We would never justify an assault because a guy wore tight pants, invited an older man to his house, or happened to be wasted at a frat party. So why do people so often point the finger at female victims? Warning: Depictions of rape may upset some readers. “Do I deserve to have my bike stolen if […]
One would think that being together for a long time prior to marriage would guarantee that the relationship is solid. But that’s not always the case. I don’t know about you, but it still catches me off guard that Brad and Angie have been together longer than Brad and Jen. Seems like only yesterday they […]
It’s a very simple idea: When someone wants to use your body, you should have the right to say no if you don’t want them to. People take pictures of girls and women without their consent or desire for public consumption and review all the time. This weekend’s nonconsensual sharing of nude photos of 100 […]
I don’t feel delight being noticed. I feel on display. I feel fear. When a strange man leers at me, or worse, goes so far as to speak to me, to “compliment” me, to comment on my body, my clothing, my hair, my shape, my “attractiveness,” I don’t get a little surge of delight, or […]
In an economy based on ads, clicks, and buzz, a click isn’t just curiosity—it’s approval. It creates an incentive for further crimes. It’s very quick and easy to search for headline-making leaked nude photos, but even quicker and easier to think through the ethics of doing so first. And if you give it that three […]
Now that it’s out in the open, own it. Shape it. Make it yours. Dear Ms. Lawrence, (Or do you prefer Jennifer? Or J Law? Or like Scarlett Johansson, do you think nicknames like that are a bit tacky and insulting? Maybe I’ll just stick with “Jen”.) OK, Jen, let me introduce myself. My name […]
Sexism is so normalized that we don’t even notice that this iconic female character doesn’t have a mouth—the body part that would allow her to speak her mind. I remember walking into the Sanrio store as a little girl and thinking I had landed in heaven. No other store in our suburban mall carried what […]
Black women are constantly scrutinized for their parenting. And attacking Blue Ivy’s hair is a way of attacking Beyonce. A topic of conversation I never found engaging was “natural hair vs. permed hair.” Seriously, who has the audacity to tell someone their hair is wrong? But the main reason I intentionally don’t engage in this discourse […]
