Audrie & Daisy is a full length documentary exploring the alarming problem of sexual violence against young women in high school. While sexual violence is not a new problem, social media clearly amplifies the repercussions of it. Allowing the time and space for middle and high school students to engage in difficult and courageous conversations around a topic that is in the news—sexual assault and what occurs in its wake on social media—can be a first step toward creating safe schools and respectful relationships among students on- and off-campus and on- and offline.

• We encourage school communities to screen Audrie & Daisy as a staff before sharing any portion of the film with students or using any of the educational materials in the classroom.

Audrie Pott and Daisy Coleman, both underage high-school girls, were sexually assaulted by school acquaintances and then bullied by their peers. Their assailants received little punishment. Tragically, Audrie takes her own life, but Daisy survives, connecting with other survivors online. Audrie & Daisy takes an honest look at the culture of sexual assault in high school and at the increasing role social media plays in continuing the violation.

Directors Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk are parents of teenagers and were struck by the frequency of sexual assaults in high schools across the country. They were even more shocked by the pictures and videos, posted online. Unfortunately, the story of drunken high school parties and sexual assault is not new. But today, the events of the night are recorded on smartphones—almost as trophies—and disseminated to an entire community and, sometimes, the nation. While the subject matter is dark, the directors were inspired by these stories to make a film to help audiences digest the complexities of the world teenagers live in today.

This may be your first opportunity to openly communicate and offer the trigger warning you prepared for Audrie & Daisy. Carefully prepare the language with colleagues and other trusted community experts and share this communication prior to the first pre-writing exercise.

Sample Language

Audrie & Daisy is a powerful testament to the young women portrayed, often evoking difficult emotions for the viewer. For many survivors, victims and their families, the film may trigger memories of past experiences. For parents, teens, educators and others, it may cause fear and concern and feelings of helplessness. Shame, anger, denial, pain and blame – all are emotions that can make it hard to talk about the trauma of sexual assault and the culture that perpetuates it. These same emotions can also silence survivors.  But the need for change is urgent, and it requires each of us to get involved. It means utilizing tools and resources to understand and address these emotions so that we can boldly face the challenge before us.

If you are in need of immediate support or need help understanding how to best help a friend or someone close to you, text, chat or call RAINN’s anonymous 24/7 Sexual Assault hotline services to get information: 1-866-656-4673, or visit https://ohl.rainn.org/online/.

It is important to know that attending the film and the classes on these topics needs to be OK for you. If, for whatever reason, you need to dismiss yourself from this unit please see me and we will negotiate alternative ways to spend your time.

To heighten awareness of students’ preconceptions and possible misconceptions of sexual assault, ask students to reflect and respond to the following prompts as a writing exercise before screening the film.

• How can social media have a positive impact in your life?
• What are the negative effects of social media?
• When you hear the phrase “sexual assault,” what words come to mind?

Allow students an opportunity to sit with their reactions and emotions to the film before opening up any discussion or fielding questions. Invite students to add any additional answers to their Pre-write exercise before completing the questions below.

• After seeing Audrie & Daisy, list some of the short-term and long-term effects of sexual assault for victims, survivors, family members and perpetrators.
• In what ways do you think differently about sharing photos or videos online after seeing Audrie & Daisy?
• What punishments fit the online violations that occur in the film?

Alternatively, have students discuss in small groups the Facebook chat between Audrie and JohnR. after the assault. If helpful, use the suggested discussion prompts.

AP: And there are no pictures of me right?

JR: They are deleted and I didn’t take them.

JR: I promise it wasn’t me.

AP: Are they really all deleted?

JR:  Yes

AP:  JohnR, why did you let that happen?

AP:  Do you know how people view me now?

AP: I f________ up and I can’t do anything to fix it.

JR:  Everyone messes up.

JR: Audrie this will blow over before the week’s over.

JR: You know Saratoga people make a big deal for a week.

JR:  And then forget about it.

AP: U have no idea what it’s like to be a girl ⁱ

Discuss:

• What reactions do you have to this conversation?
• What emotions would you use to describe Audrie and John R during this conversation?
• What do you think “U have no idea what’s it like to be a girl” means?

Audrie and Daisy’s cases were also widely reported in the news, making headlines in the United States and overseas. For students who are interested in researching their cases in more depth see Appendix II, a collection of news reports and interviews compiled for student investigation.

Once students have viewed and discussed Audrie & Daisy, some questions and concerns may arise that are not comfortable to voice in a classroom setting.  Post or hand out information and resources available in school, in the community and online, where they can seek out support and independently research their questions. Keep these questions when developing your Post-View Resource document. It may also be helpful to provide a box in your classroom where students can submit questions or anonymously share information.

• If a student needs to seek further support or counseling, where can they go in school or in their community?
• If a student feels unsafe, who can they talk to?
• If a student has questions or would like to get in touch with Daisy, Delaney, Ella or Jada, how can they contact these women

Here are some online resources to direct students to for more information:

Futures Without Violence

PAVE (Promoting Awareness/Victim Empowerment)

RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network)

Safe Bae (Before Anyone Else)

ⁱ Audrie & Daisy, Bonni Cohen and John Shenk, Netflix, 2016, Script.