Sexual Harassement and Assault Peer Education Support
SHAPES stands for Sexual Harassment and Assault Peer Education and Support. SHAPES is a program where students actively tackle attitudes and behaviours on campus and in the community that constitute sexual harassment and assault. The program also trains students in how to support and help others who have been harassed or assaulted.
Why Run A Peer Program?
Rather than have usually older and unknown “experts” provide students with information about sexual harassment and assault and educating students in these areas, the SHAPES program is based on the premise that:
People are more likely to hear and personalize a message that may result in changing their attitudes and beliefs if they believe the messenger is similar to them in lifestyle and faces the same concerns and pressure (Sloane & Zimmer, 1993: 242).