The expectations of toxic masculinity–and normative masculine gender socialization–takes a toll on men and boys in a variety of ways. This is by no means an argument for minimizing or re-centering the discourse on rape culture away from women, girls, queer folks, people who are gender-non-conforming, and other marginalized communities and individuals. But in order to…
Toxic masculinity–the way of being a man that requires aggression, sexual domination, earning big money, being athletic, and most definitely, being heterosexual–not only feeds rape culture, but is co-dependent upon it. In fact, rape culture and toxic masculinity feed each other while destroying everything they touch. The video below from MTV News provides a quick and…
Moonlight is what shines on us during dark times. It illuminates the darkness. Moonlight is a film that is not afraid to show the darkness and the struggle to find a little bit of light. The film tells the story of Chiron through three vignettes of his identity and growth: young Little, teen Chiron, and…
Full disclosure: I have not yet seen the film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and prior to reading this article, I did not have much interest in doing so. My interest, however, is now piqued. Having read all of the Harry Potter series, and seen all the films, I cannot help but be…
This foundational anthology collects writings from diverse perspectives and a range of authors who examining root causes of violence, highlighting a range of manifestations, and discusses challenges to cultural dynamics that foster a rape culture in the United States. Collecting writings from over several decades, and having gone through several editions, the anthology has developed…
