WIESBADEN, Germany - "Make sure the person you're planning to have sex with wants to have sex with you."
This was the main advice given to Wiesbaden Soldiers March 25 during Sexual Assault Awareness training by members of the Catharsis Productions, Sex Signals: "the real-life funny sort-of-improv show about sex and stuff," at the Flyers Theater.
"Consent is a verbal action of saying yes. ... Rape is sex without consent," said Chris Beier, Catharsis Productions, who reminded the audience that it is the initiator's responsibility to get consent before engaging in sexual intercourse.
Because more than 80 percent of sexual assault victims are assaulted by people they know, the creators of "Sex Signals" said they felt there was a need to address the issue at its root. "The creators were simply trying to understand the other gender's perspective, and they thought, 'if we misunderstand each other like this, then maybe others can find this helpful too,'" said Fawzia Mirza, Catharsis Productions, about the program's creators Gail Stern and Christian Murphy.
The production fuses serious situational content with drama, and actors play out a variety of scenarios to tackle gender stereotypes, miscommunication between the sexes and erroneous perceptions relative to dating and cross-gender interaction.
"Many of us are confused because we think there's a formula for sex. ... Enough people have been hurt, and that's why we're here," said Mirza as she addressed the audience from the stage after running through a few scenarios, including one about a man trying to pick up an uninterested woman in a bar.
"The presentation was informational ... they presented real situations well worth watching," said Pvt. Octavius Granville, 1st Armored Division, who said he intervened in a similar situation by using a distraction to rescue a friend. "I read that the (focal) female was not interested, but my friend didn't catch it. ... It was better than seeing one or both of them suffer."
The awareness training was a break away from the traditional slide presentation or video that Soldiers had become accustomed to, viewers said, explaining that they left with new tools to help prevent sexual assault.
"It was different - it's not the same thing over and over. It gave people a chance to get involved with the presentation. It gives me more confidence for saving a friend or myself when something like this happens," said Sgt. Mary Lonis, 1st Armored Division.
The actors discussed situations and concerns openly with the audience, stressing the point that consent is always needed before engaging in sexual activity.
"This is a cultural shift, and the Army is keen on taking the lead on this," said Beier, adding that gaining consent is crucial to prevent misunderstanding, a rape accusation or worse.
April is Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness Month. Contact the Army Community Service Family Advocacy Program for more information about sexual assault and ways of reporting. ACS officials encourage any victim to report crimes of sexual assault by calling the Wiesbaden Victims Advocate Hotline at civ (0162) 296 6741.
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