Emily Heist Moss is sick and tired of the men who harass her and make her feel unsafe in public spaces. It’s a drizzly Friday in Chicago and I’m leaving a bar with my roommate sometime after midnight. We’re on a quest for tacos and we’re discussing the finer points—Should we get pork or beef? […]
After reading Emily Heist Moss’ viral piece about street harassment, Liam Killeen shared it with his group of guy friends in hopes of changing their behavior. Last month, an article written by Emily Heist Moss titled “A Letter To The Guy Who Harassed Me Outside The Bar” made its way to my inbox. It was […]
Trigger Warning: This piece contains a graphic account of a sexual assault. Saying “yes” to sex doesn’t always guard against acts of sexual violence. I was 19 when I decided that I was ready to lose my virginity. I chose to go with someone safe, that I had known my whole life, Jack. Our families […]
The recent murder of Kasandra Perkins by her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, and his subsequent suicide, calls into question the root cause of most murder-suicides. When I saw the news Saturday night, I shuddered. In a story that is far too familiar, another man had killed his girlfriend and then himself. Because […]
Skylar Shibata shares her deeply personal experience with rape, post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual dysfunction, and learning to accept love. My first sexual experiences taught me that sex is all about power and control. For me, being in a relationship meant relinquishing any power or control I had over my own body and my own emotions. […]
This originally appeared on Everyday Feminism. Republished here with permission. What is consensual sex? Common knowledge states that it’s two adults who willingly agree to engage in sexual activity with each other. Sounds simple enough, right? Apparently not. When I Googled the term “consensual sex,” I found many definitions of consent, and many definitions of […]
No matter how angry Richard Mourdock’s recent rape comments make people, wishing him harm is never the answer. Because it’s a day of the week, another member of the GOP has said something deeply misogynistic. This time, it was Indiana U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock declaring that pregnancy resulting from rape (and by extension, the […]
Lynn Beisner explains the religious—albeit ridiculous—thought process behind Richard Mourdock’s recent rape comments. Over the last couple of months, we have heard a lot from conservative men about rape. Their words have been shocking and outrageous for most people. But for me, it is nothing more than a bad family reunion. This is what I […]
Bringing an end to online bullying means understanding that cyber-predators are as much exhibitionists as they are voyeurs, says Hugo Schwyzer. It’s been a bad month for online bullies. The exposure of Violentacrez, (“the biggest troll on the web”) and the successful hunt for the man who hounded young Amanda Todd to suicide have made […]
Abortion is not to be taken lightly, Michelle says, but the GOP ticket stands so firmly against it because they don’t know what it’s like to have their rights taken away from them. If Paul Ryan had his way, I would now have a child in high school. Assuming that child made it to high […]
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Kate McGuinness offers advice on how to help a victim. Susie comes to my home regularly to help with cleaning. About a year ago, her usual helper took a different job. When Susie asked if her adult daughter Gay could come instead, I agreed. Gay appeared for the […]
A New Jersey couple shares how their marriage came to the brink of divorce, but bounced back after learning how to channel the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. There’s something exceptional between Rhett Hackett and his wife, Sheryl. Together for 23 years, it’s obvious they’re dedicated to each other, even as they sit across from […]
