Basiran
WASHINGTON, DC – For years, the discourse surrounding campus sexual assault prevention has focused heavily on bystander intervention, reporting mechanisms, and survivor support. While these components remain vital to campus safety, a transformative new report from the advocacy organization It’s On Us suggests that the industry has been looking at the problem too late. By the time a student sets foot on a university campus, the window for foundational behavioral education may have already begun to close.
According to a groundbreaking report released today, titled The Preparation Problem: How the System Ignores Young Men’s Sex Education Needs, the current landscape of sex education in the United States is leaving young men fundamentally unprepared to engage with consent-based culture. The study argues that inconsistent, incomplete, and often nonexistent sex education is a primary driver of the knowledge gaps that complicate campus-based sexual assault prevention efforts.
The Core Thesis: Prevention Starts Before Enrollment
The research posits that sexual assault prevention is not merely a collegiate responsibility but a developmental one. It’s On Us, a national initiative under the umbrella of the nonprofit Civic Nation, has long championed the idea that young men must be active participants in the solution to campus sexual violence.
"This research demonstrates that the work to prevent campus sexual assault starts long before students step onto a college campus," said Tracey Vitchers, Executive Director of It’s On Us. "It begins with the movies they watch, the conversations they have with trusted adults, the content of their health classes in school, and the many ways they learn about sex as they grow up. It’s clear that the current system is failing young men. To set them up for success, we need to meet college men where they are with prevention programming that acknowledges their varying knowledge levels of topics like consent and sex."
By framing sex education as a preventative tool rather than a static health curriculum, the report highlights the disconnect between the high-level, nuanced consent training provided by universities and the rudimentary or abstinence-only backgrounds that many students arrive with.
A Chronology of the Research Initiative
The path to this report began with It’s On Us’s previous endeavor, Prevention is a Team Sport. That study uncovered a compelling and previously under-researched trend: Black and LGBTQ+ men participating in college athletics were significantly more likely to correctly identify the boundaries of healthy versus unhealthy relationships compared to their peers.
Intrigued by this finding, the research team decided to expand the scope. Over the last year, the organization engaged with QualtricsXM to distribute a comprehensive survey. The objective was to create a representative, yet targeted, data set that could account for intersectional experiences.
The resulting study sampled more than 1,000 college-aged men. Notably, the methodology intentionally oversampled Black and LGBTQ+ populations—demographics that are often marginalized or overlooked in traditional sexual health research. By prioritizing these voices, the study sought to determine how specific cultural and educational backgrounds influence a young man’s ability to navigate the complex social landscape of modern campus life.
Supporting Data: Examining the Knowledge Gap
The data collected by The Preparation Problem paints a stark picture of the American educational landscape. While the full report details extensive statistical breakdowns, several key themes have emerged regarding how young men perceive their own education.
The Myth of Comprehensive Education
The research indicates that for a significant percentage of respondents, formal sex education was either nonexistent or severely limited. When it was present, it often focused exclusively on the biological mechanics of reproduction or the clinical risks of STIs, while entirely omitting the socio-emotional aspects of interpersonal relationships.
The Role of Peer Culture and Media
With formal systems failing to provide guidance, the report finds that young men are turning to "alternative" sources of information—namely, peer groups and internet culture. This creates a feedback loop where misinformation, toxic masculinity, and unrealistic expectations of sexual dynamics are reinforced rather than challenged.
Intersectionality and Awareness
The study corroborates the findings of Prevention is a Team Sport by noting that Black and LGBTQ+ men often possess a higher degree of emotional intelligence regarding consent. Researchers hypothesize that because these groups are frequently forced to navigate social hierarchies or systemic biases, they develop a more acute awareness of power dynamics—a skill that is directly transferable to the understanding of consent.
Official Responses and Strategic Implications
The release of The Preparation Problem serves as a clarion call for higher education institutions, secondary school districts, and policy makers.
Bridging the Gap in Higher Education
For universities, the implication is clear: a "one-size-fits-all" orientation program is insufficient. If a freshman arrives on campus with no prior education on affirmative consent, a single seminar will not suffice. It’s On Us recommends that institutions adopt a tiered approach to prevention programming that assesses students’ knowledge levels upon arrival and provides tailored, recurring education that evolves alongside them.
Reforming Secondary Education
On a systemic level, the report advocates for a national shift toward comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education that includes modules on healthy relationships, emotional regulation, and the nuances of consent. By the time students reach college, these concepts should be second nature, rather than foreign or confusing topics.
Broader Implications: A Cultural Shift
The findings of The Preparation Problem suggest that the "culture change" desired by advocates cannot be achieved through posters and workshops alone. It requires a fundamental restructuring of how society prepares young men for the realities of adulthood.
- Normalization of Conversation: The report encourages parents, mentors, and educators to move past the "awkwardness" of sex education and engage in ongoing, open dialogues with young men about empathy and respect.
- Moving Beyond "Don’t": Most traditional education focuses on what students should not do. The study suggests that prevention is more effective when the focus shifts to what students should do: how to communicate, how to listen, and how to respect the agency of their partners.
- Investment in Research: It’s On Us has pledged to use this new data to inform the development of its own sexual assault prevention materials. By embedding these findings into their grassroots organizing and large-scale campaigns, they aim to create a ripple effect that touches campuses across the nation.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
The It’s On Us initiative, founded during the Obama-Biden administration, has grown into the largest student-organizing program of its kind in the United States. Its work, supported by its parent organization Civic Nation, has always been rooted in the belief that systemic problems require systemic solutions.
The Preparation Problem is more than a research paper; it is a diagnostic tool. By identifying that the failure to prepare young men is a failure of the education system at large, the report shifts the burden of responsibility away from the individual student and toward the institutions that shape them.
As the academic year progresses, the data provided in this report will likely become a benchmark for university administrators looking to modernize their Title IX and sexual assault prevention strategies. Whether schools will take the necessary steps to implement these recommendations—moving from standardized, superficial training to deep, developmental education—remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: as long as the "preparation problem" persists, the efforts to combat campus sexual assault will remain an uphill battle.
For now, It’s On Us continues to push for a cultural shift, leveraging its partnerships with media, brands, and student organizations to ensure that the findings of this report are not just read, but acted upon. As the organization notes, when it comes to the safety and well-being of the next generation, "it is on all of us" to get the education right.
The full report, "The Preparation Problem: How the System Ignores Young Men’s Sex Education Needs," along with its executive summary, is available for download at the It’s On Us website.
About the Organizations
It’s On Us is a national initiative dedicated to building a movement to combat campus sexual assault. Through grassroots organizing and innovative prevention education, the organization works to engage all students in creating a safer, more respectful culture.
Civic Nation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as an impact hub for initiatives like It’s On Us, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, and When We All Vote. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, Civic Nation aims to strengthen civic culture and address the most pressing issues facing society today.
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