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
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
Another college rapist is prosecuted for the crime of assaulting an unconscious first year student – and receives no jail time at all. 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
Through the marketing of these products, women are being told we need some kind of external weapon to be successful in resisting an assault. It’s just another way that our bodies are under attack. The message is that we are lacking, insufficient, and weak and must rely on a weapon like pepper spray in the absence of a strong man to protect us. Continue
The high-profile Cosby sexual assault cases should raise public awareness about the tragedy of isolation resulting from rape. Since everyone knows someone who has survived a sexual assault, it’s important we all understand the psychological aftermath of these assaults in order to best support the survivors in our lives. Continue
Shame and a cultural investment in women’s poor self-esteem form the ideological pillars of sexual violence against women, making female victims of sexual violence accomplices in their own victimization. Continue
A common concern for teen girls and women is how to effectively respond to being followed on the street. When in this scenario, most women are unaware of the most effective steps to take to deter their attacker. Learn what to do and what not to do to stay safe. Continue
The next thing I knew, a fifth guy came up behind me and grabbed me around the chest with one arm and around my throat with the other. At the same time, the other guys started to move closer and the only thing I thought of was, ‘Oh, no this is not going to happen.’ I don’t remember thinking anything else. Continue