If you have a teenager you may have heard about Mike Domitrz. He is the Executive Director of The Date Safe Project, a program that uses lectures, books, DVDs, podcasts, newsletters, and posters to address healthy sexuality for young people. Domitrz is committed to "Changing America's Approach to Dating, Consent, & Sexual Assault."
Mike Domitrz started the project after the 1989 rape of his sister. He was in college at the time and spent the next two years processing the event. He realized that "current dating practices were based on standards of disrespect" and that he needed to raise awareness and create dating practices that were based on mutual respect.
The "Can I Kiss You" program (part of the Date Safe Project) teaches teens to have a conversation before they engage in sexual activity. This sounds like a hard program to sell to teenagers. After all, part of the fun of sexual activity is the element of spontaneity. On the other hand, I think if you're not ready to talk about sex you're not ready to have sex!
The website for The Date Safe Project is a great resource for anyone wanting to raise awareness of sexual assault in their own community or for individuals like parents who are looking for ways to prepare their children to date responsibly. There are links and resources including articles, tips, organizations dedicated to addressing sexual assault, and websites authored by sexual assault survivors. You can listen in on the bi-weekly podcast, sign the Pledge for Action, and sign up for the free newsletter (which comes with an excerpt from Domitrz's book, May I Kiss You).
There are two related blogs directed towards more specific audiences: Educators and Activists Share and Parenting Your Teen. Both are loaded with practical advice and ideas.
I was thrilled to come across the Date Safe Project and am grateful to Mike Domitrz for leading such an important and effective mission. I love that someone, particularly a man, cares enough to dedicate his life to protecting the sexual and emotional health of young people.
it is good to see that you are opening the eyes of people who may not realize what others may be thinking out there. we all go into the dating things with differing expectations.
Posted by: Delicious Monsters | January 16, 2009 at 03:10 PM