Sexual Assault & Harassment

"No Means No" campaigns raised awareness of rape and sexual assault and a women's right to refuse consent.

This subsection contains material on activism that raised awareness of and fought against sexual assault and harrassment. Items address the need to challenge the often normalized or hidden issue of sexual assault and harrassment in both the domestic and public spheres, including the workplace. They also highlight the distinct experiences of racialized women, Indigenous women, disabled women, and LGBTQ+ people with assault and harassment, including their treatment in the criminal justice system.

Archival Materials

Buttons
A single rape violates all women

  • Year created:

    --

  • Language:

    English
The button calls for justice for Pauline Au and an end to sexual harassment. After experiencing sexual harassment that started in the early 1990s, Pauline brought a charge against the hospital where she worked to the Ontario Labour Relations Board in 1997.
Justice for Pauline Au – Stop Sexual Harassment

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This "No Means No!" button was created by the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre. Over the years, "No means No" campaigns have challenged rape culture and raised awareness of sexual assault and dating violence.
No means no!

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
"No Means No" campaigns raised awareness of rape and sexual assault and a women's right to refuse consent.
No Means No!

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
No Sexual Harassment

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This British Columbia Federation of Women button brought women together with the demand to Stop Rape.
Stop Rape – Women Against Rape: B.C. Federation of Women

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) created this button calling for an end to sexual harassment.
Stop Sexual Harassment (NUPGE)

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This pin shows support for The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre and its work with women who have experienced sexual violence and to eradicate violence against women and children. The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre was established in 1974, one of the first in Canada.
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Wen Do was developed as a self-defense course for women and girls and continues to be an important feminist initiative that focuses on issues of sexual violence facing women and teaches women how to protect themselves. It is trans inclusive.
Wendo Women Only

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
A button challenging rape myths and emphasizing that sexual activity without consent is coercive and abusive.
What Part of NO! Don’t You Understand?

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Undated button on sexual assault produced by the Government of Ontario
Without Consent, It’s Sexual Assault

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English

Documents
a book about sexual assault – 1st Edition – Fall 1979

  • Year created:

    1979

  • Author(s):

    Shirley Gardiner, Janet Torge, Marilyn Bicher, Donna Cherniak

  • Region:

    Quebec

  • Language:

    English
A Guide to Fighting Workplace Sexual Harassment/Assault

  • Year created:

    1988

  • Author(s):

    Bonnie Robichaud

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Article in Pacific Current – Adoption as Exploitation

  • Year created:

    1994

  • Author(s):

    Rick Ouston, Melody Spruit

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of Beating the Odds: Violence against Women with Disabilities
Beating the Odds: Violence against Women with Disabilities

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

    Jillian Ridington

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
British Columbia Federation of Labour – Report on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

  • Year created:

    1980

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
British Columbia Federation of Labour – Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: A Discussion Paper

  • Year created:

    1980

  • Author(s):

    B. Gene Errington

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
CACSW Fact Sheet – Sexual Harassment/Feuillet Documentaire du CCCSF – Le Harcèlement Sexuel

  • Year created:

    1993

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Sexual Harassment: Why It’s Important to Negotiate Clauses on this Issue

  • Year created:

    1982

  • Author(s):

    Jane Stinson

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Canadian Women’s Conference Agenda – September 1981

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Author(s):

    Edith Johnston, Wendy Cuthbertson

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Courage Above All: Sexual Assault Against Women With Disabilities

  • Year created:

    1991

  • Author(s):

    Liz Stimpson, Margaret C. Best

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of DAWN TORONTO PAPER ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES
DAWN Toronto: Violence Against Women With Disabilities

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of DAWN-violenceagainstwomenfacts
DAWN Toronto: Violence Against Women with Disabilities Fact Sheet

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Disabled? Sexually Assaulted? Need Help?

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of Speak Up: Sexual Harassment on the Job – CLC Women’s Bureau
Equal Partners for Change: Women and Unions – Speak Up: Sexual Harassment on the Job

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
India Mahila Association – Call for Action on Violence Against Indian Women

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
India Mahila Association – Public Letter withdrawing from Samaanta

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
La Agresion Sexual (Spanish)

  • Year created:

    1993

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    Other
National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) – Sexual Harassment at Work

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Author(s):

    Susan Attenborough

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) – Sexual Harassment Fact Sheet

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Public Service Alliance of Canada – Sexual Harassment At Work

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Racial and Sexual Harassment, and Violence against Women: Policy And Prevention

  • Year created:

    1999

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of clc-womenconf-report-undated
Report from the Canadian Labour Congress Women’s Conference

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Sexual Harassment

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Sexual Harassment – Harcèlement sexuel

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
Sexual Harassment Conference: Agenda

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Region:

    Nova Scotia

  • Language:

    English
Support Services for Assaulted Women (S.S.A.W.) Brochure

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of clc-unionsworkforwomen-leaflets
Unions Work for Women

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Women with Disabilities: Physical and Sexual Assault (1994)

  • Year created:

    1994

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) Donor Letter

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English

Periodicals

Saskatoon Women’s Liberation Newsletter and Prairie Women

thumbnail of SaskatoonWomensLiberation-01-05-November-1977
Prairie Woman (Saskatoon Women’s Liberation) – Vol. 1, Issue 5 – November 1977

  • Year created:

    1977

  • Publisher:

    Saskatoon Women’s Liberation

  • Region:

    Saskatchewan

  • Language:

    English

Toronto Rape Crisis Centre Newsletter

Toronto Rape Crisis Centre Newsletter – Vol. 3, No. 3 – 1978

  • Year created:

    1978

  • Publisher:

    Toronto Rape Crisis Centre

  • Author(s):

    Judith Posner, Valerie Varah, Gillean Chase, Darlene Chase, Shelley Glazer, Laura Rowe, Baba Yaga

  • Language:

    English

Photos

This is an undated photo of union women at the Toronto International Women's Day March. Placards feature OPSEU and the Canadian Labour Congress calls for an End to Sexual Harassment and Equal Pay.
International Women’s Day (Toronto) – Union Women

  • Year created:

    --

  • Photographer:

    Diana Meredith

  • Region:

    Ontario
Members of the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre participate in the 1983 International Women's Day March in Toronto.
International Women’s Day 1983 (Toronto) – Toronto Rape Crisis

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Photographer:

    Judy Blankenship

  • Region:

    Ontario