The #MeToo movement and the ongoing trend of “outing” sexual harassers has redirected our attention to the disturbing fact that sexual assault most frequently occurs in intimate and familiar settings: on dates between friendly parties. My 17-year old son had Read More
Category: Activism
Stories of College Rape Culture
She told me, huddled into a corner on the floor and speaking through tears, that “rape is just something that happens to everyone”. She told me that there was nothing she could do, that recounting it to a professional would Read More
Why I Stayed Silent
“You’re not seeing anyone?” my work-study supervisor asked. “You should go out with my son. He’s a nice guy. The two of you would like each other.” A blind date was a new experience, and I was hesitant. But a Read More
Every Feminist Hashtag You Need to Know, from #MeToo to #TimesUp
Hashtags have tremendous power. As tags, they’re an effective way to sift through the chaos of social media and find related posts. But they also can take on a life of their own, becoming slogans that galvanize social movements and Read More
Sexual Harassment: What We Learn by Listening to Survivors
When I was in high school, I was a major Swiftie. Like all teenage fans of Taylor Swift circa 2006, I assigned a song to every one of my adolescent crushes, whether it was mutual or unrequited. Ryan wasn’t exactly Read More
Growing Up In Miami, Staying Safe Meant Staying Smart
Though I’m 19 years old and living away from home, my mom still gives me the “stay safe” speech every time I go out. “Text me every 2 minutes, don’t get in a car with someone you don’t know, don’t Read More
The Moment I Realized I Was A Feminist, Too
Feminism seemed to be hanging on the lips of all my teachers in high school. But for whatever reason, I didn’t want that word to touch my lips. In fact I wasn’t a feminist. While my teachers pronounced that they Read More
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Why do we need an International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women? This UN holiday, falling on November 25 each year, recognizes the continuing violence women and girls face worldwide purely because of their gender and calls for Read More
What is the Planet 50-50 campaign?
In 1995, global leaders came together at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. There, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was introduced as a vision for women and girls to have equal rights and Read More
Understanding Domestic Violence for Relationship Virgins
Being a relationship virgin doesn’t just mean lacking sex experience. It also means being naïve about all the nuances, struggles, and excitement that comes with it. When we talk about relationship virgins, we too often consider that it means having Read More