The Purple Folder is your guide to responding when someone shares an experience of sexualized violence
Sexualized violence is an umbrella term that can include but is not limited to: creating and/or sharing images without consent, stalking or voyeurism (watching others engaged in sexual activities or naked), intimate partner violence, and online harassment of a sexual nature. Please refer to the Sexualized Violence Policy for complete definitions.
As we continue to shift towards a climate on campus that promotes positive consent culture and encourages frank, open, and honest conversations, we recognize that this may bring about difficult, uncomfortable, and heavy conversations.
The Purple Folder [PDF-2.3MB] outlines positive and negative responses, resources, and supports that exist on campus and in the community, referral options, and other resources to help you navigate those discussions.
Our sexualized violence advisor is available to provide support in answering any questions, debriefing, and follow up.
Key steps
Some key steps for supporting someone who has shared an experience of sexualized violence:
- Believe them.
- Thank them for sharing.
- Validate their feelings.
- Reassure them that the assault was not their fault.
- Ask them how they want to be supported.
- Address immediate needs.
- Don’t tell them what to do.
- Respect what they decide to do.
- When they are ready, make them aware of additional resources.
When someone shares an experience of sexualized violence
Every act of sexualized violence has an impact and there’s no ‘right’ reaction.
Additional resources
Disclosure and report
Disclosure refers to the sharing of information by a member of the university community (or visitor) with the sexualized violence advisor about an experience of sexualized violence that individual has had. The individual can choose to share as much or as little information as they want.
Report refers to a written statement of allegations submitted to the sexualized violence advisor, or other member of the university community, about an experience of sexualized violence that individual has had.
A disclosure and a report are separate actions that a member of the university community can choose to take. A visitor can only make a disclosure.
Additionally, the Purple Folder has some inserts that may be useful in responding to an experience of sexualized violence in a survivor-centred and trauma-informed manner.