SAAM 2024 Community Highlight: International Students & Their Experience
Each SAAM, the SHARE Office highlights communities that have worked to end sexual violence and support survivors. In 2024, we are focusing on acknowledging the experiences of International Students when they come to the US, as well as their needs when it comes to sexual violence prevention resources and education.
In many countries around the world, there are no laws like Title IX that prohibit sexual assault and violence in schools and colleges. In multiple nations, gender-based violence is a topic that is taboo, culturally ignored, and thus rarely spoken about. And in several international communities, victims are blamed (not unlike in the US context) and not allowed to get access to any form of help. It is therefore essential to acknowledge the experiences of international students when they come to the US, as well as their needs when it comes to sexual violence prevention resources and education.
Approximately five million international students currently attend universities in the US and Canada, and these numbers are growing every year. However, international students are often marginalized and overlooked in discussions about sexual violence on college campuses. It is vital to be cognizant of the unique challenges faced by international students, including language barriers at hospitals, immigration concerns with course load requirements and impacts of taking a leave of absence, and the stigma associated with reporting sexual violence or accessing counseling. It is crucial to recognize that Title IX protection applies to all students, including international students, and that they are eligible to report cases without fear of deportation or visa status implications.
To foster a culture of care on Stanford’s campus, we must make resources more accessible to international students by addressing their cultural needs and providing them with information and support tailored to their circumstances. Some examples of strategies can include building infographics with immigration policies, ensuring that resources are available in multiple languages, sharing a list of culturally cognizant support services in the Bay Area, and hosting specific sessions on sexual violence prevention and awareness at International Student Orientation. These are some initiatives that SHARE has committed to doing and is continuing to expand upon. The voices of international students matter, and it is vital to create a safe environment where international students are able to access support services, and where they are encouraged to work and engage in sexual violence advocacy spaces.
By understanding, honoring, and implementing strategies to better the experiences of international students, we can work towards creating a safer and more inclusive campus environment for all.
WHY DO WE DO A COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT?
Each year the SHARE office seeks to highlight a community and their contributions to the fight against sexual violence. Specifically, SHARE highlighted Asian American activists in the Disability Community in 2022 and Black Women Founders of the anti-sexual violence movement in 2021. We believe that it is always important to consider intersectionality in all aspects of sexual violence prevention, as the systems of oppression may specific marginalized communities at higher risk for experiencing violence and limit our ability to seek rehabilitation and recovery resources. Additionally, the continued perpetuation of sexual violence is often utilized as a tool of oppression to keep certain communities marginalized.
In 2024, the centering of a community was specifically related to our theme of Building Connected Communities. We cannot stop sexual violence without ending the systems of oppression that create and uphold it. SHARE hopes to build connections between different communities like international students to explore the ways systemic injustice magnifies systems of sexual violence and oppression and make our programming accessible and effective to all.