What is the Me Too movement?

The Me Too movement is an effort to effect social change, organized primarily through social media, where it's often expressed as #MeToo. Originally founded in 2006, it became prominent both online and in the mainstream in late 2017, when several high-profile actresses opened up about their experiences with sexual harassment in the film industry.

Since then, the movement has provided a source of solidarity for women from all backgrounds who have experienced sexual harassment, most often, though not always, perpetrated by a male colleague.

Me Too movement founder: Tarana Burke

During the early years, Tarana Burke, an American social activist, began to use the phrase "me too" on the social networking platform Myspace to highlight the occurrence of sexual harassment, particularly as it targeted women of color.

Burke argues that the Me Too movement works on empowerment through empathy by showing the world just how common sexual harassment is and by telling survivors that they aren't alone - and are supported.

Popularization of #MeToo in 2017

In 2017, actress Alyssa Milano magnified Burke's rallying cry, turning it into the popular #MeToo, which continues to trend on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

Milano's actions came in response to a number of women in Hollywood opening up about their own experiences, many involving sexual harassment at the hands of well-known film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Although Weinstein's accusers helped to start the movement, and Milano's use of Burke's phrase may have been a powerful catalyst. Today, the movement is still a source of solidarity for victims of sexual harassment. The fact that tweets and Instagram posts bearing the hashtag #MeToo are still posted daily serves as a reminder of just how widespread sexual violence still is.

Sexual harassment defined: What is it?

The Me Too movement is primarily concerned with two types of behavior: sexual harassment and sexual assault. Although the precise legal definitions of these terms may vary from state to state, they are generally understood as referring to specific inappropriate and unwanted sexual behaviors, especially in the workplace or at school.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexual harassment consists of "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature."

Legally, sexual harassment in the workplace is covered under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, the behaviors characteristic of sexual harassment are inappropriate and wrong, no matter where they're being exhibited.

Examples of sexual harassment in the workplace include scenarios such as:

One coworker making repeated unwanted sexual advances toward another, whether they were told to stop or not

A superior asking for sexual favors from an employee in exchange for some benefit in the workplace, such as a promotion or a raise

One employee touching another inappropriately

A superior threatening an employee based on their unwillingness to engage in sexual or romantic activity

Non-physical and non-verbal actions, such as leering, staring, winking, blowing kisses, and eating or holding food provocatively

Because sexual assault is a form of sexual harassment, all instances of sexual assault are also instances of sexual harassment. However, not all instances of sexual harassment are severe enough to qualify as sexual assault.

According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), sexual assault is characterized by sexual contact of any kind without the consent of the victim. This could include rape or attempted rape, unwanted sexual touching, or forcing another person to perform sexual acts against their will.

Sexual assault often includes the use of force, but force doesn't have to be physical. It's still sexual assault if a victim is coerced or manipulated into unwanted sexual behavior.

Examples of sexual assault include scenarios such as:

The perpetrator sexually penetrating the victim

A professor threatening a student's grades if that student doesn't engage in certain sexual behaviors

Someone touching another person sexually, without that person's explicit consent. For example, one person groping another on a crowded train.

The above are just some examples of sexual harassment and sexual assault. These behaviors take many forms, and they are never acceptable.

Perpetrators of sexual harassment

There are no definite rules about whose actions can be classified as sexual harassment. Although it is often characterized by one individual in a powerful position - such as a film producer or business executive - using their power to sexually abuse others, it's still possible for anyone to engage in wrongful harassment, no matter their position.

In addition, it's important to note that perpetrators often know their victims. As the Me Too movement has shown us, sexual harassment is often perpetrated by a coworker of the victim. It would be a mistake, then, to assume that sexual harassment generally occurs between random strangers, although these sorts of cases do happen.

Like perpetrators, there is no qualification for who can be the victim of sexual harassment. Although women have been the most visible voices in the Me Too movement, men have also been the subject of harassing behavior. Men and women can both be harassed by someone of either the same or opposite sex, so neither gender nor sexual orientation prevents someone from becoming the victim of harassment.

