Sex signals get message across

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  "I didn't rape that girl!" the Airman pleaded to the audience, as he scanned the faces of more than 150 Airmen, looking for any sign of sympathy in the base theater April 8.
Airman 'David Parker' took to the stage to tell his side of the story regarding the alleged rape of fellow Airman and co-worker, 'Amy.' But the more he explained, the more the crowd reacted. Some questioned David's innocence while others, the validity of Amy's claim.

This was the exact reaction members of the presentation 'SEX SIGNALS' were striving for when they performed the 'improv' skit for base members.

The presentation encouraged the audience to provide solutions such as creating safer and healthier interpersonal sexual relationships and how to intervene as bystanders when they witness a friend or stranger in a vulnerable situation that could lead to sexual violence.

Sexual Assault Response Coordinators on base invited the Chicago based duo, as part of the Sexual Assault Awareness month, to get the word out.

"We want service members and people in general to be prepared when it comes to sexual assault," said Sharon Adams, 17th Training Wing SARC member. "It can occur on base and we want to encourage everyone to play a part in preventing it. The presenters, George Zerante and Courtney Abbott, showed how by changing the way we see things. There are things we can do to prevent it from happening."

According to the Catharsis Productions web site, the presentation offers a different approach from traditional sexual assault prevention programs. The ninety-minute two-person presentation takes a comedic look at the awkwardness of dating as the actors represent each gender's perspective.

Through improvisation and audience interaction, the play explores how social pressures, unrealistic fantasies, power inequity and false preconceptions of the other sex all contribute to the tensions often found in dating. SEX SIGNALS challenges audiences who have mislabeled coercive behavior as seduction to reexamine a culture that too often holds victims of rape responsible for their own vulnerability, the Web site states.

Technical Sgt. Josh Cartwright, 312th Training Squadron instructor, whose students, made up the majority of the attendees, thought the briefing was very informative.

"I think this show had a positive impact on my students by giving them a real life interpretation of what can happen and how signals may be construed by different people," said Sergeant Cartwright. "Many of these scenarios can happen continually during an Airman's career and hopefully this will help them make the right choices when they do arise."

The sergeant believes that in the past PowerPoint training was mostly ignored because it didn't reach out to its target audience.

"The presentation we attended was tailored more for today's generation and I think it will leave a lasting impression. It is definitely a step in the right direction in giving our Airmen a more realistic interpretation of what can happen on any given night out. I believe it is important for all troops to learn about sexual assault. Nobody wants to sexually assault or be a victim, but unfortunately many let alcohol and the passion of the moment drive what happens."

Since 2000, Sex Signals has been performed more than 1600 times at 400 colleges throughout the country and dozens of military installations around the world. It has become a popular program on sexual assault awareness among college audiences, military personnel and educators.