The White House launched a new initiative today to help prevent sexual assaults called “It’s On Us,” complete with the requisite hashtag and YouTube video of Hollywood stars:
#ItsOnUs to realize we all have a role to play in stopping sexual assault. Take the pledge at http://t.co/7aGUmPQNTW http://t.co/jXgykjLwlc
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 19, 2014
What makes this initiative different, we’re told, is that it will “focus on men”:
The White House’s new rape prevention campaign puts the emphasis on men http://t.co/MoriH8CEXq #ItsOnUs
— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) September 19, 2014
More from Think Progress:
The education campaign will be primarily focused on teaching students how to practice effective bystander intervention. “It’s On Us” encourages students to get involved in situations that seem to be headed in a potentially dangerous direction, like when someone at a party has been cornered by a person making aggressive sexual advances.Tips on the campaign’s website include recognizing that intoxicated individuals cannot consent and remembering that victims should not be blamed.
But will it work? The White House is asking people who take the “pledge” to “[t]urn your profile photo into an IT’S ON US badge to show your pledged commitment to helping stop sexual assault.”
Avatar-activism, however, hasn’t had a really good success record. For example, people changing their social media avatars to support democratic reform in Iran didn’t work out so well. And #BringBackOurGirls has accomplished nothing.
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So far, there seems to be a well-coordinated effort by the White House to use #ItsOnUs to get people talking about preventing sexual assault. . .
#ItsOnUs to prevent sexual assault. Watch this new PSA: http://t.co/GN3EqsnOrX pic.twitter.com/2GqOEqb8bI
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 19, 2014
It’s on all of us to stop sexual assault. Join us and take the pledge to be a part of the solution at http://t.co/tacQ8VcEk4. #ItsOnUs
— Madden NFL 20 (@EAMaddenNFL) September 19, 2014
#ItsOnUs to stop sexual assault before it happens. Check out how you can be a part of it. http://t.co/ioHu20PRQN http://t.co/m8N71dFiHm
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) September 19, 2014
Stanford student-athletes: #ItsOnUs to lead by example and promote a culture of respect on campus. http://t.co/BhVtz9a6DR
— Stanford University (@Stanford) September 19, 2014
. . .but we’ll have to wait and see if there’s any long-term benefit from this new program. Hashtags are not action and that’s something this White House doesn’t seem to understand.
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