Sexual assault statistics

According to RAINN, millions of Americans have been affected by sexual violence. In particular:

The majority of sexual assault victims are younger people, with 54% of victims falling between 18 and 34 years of age.

Women and young girls are the most frequent victims of sexual violence; 82% of all juvenile victims of sexual assault are female, while 90% of adult rape victims are female.

Transgender people (and especially students) suffer higher rates of sexual violence than their cisgender peers.

Although men are less likely to suffer from sexual violence, millions of men have still been victims of sexual assault. As of 1998, 2.78 million American men were victims of rape or attempted rape.

According to the National Women's Law Center, black women experience sexual harassment in the workplace at nearly three times the rate of white women.

Sexual violence often stays with a victim for a long time after the actual incident. Ninety-four percent of women who have been raped experienced post-traumatic stress disorder following the incident. Seventy percent of sexual assault victims experience moderate to severe distress, which is more than victims of any other violent crime.

Populations at higher risk of sexual violence

While anyone can be a victim of sexual violence, certain populations are statistically more likely to be attacked.

Women

Women and girls are overwhelmingly the targets of sexual violence. This includes sexual harassment, unwanted sexual touching, and rape.

College students

Not all sexual harassment occurs in the workplace. It's also possible for a professor or someone else in a position of power over students to abuse that power and engage in sexual harassment.

Students may also be less aware of the resources available to them for pursuing justice following sexual harassment at the hands of a professor or mentor, since many are living on their own for the first time.

However, every student has the right to seek justice following an incident of sexual violence, and such incidents can be reported to the school's HR department, campus police, or other law enforcement, depending on the specifics of the case.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to suffer from sexual harassment compared to their straight and cisgender peers. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has detailed the rates at which LGBTQ+ people suffer from sexual violence:

44% of gay women and 61% of bisexual women have suffered sexual violence or stalking by an intimate partner. 35% of heterosexual women have experienced the same.

46% of bisexual women have been raped, compared to 17% of heterosexual women.

Among the LGBTQ+ community, transgender people are especially at risk of suffering from sexual violence. 47% of transgender people report being sexually assaulted at some point in their lives.

Being an LGBTQ+ person of color increases the risk factor for sexual violence. For example, 65% of transgender Native Americans have been victims of sexual assault.

The HRC points out that members of the LGBTQ+ community are also less likely to seek support or notify law enforcement following an instance of sexual violence, fearing discrimination from police, hospitals, or rape crisis centers.

Women of color

Women of color suffer from sexual violence at higher rates than their white counterparts. As noted above, black women suffer from workplace sexual harassment at three times the rate of white women. Meanwhile, according to RAINN, Native Americans are twice as likely to experience sexual assault compared to all other races.

There also may be a racial component to this phenomenon. According to a study by Pacific Standard Magazine, aggressors who commit sexual deviance are increasingly targeting women of color due to the misguided notions of power, or guided by the thought that they may be less willing to report their misdeeds. For example, an assailant may target an undocumented immigrant, assuming he or she would be too afraid of deportation to report the crime.

It's important to remember: Everyone has a right to be protected against those who would abuse their power for sexual favors.

Sexual assault of men

Although men experience sexual harassment at much lower rates than women, sexual assault against males is still very real. Sometimes sexual violence against men is ignored altogether and male victims of sexual assault are discouraged from reporting what has happened to them, for fear of being told they are unmasculine.

Instead of shaming men who have been the victims of sexual violence, RAINN recommends listening seriously to the experiences of male victims, expressing your concern and love for them, and validating their experiences.

Preventing sexual harassment and assault

No one has ever asked to be sexually assaulted or harassed, and the responsibility for any instance of sexual harassment always falls on the perpetrator - not the victim.

When considering how to reduce rates of sexual violence, it's important to identify risk factors, find ways of stopping violence before it happens, and to make sure that victims have the support and resources they need to report abusers before they can strike again.

