It is important that even children understand this because rape culture doesn’t just bloom when you become college age. Picture this: Generic holiday movie. Old family member, bending a wrinkled cheek down to an elementary school age child. Well-meaning parents pushing them forward with, “Give great so-and-so a hug!” Usually played for laughs because this...
Tag: No Means No
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When “No” Isn’t Enough And Sexual Boundaries Are Ignored
Violence is so normalized that we often don’t even recognize sexual abuses in the moment. [TW/CW: discussion of sexual violence.] I recently realized that sex is unhealthy for me. Not sex in theory. No, of course not. Sex is healthy for our bodies and even our hearts and minds.When I say that sex is unhealthy...
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Is It Rape When Your Partner Removes the Condom Without Your Consent?
Removing the condom changes the context in which you consented to sexual intercourse. If that context changes, it is imperative that consent is reaffirmed. By Roslyn Talusan Content Warning/Trigger Warning: This article outlines details of my own sexual assault and may be disturbing to some readers. Last month, Columbia Journal of Gender and Law published...
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No Means No – Teach Your Children How to Handle Rejection.
Everybody is responsible when it comes to deconstructing rape culture. Another day, another Twitter post illustrating how we don’t teach boys how to take no for an answer. Another day, another example of how we reinforce toxic masculinity and rape culture by telling young girls to be “nice” when turning down a date. A post...
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Kenya’s Anti-Rape Campaign is Super Effective. Why Aren’t More Countries Using It?
Kenya’s aggressive anti-rape campaign should serve as a model to the world. The country focuses on teaching both boys and girls how to prevent violence against women. It all started with teaching Kenyan women and girls self-defense in the No Means No program. When organizers listened to their students, they learned that the boys themselves were said to...