Not On My Watch: A Bystander's Handbook for the Prevention of Sexual Violence

by Isabella Rotman

Genres: Nonfiction, Sexuality, Graphic Novels

Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Veronica]

Do you have a hard time talking to your teen about consent? Isabella Rotman to the rescue!

This zine/mini book is perfect size to gift to a young person as they start to head into the world. It goes over what consent is, how to be a good person and reject rape jokes, how to be an awesome person and be an active bystander, and even how to support a friend who is in a violent relationship. It really packs a lot in a short space. The beauty of this book is that it is written for anyone. There is no one gender or sexuality that is centered. Rather what is centered is the right for everyone to have agency over their bodies. And despite my opening line, there is no age limit for this book either. This middle-aged mom learned a lot too! The use of comics helped to convey big ideas in a simple, but not dumbed-down, manner.

[Tracy]

Ought to be handed out with the health text books in every middle and high school, as well as every college orientation packet, forever.

[Sydney Stein]

This handbook has great tools on how to be a helpful bystander. It's helpful for anyone who has ever met another person. Plus, Rotman is a wonderful illustrator!

[Sharon]

I really love this comic. It draws on excellent resources like Scarleteen and it bundles several good lessons together into one charmingly illustrated little book.

I have no expertise on sexual violence, but I was once a peer counselor for domestic violence and intimate partner violence survivors, and I think the section on that is solid. It emphasizes the importance of allowing the survivor to make their own decisions and points prospective bystanders (e.g., worried friends) toward resources on how to make safety plans with people experiencing abuse.

I want to immediately hand this comic out to everyone I know, but I guess I should start by putting its advice into practice in my own life first.

[Sarah]

A wonderful little "quick & dirty" guide to bystander intervention around sexual assault, and helping create a consent culture.

[Chelsea Kilpack]

A easy-to-read primer on the concepts of enthusiastic consent, bystander intervention, sexual violence, and intimate partner violence. Isabella Rotman's illustrations are inclusive, fun, and a joy to see.

Overall the guide is one I'd recommend giving to everyone in your life as a gift (especially your feminist friends who might, as I did, love the feeling of another zine in their hand).