Professor Exposes Rape on Canadian Campuses in Graphic Novel

Candice Waddell-Henowitch, an associate professor at Brandon University and author of a graphic novel about sexual violence, hopes her work will be used as a resource on post-secondary campuses across Canada.

The book It Happened to Me and It’s Not Okay: Sharing Stories of Sexual Violence either It Happened to Me and It’s Not Okay: Sharing Stories of Sexual Violence is inspired by the testimony of ten survivors who agreed to share their attacks.

They were able to give very good advice on how someone who is experiencing sexual violence can cope and get the support they need. reports the author.

The story of the book begins at a college party, where former survivors witness a sexual assault and prevent it from happening. The rest of the story shows the support between the protagonists.

The author deplores the fact that, in reality, the victims’ voices are not always heard. There is still much work to be done to protect those who speak out and support victims.

Back to school: a time conducive to attacks

According to the author, the first six to eight weeks after the start of the university year are known as the zone rouge : a period when the number of sexual assaults is higher than the rest of the year.

Brandon University’s sexual violence education and prevention coordinator, Jessica Laxdal, confirms that about 50 per cent of sexual assaults on campus occur during this time.

When we think about sexual violence, we often go to the extreme, but the spectrum is broad.ajoute Jessica Laxdal.

For those who have experienced it, [le roman graphique] can really help normalize and validate that what happened to them is wrong, and hopefully it will give them the courage to speak out and get the support they need.she insists.

It Happened to Me and it’s Not Okayillustrated by Brandon artist Merissa Mayhew, will be available for free (New window) from September 12 (in English).

With information from Chelsea Kemp