Our words matter, and being intentional with the message we are trying to convey can have a huge impact on the lessons (intended or not) that we are teaching young folks. Seemingly minor interactions or word choices can have significant impact on a person’s emotional state. Words that encourage dialogue and that are not shaming…
About a year ago, I posted my editorial, Thoughts on/of Suicide. The process of writing, publishing, and discussing this essay was almost like putting a little pressure valve in my brain/heart/stomach that lets out the emotions, anxiety, and dark thoughts. I think about this piece often and I have reread it more times than just…
I wonder if it is ironic to say that this article overwhelms me. This article speaks to me in so many ways, and it is both validating and kind of scary to see myself being described so accurately. I often worry about being “too much” for people; when I get excited about someone, or a…
I have a theory that properly handling allegations of sexual violence on a college campus (or within a company, community organization, or other group) will actually increase people’s interest and investment in that group rather than create a negative image of that group by the association with violence. This theory will form one foundation for…
The language we use can shape the way we see and interact with the world. In fact, I wrote an editorial about how intentional language choice and usage can help us to be more inclusive, anti-oppressive, and empathetic. Intersex is often overlooked in discussions of sex and biology, which results in intersex individuals being erased. Just as…
Terry Crews one of the first celebrity men we highlighted on The Bridges We Burn. Even before self-identifying as a survivor of sexual violence, Crews has used his platform as a celebrity to speak out against toxic masculinity. Perhaps more importantly Crews has been an active embodiment, model, and be a vocal proponent for healthy masculinities. In this…
Accountability, apologies, and recognition of harm caused is at the center of the #metoo movement, and the heart of building healthy relationships and smashing rape culture and patriarchy. Unfortunately we often struggle to know what true accountability looks like (because many of us have never really experienced it, or seen it modeled), nor do we know how to offer a sincere…
Today marks the last day of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2018. Survivors and advocates spend an unbelievable amount of time trying to convince people that rape culture is real. From the folks at Ultraviolet comes the infographic above that dispels some common myths used to delegitimize the experiences of survivors of sexual violence and can be used throughout the…
