What #MeToo is teaching us as a culture is that sexual violence is a continuum. It doesn’t have to include actual physical violence at all; it can just be the threat of violence or the threat of lost status. Continue
These tips I learned in my self-defense classes with Esteem have gotten me through many difficult situations in my life. The funny thing is, they don’t just apply to situations in which my personal safety is threatened. They’re guidelines for how to walk through the world with less fear and more confidence. Continue
We all deserve to feel strong and competent, set clear boundaries, and resist verbal and physical assault, and we need to stand together to make sure that feeling is realized for all of us. Continue
According to California legislators, current California law calls for a mandatory prison term in cases of rape or sexual assault where force is used, but not when the victim is unconscious or severely intoxicated and thus unable to resist. Continue
Another college rapist is prosecuted for the crime of assaulting an unconscious first year student – and receives no jail time at all. Continue
The message I wanted to communicate to my audience was that this show and its messages about sexual violence against women is just as much about men as it is about women. Continue
I wasn’t always all about the empowerment of women. In fact, I used to fear the “F” word and cringe every time someone spat it out- feminist. Continue
Many times potentially violent situations can be averted with assertiveness. In the scenario described in this blog, much of the “interview” is dispensed with; there was a little chatting, and then things rapidly turned violent when the gang believed that they were in a position of power and that there was nothing to stop them. At that point, my student needed to use a physical technique to end the interaction. Continue
Believe me when I tell you the more you practice assertive communication, the easier it gets. You see the results of your assertiveness: people actually do what you tell them to do, you gain self-awareness and self-esteem, and your relationships deepen with your increased honesty. Continue
Understand that being assertive means finding the middle ground between passive and aggressive. Assertiveness is getting your needs met while being respectful of the needs of others. If more people adopted an assertive style of communication, we would all feel more respected, more heard, and definitely more understood. Continue