March 12, 2020

CAASE believes talking to young people about sexual harm is a powerful way to prevent it from happening in the first place. We provide innovative and engaging curriculum across Chicago that empowers young people to think critically about gender equity, understand consent and boundaries, and recognize the realities of the commercial sex trade and trafficking. 

We use education strategies that engage students, including talking through situations they are likely to find themselves in. Our consent workshop features a scenario that involves two people in a relationship sharing nudes—and showing them to their friends without permission. It always generates lots of questions and comments about who is at fault when private messages are shared and what the risks of sexting might be. Students expressed thinking of sexting and sending nudes as a rite of passage. They say it is common and “just something you do”. Research backs their belief that it’s prevalent. 

A study published this year shows that 36% of girls and 44% of boys reported receiving a sexually suggestive text or nude photo, with significantly more girls than boys reporting they’ve sent a photo of themselves to someone else. It’s no surprise that students are seeking clarification about the risks of sexting and wanting to have genuine conversations about it.

CAASE’s prevention team, which is always looking for opportunities to be led by student’s interests and life experiences, took note of teens’ eagerness to discuss sexting. They felt it was important to provide students with a more in-depth opportunity to learn about cyber sexual harassment so they developed a workshop that focuses on it exclusively. The workshop cultivates conversations about privacy, trust, and consent while equipping participants with skills to be thoughtful, critical users of technology in their intimate relationships.

This new workshop is a prime example of how CAASE is often at the forefront of the movement to end sexual harm. Illinois lawmakers are currently proposing bill ‘HB4007,’ which would require sex education classes for grades 6 -12 to include age-appropriate discussions on sexting. We are pleased our legislature is recognizing that students need this information. We’re also proud that our sexting workshop already covers all the requirements of the proposed bill—and more. We hope to see HB4007 pass, but regardless of whether it becomes a law, CAASE will continue to provide this much-needed curriculum to schools in Chicago.

CAASE is able to develop new workshops that are ahead of the curve and responsive to students’ experiences because people like you support our Prevention Education Programs.