Stand against sexual violence

Sometimes, preventing sexual assault is just a matter of standing up at the right time. If you spot suspicious behavior in public or among your friends, it's better to confront the individual before the situation escalates into sexual violence.

This could mean alerting someone if you believe that their drink has been spiked with a date rape drug, or it could even be something as simple as calling out a friend for insensitive or hurtful comments.

Just because you're not in a criminal justice field doesn't mean you can't take a stand against criminal sexual behavior. Ordinary people can and should speak up about sexual violence whenever they encounter it.

Ultimately, it's important to remember that perpetrators of sexual violence can lead otherwise normal lives. If someone you know frequently talks about hurting others or makes abusive comments, tell them to stop. Explain to them why what they're doing is wrong before their behavior escalates out of control.

Teach prevention techniques

There are things everybody can do to help prevent sexual harassment. Employers should focus on adopting clear sexual harassment policies, identifying inappropriate behaviors, and giving employees the tools they need to report instances of sexual harassment in the workplace - confidentially, if necessary, to mitigate the possibility of retaliation.

Companies can also provide sexual harassment training to employees. This training should explain what sexual harassment is, give employees the information they need to recognize sexual violence, and help them understand what they can do to respond to sexual harassment when they see it.

This responsibility especially falls on managers, who may benefit from additional training about what constitutes inappropriate conduct with a subordinate, as well as how to identify sexually abusive behavior in the employees they oversee.

While larger corporations and businesses have the means to provide sensitivity training to their employees, those who work for smaller businesses may in fact be more susceptible to sexual harassment and mistreatment. According to Harvard Business review, 43% of Americans work for businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

While the 57% that work for larger businesses is a statistically larger figure, many in that category have access to enforceable HR policies and regulations. Without an HR department, many events can go unreported in smaller businesses. Also, the more intimate and confined setting of a small business can help to facilitate close associations and interactions that are both unwanted and inappropriate.

When speaking with individuals about sexual harassment, it's important to discuss what healthy relationships look like. Talk to individuals about what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate courtship and stress the importance of communication skills and education in the workplace to prevent awkward situations from escalating into instances of sexual harassment.

Empower at-risk groups

A critical part of sexual harassment prevention is to empower these communities to protect themselves against sexual harassment and to report harassers before they can hurt someone else.

Institutions that work with sexual harassment victims should be direct about their support for marginalized groups. In addition, encouraging and empowering members of these at-risk populations to pursue leadership training and positions can help other marginalized individuals to feel safer in their environment and more confident about coming forth with information about a harasser.

Create safe environments

Safe spaces allow survivors of sexual assault to talk about what has happened to them in candid terms, without fear of judgment or retaliation.

The creation of such safe spaces, whether they exist at school, in support groups, with a trained psychologist, or in the workplace, is essential for survivors to come to terms with the sexual assault they suffered.

Ultimately, helping survivors to feel safer and more supported will encourage more people to come forward and identify the perpetrators of sexual violence.

Believe and support victims

Victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault may feel anxious about coming forward with their experiences, because they fear the reaction of their peers. They may be afraid of being called a liar, of being told they are exaggerating, embarrassed about the situation or, even worse, of retaliation from their abuser.

For this reason, it is essential to believe and support survivors of sexual violence when they do come forward with their stories. When talking to survivors of sexual violence, show them that you care about their experience by taking their reports of sexual misconduct seriously and placing blame on the perpetrator, rather than on the victim.

Steps to take if you've been sexually assaulted

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence, there are resources available to help make sure you are safe, as well as to ensure that your attacker is brought to justice.

Ensure safety

If you have been attacked, your priority should be to find safety. It's important to get away from your attacker and, if possible, find someone supportive who will be with you until you're comfortable taking the next steps.

Go to the hospital

Once you're safe, it's critical to go to the hospital immediately following a sexual assault.

If you sustained any injuries from your attacker, they will need to be treated.

Even if you are not physically injured, a hospital can still collect evidence related to your assault. It may be difficult, but you should avoid washing your clothes or body until after you have been to the hospital. Doing so could result in the destruction of evidence which could later be used to prove your attacker's guilt in court.

