We often talk about the need for discussions around consent in the context of Universities and Colleges, and sometimes high school, the settings in which many high profile sexual assault cases have taken place. But what if those conversations happened much earlier, in middle schools, and even earlier in the home? Perhaps those acts of…
One of the difficulties faced in the discourse around consent, is that we often only use the word, or begin the discussion, when in regards to sexual encounters. Consent is fundamental to all relationships, and to respecting one another’s agency and bodily autonomy. With children, we often send mixed messages. Tickling is a prime example.…
Fostering empathy from the earliest age is fundamental to undoing generations of toxic male socialization and replacing our current rape culture with a culture rooted in consent in which everyone’s agency and autonomy is respected. This article provides tangible examples, steps, and tips for teaching consent and fostering empathy to children in of various and…
To get to the root of rape culture, and to create systemic changes to sexism and patriarchal domination, it is not sufficient to blame the media, or music, video games, or alcohol as the cause of violent behavior. Rather, we have to look at the ways entitlement and violence are socialized in boys as they…
I know that as a child I watched Mister Rogers. But today, I couldn’t tell you what the show is about. I could sing some of the theme song, and I know he changed his shoes and put on a cardigan. But after reading these quotations, many of them from his book, I know that…
Consent, bodily autonomy, and agency are fundamental to sex positivity and healthy relationships. These concepts do not require explicit talk about sex in order to begin building that foundation early in a child’s life. From a very young age, lessons can be conveyed to children that everyone has a right to say no, to determine…
Despite the title of the article, the list highlights books that would be a great reading for children of all genders. It is not only little girls who would benefit from literature–and movies, TV shows, etc.–featuring strong, independent, and resourceful women and girl protagonists. Learning that men are not exclusively the main character in life’s…
Empathy is not easily taught, but it can be embodied, modeled, and experienced. Special Education teacher, Chris Ulmer has found a way to build students’ self-esteem by modeling an encouraging and positive atmosphere in his class. Rather than treating “special ed” as a punishment, or a result of failure, Ulmer takes time out of every morning…
