By Joelle Piercy, LSW, MSS, MLSP
Safe+Sound Somerset Director of Outreach and Community Engagement
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) asks us not only to name the harm caused by sexual violence, but to reflect on the cultural conditions that allow it to persist. One helpful way to understand those conditions is through the Rape Culture Pyramid, a visual framework that shows how sexual violence is supported by everyday beliefs, behaviors, and systems.
“Rape Culture Pyramid” by 11th Principle: Consent!, used with permission from Jaime Chandra, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA https://www.11thprincipleconsent.org/consent-propaganda/rape-culture-pyramid/ ; Link for CC BY-NC-SA: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode
At the base of the pyramid are things many of us have been taught to dismiss as “normal”: rape jokes, rigid gender roles, sexual objectification, victim-blaming comments, and minimizing or doubting survivors’ experiences. These attitudes are often brushed off as harmless, but they matter. They shape how we think about choices, boundaries, and consent. They create an environment where harm is excused, questioned, or ignored. When those at the bottom go unchallenged, they reinforce behaviors higher up the pyramid: harassment, coercion, abuse, and ultimately, sexual assault. The pyramid reminds us that sexual violence does not happen in isolation. It grows in a culture that makes space for it.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month invites us to dismantle this pyramid and intentionally build something better: a culture rooted in consent, respect, accountability, and care. One of the simplest, most powerful ways to do that is to start by believing survivors.
“Start by Believing” means responding to disclosures of harm with care instead of skepticism. It means resisting the impulse to ask why didn’t you…? or are you sure? and instead saying, I’m glad you told me. I believe you. Starting by believing affirms that a survivor’s choices were taken away, their boundaries were crossed, and their consent was violated, and that the responsibility for that lies with the person who caused the harm.
Starting by believing is both a personal practice and a responsibility of the systems and institutions that survivors and people experiencing oppression must navigate. Schools, workplaces, healthcare systems, faith institutions, and legal systems can start by believing when they respect people’s choices, honor their boundaries, and treat disclosures of harm as credible expressions of violated consent. For communities facing intersecting forms of oppression such as survivors who are Black, Indigenous, immigrants, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, or those living with poverty, having one’s choices questioned, boundaries dismissed, or consent ignored is often part of a broader pattern of systemic harm. When systems start by believing, they affirm that everyone deserves agency over their bodies and lives, that boundaries matter, and that consent must be upheld, and they embed this value into policies, practices, and responses to harm.
Belief is about human connection and cultural change. Survivors often share that the response they receive when they disclose harm can be just as impactful as the violence itself. Being believed by individuals or organizations can reduce isolation, support healing, and open the door to safety and resources. Being doubted or blamed can deepen harm and silence.
Everyday actions matter: challenging comments that minimize harm; practicing and teaching clear, enthusiastic consent; and supporting survivors when they speak. Whether you are in a classroom, workplace, place of worship, or a kitchen table, you can decide how you will respond to and talk about violence. These choices help weaken the foundation of the rape culture pyramid and strengthen a culture where boundaries are respected and consent is nonnegotiable.
This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, let us move beyond awareness alone. Let us commit to belief, compassion, and accountability. When we start by believing survivors, we take a meaningful step toward building a world where everyone’s choices matter, everyone’s boundaries are honored, and everyone deserves to be believed.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual violence, support is available.
Safe+Sound Somerset’s 24/7 Call and Text Helpline: 866.685.1122
