SASO

Bystander Intervention

Bystander Intervention for Middle and High School and College Students

The Bystander Intervention program is developmentally appropriate and is in line with Best Practice Models of Prevention.  The Bystander Intervention Program is designed to teach youth about dynamics of sexual violence and how they, as young people, are affected.  The action component of this program is to facilitate dialogues with single gendered groups on “bystander techniques” that empower students to intervene as bystanders and prevent potentially dangerous situations from happening.  Students are given the space to discuss what intervening means to them and brainstorm, with facilitators, ways to intervene while keeping their own personal safety in mind.  By focusing on each student as a potential bystander, dialogues are more open and brainstorming can concentrate on what we can do to prevent sexual violence, as opposed to what keeps us from intervening as bystanders. 

Each workshop begins with a brief culture creation discussion that emphasizes respect for each other, respect for self-care, and a confidentiality agreement.  All students are given full permission to determine their own level of participation throughout the workshop.  Next, statistics on sexual violence, relevant to adolescents, are shared through a True/False activity.  The goal is to use state and national statistics to challenge many myths of sexual violence, create a space for open conversation about the facts of sexual violence and establish a common understanding among peers.   Specific statistics include state percentage of victims under the age of 18, definitions of active consent, social dynamics that tolerate violence and abuse, and potential effects of sexual violence on survivors. 

Students are led through a brief lesson with statistics that demonstrate how sexual violence is used as a tool of multiple oppressions.  Following the True/False activity, the workshop moves into discussing what it means to be a bystander who intervenes.  Students are asked to participate in visualizing a situation and evaluating the message it sends to victims, perpetrators, and other bystanders when we don’t intervene.  This flows into a facilitated dialogue with single gendered groups, using scripted scenarios to discuss options of intervening.  This provides an opportunity for students to think through what they may do and in turn, are more likely to follow through with their idea if they encounter a similar situation. 

The Bystander Intervention Program is designed for classroom workshops.  We are able to adapt the presentation time from 45 minutes to 2 hours and can be single or multi-day workshops, depending on teachers’ availability.  

SASO evaluates this program through anonymous Pre/Post Tests given at each workshop to each student.  Below are some statistics gathered from our program evaluation as well as some comments from students who have participated in a Bystander Intervention Program workshop.  Strong partnerships with teachers and school staff are also greatly valued. 
Stats for 2009:

80% of students were able to name a “bystander technique” that did not involve violence.
94% of students said they want to influence their peers to be less accepting of oppression and sexual violence.
“This presentation raised my awareness on the topic and how much power I have to help people” – 14 y/o female
“I didn’t know that you could be raped by your boyfriend” – 14 y/o female
“It showed me that being a bystander means doing something” – 14 y/o male