by Jessica Martin-Weber Some version of it is so common it is almost a cliché: “I would do anything for my child.” Most of us mean it too. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for our children. Mostly. Certainly nothing we wouldn’t do for their safety, to keep them out of harm’s way. Would you break…
Category: oppression
Pathetic Sentencing and Time Served- Your Outrage Is Appreciated
For a while now I have absorbed the outrage expressed on social media as people have lashed out in response to the sentencing and then reduced sentence of Brock Turner, rapist, ex-Stanford University swimmer, by Judge Aaron Persky. Unable to identify my own feelings on the matter, or maybe just wanting to avoid them, I tacitly…
What would happen if we were teaching HOW TO NOT RAPE?
by Jessica Martin-Weber “WHY are there workshops on how to avoid being a victim but there aren’t workshops on how to avoid being an attacker?” She had a point. I encouraged her to lower her voice and be mindful of how others were processing in the moment but I couldn’t deny that she was right….
Time for Men to Outgrow Menophobia
It’s time for guys to stop being afraid of periods. That’s right, I mean menstrual cycles, and yes, I believe that men are afraid of them. #notallmen (beat you to it). But still, #somanymen Men need to grow a pair (that’s sexist) a bit in maturity and learn to see members of the opposite sex…
How My Son Suffers Because of Rape Culture
by Anonymous I wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t prepared as a mother for the insidious impacts of rape culture on my son. I was prepared for its impacts on my daughter. I knew all about them. I lived them. But, my son? A privileged white boy? I was prepared to counteract the privilege. I was prepared…
To Rape or Not to Rape
At what point is it ok to abuse or rape your spouse? When is it acceptable to abuse or rape the people you claim to love? There seems to be a bit of confusion about this among people I have known in recent years. More than I thought possible, considering how obvious the answer to…
Beyond Our Culture’s Nipple Confusion
A high school girl decides to show up at school without a bra and gets pulled out of class by security and reprimanded. Why? I used to think that bras were primarily made to support breasts. And secondly to optionally look sexy. How naïve of me. It is obvious to me now that their primary…
Managing Atomosophallophobia – Men’s One Sexual Need
At the risk of ruining the effect of this slightly unconventional post, I need to spell out that this is a work of satire; meaning, that it isn’t to be taken at face value, or even seriously (though it does have some underlying serious issues worthy of an honest and world-changing discussion). It is a work…
Yoga Pants: Every Man’s Kryptonite
The old debate of what is appropriate for women to wear around men has once again been making waves on social media; questions of modesty and protecting men from their own uncontrollable thoughts, that whole ball of yarn, all because of the popularity of what may be the most comfortable article of clothing known to…
Trampling People in the Spirit of the Season
Decorating our house for the Holidays has long been a staple of the post-Thanksgiving weekend for our family. Jessica and I have rarely had a year when we haven’t been involved in some kind of artistic production, be it a musical, choral performance, recital, a concert, or some other type of show. The Holiday…