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#RedMyLips aims to raise awareness about sexual assault, to speak out against rape myths and victim-blaming attitudes, and to stand in solidarity with survivors. During the month of April, people across the globe will wear red lipstick to demonstrate their support and their refusal to be invisible and silent about sexual assault.
Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit and affirmative consent of the participants. Sexual assault can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or sexual orientation. Sexual assault is NEVER the victim's fault.
Consent is the clear, informed, and voluntary agreement between all participants to engage in sexual activity. Sexual activity does not just mean sex! It includes kissing, hugging, making out, cuddling, and touching someone's body in a sexual way. Sexual assault can be prevented by asking for and receive consent before initiating any type of sexual activity.
There can be a lot of pressure on teenagers, especially young women, to engage in sexual activities that they do not feel ready for. It's important for young men and women to think about, to discuss and to truly understand their own boundaries. It's equally important that their friends, their dates, their boyfriends and girlfriends, etc. respect those boundaries. Which means, we must start having important conversations about desires, about limits and about consent"¦ even if it feels a bit awkward at first!
Consent = Respect!
That's why we've decided to focus our #RedMyLips efforts on the issues of consent. During the month of April, we'll be sharing photos of our team members rocking red lipstick and displaying informative and powerful messages about sexual assault and consent.
Why red lipstick? Even though the ONLY person responsible for sexual assault is the attacker, victims are often blamed for being sexually assaulted because of their appearance "“ from the length of their skirts, to the tightness of their shirts, to how much makeup they wear. Because red lipstick is often associated with sexuality and attraction and because it's a very visible form of expression, it's a fitting and effective tool for bringing attention to the issue of sexual assault and for standing together in solidarity with all those affected.
We hope you'll help support this campaign by wearing red lipstick, sharing our photos, and starting important conversations about sex, sexual assault, and consent with your friends, family, and loved ones. Together, we can make the world a better and safer place.