Going into a strange environment so quickly following a sexual assault may be difficult, but you can take comfort in the fact that many registered nurses are trained to provide care to survivors of sexual assault. They will treat you and support you.

File a police report

Even if you're uncomfortable doing so, you should file a report with the police. Filing a report does not necessarily mean that you have to press charges. However, filing a report shortly after the crime will help for the collection of evidence in case you do decide to press charges against your attacker later.

While you are filing a police report, a criminal justice professional may be able to advise you on how to proceed, whether you are interested in pressing charges or not.

Get help

Mental trauma can stay with sexual assault survivors for many weeks, months, or even years following an attack. It's imperative to seek out mental health resources to help you come to terms with what has happened and learn about how you should proceed.

For students, this may include mental health resources provided by their school. Working professionals may want to speak with their HR department to learn about the available resources. Anyone can speak to a counselor to help them through the recovery process.

Reach out

The Me Too movement has shown that sexual assault survivors are not alone.

Reaching out to people you can trust - whether they're family members, friends, loved ones, or mental health professionals - can help you to build a support network. Having this kind of supportive environment can help you to recover from the sexual assault. However, many victims are hesitant to speak openly of the assault, which is understandable.

Sexual harassment and sexual assault are almost always about control, and the best way to take control back over one's mind, body, and spirit is to ensure that the attacker does not go unpunished or is able to do the same thing to someone else.

These are your experiences, and it's your choice what to do with them. No matter what, always remember that you don't have to suffer through this alone.

Additional resources and support

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) - RAINN provides support for survivors of sexual violence. It also operates the National Sexual Assault hotline (800-656-HOPE).

National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) - The NSVRC spreads awareness about sexual violence and provides resources to survivors, friends and family, and sexual violence advocates.

1in6 - 1in6 is an organization the advocates specifically for men and boys who have been the victims of sexual violence. It hopes to eliminate the social stigma around male sexual abuse and help male survivors to find the resources they need.

Equality Now - Equality Now advocates for the rights of women all over the world. It supports a wide variety of women's causes, including bringing an end to sexual violence.

Me Too - The Me Too movement helps to show survivors of sexual abuse that they are not alone. It also helps to improve awareness about sexual violence, showing just how widespread sexual harassment and assault really are.

Sources Tom Jacobs, Pacific Standard, "Black women are more likely than white women not to report sexual harassment" Karen Firestone, Harvard Business Review, "Dealing with sexual harassment when your company is too small to have HR"

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Me Too: Sexual Harassment Awareness & Prevention | Maryville Online

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The Me Too movement has shown that sexual harassment is more widespread than many realized, helping survivors of sexual violence find resources and a community.

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One social movement that has used the principles in Power Of Habit Chapter 8 to create lasting social change is the Black Lives Matter movement. This movement began as a habit of friendship, with three women, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, coming together to create a social media hashtag in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin's murderer. This habit of friendship grew through the habits of communities, as more people joined the movement and participated in protests, marches, and other forms of activism. The movement has also sustained through new habits that change participants' sense of self. One example of this is the practice of holding space for each other, which involves actively listening to each other's stories and experiences with empathy and compassion. This habit helps participants develop a greater sense of community and belonging within the movement, which in turn motivates them to continue fighting for justice and equality.

Source: https://blacklivesmatter.com/about/

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A social movement I was part of was a church choir. I remember when my friend invited me to join, I was so happy. They were so friendly at first, everyone was so nice like they had met me before, I had felt like I’m home. Everything was going so well until some of them started to have problem with Each other for no reason, Me in the other side who did not like how they was behaving I went to talk to the maestro so that he can do something about it. He actually listened to me, and one day he decided to have a meeting with our parents, to see how they can help us to change our behavior. After that meeting everything changed, we started to behaved the same way we were at the beginning. Even though a lot was happening ln this group, but joining was one of my best choices, because I was so shy, and I never wanted to speak in public but now I have no problem with speaking in public and expressing myself.

