Every teenager in the world should watch this shocking but super powerful British PSA about teen rape. It's only about a minute long, but it clearly conveys the message that "no means no."
The video shows two teenagers making out, but that turns into rape after the boy throws the girl on the bed forcefully and begins to undress her against her will. What makes this spot different is that it shows a double of the boy looking at what's happening through a glass window trying to convince himself not to do it. And then a message comes up saying: 'If you could see yourself, would you see rape? Sex with someone who doesn't want to is rape.'
Can't get any more straightforward than that.
Embedded content: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WIX9oREk8Fw
The PSA is directed at British children between 13 and 18 years old because more than 250,000 teen girls there have been victims of rape but haven't reported it, according to a nonprofit to end child cruelty. The numbers are no less staggering here in the U.S. where youths between 12 and 17 are two to three times more likely to be sexually assaulted than adults and most of these assaults are perpetrated by someone they know, like a boyfriend.
Read more in ¿Qué más?: Student sues college over roommate's sex life
In fact, approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. In other words, teens need to know that just because you're going out with someone it doesn't give him or her the right to rape you.
Exact figures are hard to come by because many times rapes go unreported. This is particularly true among the Latino community due, in part, to a lack of knowledge of laws against this crime and other cultural issues.
The PSA has been called controversial, but I think the shock value is exactly what makes it work. All teenagers need to understand that, as the spot says: 'Sex with someone who doesn't want to is rape.'
What do you think about this PSA? Would you show it to your teenage kids?
Image via YouTube
