What #MeToo Means to Teenagers

When the #MeToo movement exploded on social media in October, the reaction among Maddy Eichenberg’s female-identifying friends at school was, “Yeah, this is pretty much our reality.” “It’s just something high school girls know they have to deal with,” said Ms....

How A Girl Scout Fought Sexual Harassment At School

When Natalie, 13, swung open the door to her school’s administration office and said, “Someone is going to listen to me,” everyone turned their heads in shock. She addressed the teachers, “Everyone should know that sexual harassment is going on...

6 Things Boys Learn By Age 5 That Perpetuate Rape Culture

As the mother of a young boy and a pre-teen girl, I feel the weighted responsibility of teaching both of my children about rape culture. In a world where “boys will be boys” and victims of sexual assault are perpetually blamed for the violence they...

7 Things Girls Learn By Age 8 That Undermine Their Consent

While many parents are becoming increasingly aware of the importance in teaching their daughters consent, girls are still learning and internalize messages and actions that undermine their bodily autonomy. According to Dr. Laura Kastner, a clinical psychologist, body...

Preventing Sexual Violence Starts With What We Teach Our Boys

Most girls and women in the United States are given advice about rape prevention: never let your drink out of your sight, don’t walk alone at night, don’t wear revealing outfits or high heels, and so on. We live in a society where violence against women—both in action...