By: Rob Richards Confluence Daily is your daily news source for women in the know.
In my life…
I’ve perpetuated rape culture by not speaking up.
I’ve “joked” about sex with women with my male friends
I’ve told and laughed at rape jokes
I’ve blamed the victim
I’ve said, “Boys will be boys”
I’ve tolerated sexual harassment
I’ve inflated and spread the myth of false rape reports
I’ve supported with my dollars gendered violence movies, TV, and music
I’ve defined “manhood” as dominant and “womanhood” as submissive
I’ve taken part in pressuring my friends to “score”
I’ve assumed men don’t, or only “weak” men do, get raped
I’ve perpetuated the idea that women should avoid rape instead of telling men not to rape
I’ve been the instigator and the perpetrator of systemic sexism and rape culture. I’m not proud of it, but I won’t pretend like it missed me somehow just because I was raised by women, or because I’m so woke. I also won’t promise that I’m going to be perfect from here on out. I will promise to keep thinking about it, checking myself, and speaking out more, especially to men directly when I see it.
Rob Richards is the author of the blog Write Rob Write.
Confluence Daily is the one place where everything comes together. The one-stop for daily news for women.