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A social movement that I am very passionate about is the Black Lives Matter movement. The Black Lives Matter movement was created to seek justice against racial discrimination. One of the primary concerns regarding this movement is police brutality. The Black Lives Matter movement campaigns against violence and systemic racism. The movement originated in 2014 following the death of the African-American teen, Treyvon Martin. The Black Lives Matter movement demonstrates the three patterns of social movements that is emphasized in “The Power of Habits” by Charles Duhigg. The movement created a habit that has brought communities and civilizations together to help prevent further injustices against the African American community. The movement has generated habits from people all over the world and continues to impact these habits everyday. The movement has also created friendships among the African American community . These habits will ensure the movement will provide dramatic changes throughout the world and will be long lasting!

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A social movement I am passionate about is 22 a day. We believe veteran suicide can be prevented if veterans get what they need when they need it. Did you know that 22 veterans commit suicide daily? This movement's purpose is to bring awareness to the number of suicides that happen daily due to the lack of help veterans get. Several years ago, three Michigan combat veterans discovered they had something in common: A battle buddy or veteran family member committed suicide.  They became aware of the Department of Veterans Administration (VA) study that estimated that on average 22 veterans commit suicide every day.  They decided to put up 22 crosses a day, every day for one month.  Their hope was that the visual impact of seeing the field of crosses growing relentlessly for an extended period would impact the people who drive by the crosses every day. The 22 a day movement helps veterans, and their loved ones find and use the resources they need to help transition to a “normal” life after a deployment or when their time of service is over, and they transition to civilian life. They help you help people you know who may be thinking of suicide, find what you need if you recently lost somebody to suicide, and lets you know how you can help to get the word out that there is a problem and that there is also hope and also helps by teaching citizens what the government could do to help. The 22 a day movement demonstrates the three patterns of social movements. The movement created a habit that has brought communities together to help prevent veteran suicides. The movement has generated habits from people all over the world in communities to impact these habits every day. It helps build stronger communities of families whose veterans couldn't handle the transition and those communities help the veterans currently going through the transition. These habits will ensure the movement will provide dramatic changes throughout the world and will bring everlasting relief to those families that are now new to the military. To know that their soldier will have the care and help that they need to make it through the tough times.

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A social movement I would like to discuss about when I was in middle school, one of my teachers has asked me to participate in a school singing and dancing competition. At first, I was so happy and scared same time, but I have agreed with her decision. The next day, when all the participants started practice, I was so nervous and shy which changed my decisions. I am a very shy and have problem to speak in public. But few participants were so supportive, and friendly, they helped me to communicate with others and feel free to talk and sing a song in front of thousands of peoples. They helped me to feel like I am at home. After that my fears have changed, I was able to be sung. So, that was the biggest learning situation in my life which made my life easy and best choice because I was so shy and never speak in public, but I am very happy and great full now.

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A Social movement I wish to talk about. Took place back in 2019 in my home city of Buffalo Ny. Take Back The Night was one of the city of Buffalo most powerful movement organized by Buffalo state college. Not only did this movement speak upon many years of sexual assault. It also brought a community together. I’ve personally attended this event along side my friends and family.  In the Power of Habit chapter 8 it spoke about the civil rights movement and Rosa park. You want change you want to be the voice. This event presents the social habit of friendship because first to start a movement you have to have more than yourself. Sexual assault is real and as victims which is not the best word to use at times you don’t feel comfort. This event was a group of students and staff member's at Buffalo state and a community getting together and saying enough is enough. What can us as a community do together in order to make a change and make out neighborhoods safer. In order to protect our women and children and even men. This is how the habits of communities were formed. One goal and everyone stuck together. We had many events that brought awareness to our communities but what made this event different then others. You heard real sexual assault stories. You heard about what occurred, giving you insight on what you can change to protect yourself. Through music and dance it showed new habits in oneself. You can talk all day long but actions are the key to change. Some habits I felt was changed during this event compared to the past was more speakers. More emotion and more flyers and information given to each individual in attendance. https://takebackthenight.org/