What Can You Do?

As a Gator, you can help build a culture of care and respect by learning the 5 steps to a healthier Gator Nation.

1. Routinely seeking consent
2. Challenging gender norms
3. Prioritizing mental wellness
4. Developing your healthy relationship skills
5. Becoming an upstander

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Routinely Seeking Consent

Consent is the presence of a YES. Not the absence of a no.

Consenting and asking for consent is all about setting your personal boundaries and respecting those of your partner — and checking in if things aren’t clear. Both people must agree to sex — every single time — for it to be consensual. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Consent is not possible when a person is incapacitated, coerced, forced, threatened, or intimidated.

When it comes to ANY kind of sexual contact, consent is mandatory and every sexual interaction you have must embody principles of consent.

One Love 5 Myths of Consent

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Challenge Gender Norms

Part of becoming your best self involves reflecting on existing beliefs and asking yourself questions about why that is. Different cultures have different social norms, some of which may have a gendered lens.

What does that mean? It means that a specific role, idea, or object may be attributed to a specific gender. These change over time and often we are unaware of them and their influence on our lives.

Consider a few gender norms from the United States:

• Women are more nurturing
• Pink is for girls
• Boys don’t cry

Gender norms contribute to gender inequality and can contribute to dissatisfaction in relationships. Consider a stay-at-home father and the sense of identity that comes with living in a culture that genders nurturing skills as feminine. How might that impact the father’s sense of self?

By challenging gender norms and accepting each other for who they are, we can have healthier, more satisfying relationships.

A Call to Men Live Respect Resources

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Prioritize Mental Wellness

Everyone wants to get the most out of life and one way to do that is to make sure to prioritize mental wellness. Taking time to be mindful, practice self-care, engage in healthy stress management, and make use of all the resources available to support you in being your best self. By taking care of our emotional well-being and mental health, we can be more present in our relationships and better navigate the ups and downs of life.

Mental Well-Being Course

JED Mental Health Resource Center

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Develop Your Healthy Relationship Skills

100% of us are in relationships and 100% of us can learn how to have healthier more satisfying relationships. Knowing the signs of a healthy and unhealthy relationship is the first step in building awareness and in being able to change your own behaviors.

One Love 10 Signs of Healthy Relationships

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Be An Upstander

An upstander is someone who takes active, intentional steps to stop sexual assault and harassment, dating and domestic violence, and stalking. Advocate for survivors by challenging victim-blaming statements. Challenge comments or jokes that perpetuate rape culture or sexism. Take action by directly intervening or getting help if you see someone about to engage in sexual activity with someone who is not capable of giving consent.

Join the conversation. On social media, use the #GatorsAsk #GatorUpstander hashtags to spark conversation about sexual-based misconduct and relationship violence and share your thoughts.

Be an upstander. Put an end to sexual-based misconduct and relationship violence.