of sexual assaults in one study of young women had a moment beforehand when a bystander could have stepped in.
Haikalis et al., Violence Against Women, 2018. 427 women aged 18–25, recruited online. Alcohol was common in these settings, for everyone involved.More in StatsStep in
What to do when you see something wrong happening, from a friend in trouble at a party to harassment on the street.
Be someone else's light in the dark.
For every age: lessons for parents on teaching children to speak up and get help, and guides for teens and adults on safe, practical ways to intervene.
Situations this covers
- A partyA friend is being led somewhere by someone, and they're too drunk to decide.
- Public transportSomeone is being harassed and everyone is looking away.
- SchoolA kid is being picked on, in person or in a group chat.
- A night outA friend has had far too much to drink.
- EverydaySomeone falls, drops their wallet, or needs a hand.
The five key lessons
The core of Step in. They're taught at every age, in words that fit the age.
- 1You don't have to confront anyone.Speaking up directly is one option. You can also distract, get someone else to help, record what's happening if someone else is already helping, or check in afterwards. Ask the person before sharing any recording.[1, 2]
- 2Small actions work.Asking for directions, starting a conversation, or pretending to know the person can be enough to interrupt what's happening. In one real story, a stranger walked a woman away from a group of men, talking loudly about almost missing their train as if he knew her.[3, 4]
- 3Get other people involved.You don't have to act alone. Bring in a friend, staff, a bartender, a driver or a teacher.[3, 1]
- 4Check in afterwards.Ask the person what they need, and tell them it wasn't their fault.[3, 1]
- 5If someone's too drunk to respond, call 911 and stay with them.Letting them "sleep it off" can be dangerous.[5]
From the stats
of students who saw it did nothing because they weren't sure what to do. They're who this project is for.
AAU Campus Climate Survey, 2015. The 2019 survey asked these questions differently.More in Statsof college students who saw a drunk person heading for a sexual encounter did nothing. That's out of 44.4% of all students who had seen it happen.
AAU Campus Climate Survey, 2015. The 2019 survey asked these questions differently.More in Statsless sexual violence perpetration in high schools that trained students to step in as bystanders, compared with schools that didn't, once the program was fully running.
Coker et al., American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2017. Five-year randomized trial in 26 Kentucky high schools, Green DotMore in StatsCommon misconceptions
People think“Stepping in means confronting someone.”
ActuallyMost ways to step in are indirect: a distraction, getting help, or checking in afterwards.[1]
People think“It's not my business.”
People think“If they've had too much, let them sleep it off.”
ActuallyAlcohol overdose can kill. Signs include being hard to wake, vomiting, and slow or irregular breathing. Call 911.[5]
Step in lessons by age
Every lesson and guide, by ageThe other two paths
Helping others is one of three roles the site teaches. The other two cover protecting yourself and not causing harm.
Sources
- University of Rochester, Bystander intervention: the 5 Ds
- Florida State University, Bystander intervention (Green Dot)
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center, Bystander intervention tips
- Cynthia Page, She found herself cornered in a train station. Then a stranger came to her aid, NPR My Unsung Hero (2023)
- NIAAA, Understanding the dangers of alcohol overdose
- CDC, Preventing sexual violence
- CDC, Sexual violence prevention resource for action
Summarized from public sources with the help of AI, reviewed by Stacy Willis.
Last updated [not yet reviewed]Reviewed by Stacy WillisSummarized from public sources with the help of AI, reviewed by Stacy Willis.How this site is made