By Madeline Wilkinson

It’s something we see every day on social media platforms like Snapchat or Instagram, or an orange flyer taped to every doorway in the UK dorms. Maybe you even know someone who’s been personally affected. You might be wondering what I’m talking about—or maybe you already know. It’s called sexual violence, and it’s far more prevalent than we tend to realize.

So, if it’s such a common occurrence, why do we act so indifferent toward it?

To explore this, I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Christal Lynn Badour Hirsch, a remarkable member of UK’s Psychology Department. Dr. Badour gave a phenomenal TEDx Talk where she dove into the realities of sexual violence, explored its epidemiology, and offered advice that we, as a society, can use to help reduce its occurrence.

Dr. Badour began her career in Psychology at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she majored in Psychology and Clinical Science. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arkansas, followed by a pre-doctoral clinical internship at the Medical University of South Carolina and a postdoctoral fellowship in trauma epidemiology. When asked why she chose to pursue this specific field, Dr. Badour explained, “I've always been really interested in how people recover from, or navigate, really stressful situations.”

Her early interest in large-scale societal trauma—like war and genocide—initially led her to major in Political Science. However, her academic path shifted following her personal experience with Hurricane Katrina. “I was in college during Hurricane Katrina, and so I was really personally impacted by that, and my community was impacted by that,” she said.

After the storm, she began working in a psychology lab that studied how children coped with community violence before and after Hurricane Katrina. That experience transformed her academic focus: “I shifted from thinking about the global, societal stuff to thinking about the individual person and how people recover from the worst things that can happen in someone’s life.” Later, during graduate school, she began working on issues related to sexual violence—work she describes as the most impactful of her life.

Her hands-on work with survivors helped clarify her mission. Much of Dr. Badour’s research now focuses on understanding the experiences of survivors and improving treatment options for PTSD and trauma-related substance abuse. While treatments exist, she notes, they’re not accessible to all survivors. “There are a lot of survivors who never seek care,” she said, “and so I'm interested in understanding and breaking down the barriers to get people the help that they need.” According to her, everyone is affected by sexual violence in some way, which is why society must take it seriously.

Her TEDx Talk wasn’t just a bucket list item—it was the culmination of years of academic and practical experience. A few years ago, she taught a class on sexual violence. Initially nervous, she found that students were eager to engage with the material. Many had never realized how deeply rape culture is embedded in society. “I spend all my time thinking about these things, so to me it’s very obvious. But students told me they had never realized how prevalent rape culture is,” she said. One student told her, “Once you see rape culture, you can never unsee it,” a quote Dr. Badour now emphasizes often.

This experience inspired her TED Talk, where she sought not only to raise awareness, but to offer hope and guidance. Instead of focusing solely on the negatives, she emphasized what we can do to make a difference.

To understand sexual violence, we need to examine its roots. Badour explains that harmful gender norms are instilled in us from a young age. “They start when we’re really young. They start with socialization—you know, those are boys’ toys, those are girls’ toys.” Common phrases like “boys will be boys” normalize aggressive behavior in boys while encouraging girls to be modest and abstinent. These ideas, she says, are reinforced by both religious and secular cultural values.

Dr. Badour also discusses how environmental factors like previous experiences of violence, biological predispositions, and behavioral motivations like dominance can contribute to perpetrating behavior. These influences create a complex, deeply rooted issue that’s hard to address—but not impossible.

One of the most important solutions? Communication. Teaching children about consent from a young age is essential. Their understanding of consent directly influences how they view boundaries later in life. Consent education not only strengthens personal relationships but also helps society better understand and combat sexual violence. And it’s important to recognize that sexual violence comes in many forms—from penetrative rape to grooming.

Beyond education, we must also support survivors. The first step is recognizing signs of trauma, which can vary widely. Survivors may experience depression, PTSD symptoms, emotional withdrawal, hypervigilance, anger, or emotional sensitivity. Because symptoms differ so much, it can be hard to recognize who’s struggling. The second step is facilitating recovery—helping survivors find a safe environment to talk, encouraging healthy coping strategies, and ensuring they have access to the support they need. Creating space to remember—rather than avoid—traumatic memories can help both survivors and their loved ones.

At the societal level, we need better communication and awareness. If you live on campus, you’ve likely seen crime bulletins about recent acts of sexual violence. That’s a good start. But Dr. Badour also recommends strengthening mandatory online training for UK students and creating more conversations around navigating healthy relationships. She highlights the “Red Zone”—the period during the first few months of the academic year when sexual assaults are most likely to occur, especially among freshmen and members of Greek life. She encourages RAs and first-year leaders to receive more intensive training so they can educate their peers and respond effectively in crisis situations.

UK is home to several student-led organizations, such as the VIP Center and SAFECATS, which offer resources ranging from nighttime transportation to prevention education. These programs play a critical role in building a safer, more informed campus community.

In short, we need to stop treating sex as a taboo subject and start viewing it as a critical educational opportunity. Talking openly about sex and sexual violence helps not only survivors but future generations who deserve healthy, respectful relationships. Dr. Badour gave me invaluable insight into the realities of this issue, and I walked away with a deeper understanding and a desire to contribute. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, please don’t hesitate to reach out. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or counselor, talking to someone is a powerful first step. One conversation can truly make a difference.