A women’s centre in Antigonish is speaking out after a controversial sign was hung outside an off-campus home over the weekend that has stirred conversations about sexualized language, consent and sexual violence.
The sign, which read “Drop-off zone: Acadia girlfriends,” appeared during StFX’s Homecoming. A photo posted on social media quickly drew widespread attention, generating hundreds of comments.
Anita Stewart, Executive Director of the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association, says the public discussion that followed is important, but so is understanding why the message is concerning.
Stewart says reducing women to something that can be “picked up or dropped off” turns women into objects and makes light of sexualized behaviour. She says the focus shouldn’t simply be on whether someone intended the message as humour.
“We have to look beyond whether someone intended it as a joke and ask what the joke is normalizing,” Stewart says.
She describes rape culture as attitudes and behaviours that normalize, minimize, excuse or trivialize sexual violence. Stewart stresses that one sign does not create rape culture by itself, but says jokes, comments and behaviours can contribute to a broader environment where sexual violence is treated casually or women are objectified.
The response online has included people who condemned the sign, along with others who dismissed it. Stewart says that division is part of why the conversation needs to continue.
She says it is particularly important that men participate in that conversation, including challenging friends when harmful jokes are made.
The most important time is before something happens.
For Stewart, the controversy should ultimately lead to prevention and education, conversations about consent, creating safe environments, challenging victim blaming and encouraging people to speak up need to happen ahead of an incident.
“Prevention is key and education is key,” Stewart says.
Stewart says the conversation sparked by the sign is one that needs to continue well beyond Homecoming weekend.
