Teaching kids about rape

choosechoice:

kissingunderspiderwebs:

elfstaranymore:

I’m not gonna write a big detailed masterpost on this topic, because it’s not a major area of expertise for me. I just want to point out a couple ways people screwed up in teaching *me* about rape.

One was that in kindergarten, we were taught that “no one should touch your private parts except your parents or a doctor.” This is fucked up for two reasons. One, a LOT of sexual assault on children is done by parents and doctors *precisely because* these people have easy access and are considered “safe”. Two, they should have taught us that ANY touch on ANY part of your body that you don’t consent to is not okay.

The other was that at some point, when I was maybe 8 or 9, I heard the word “rape” on TV and asked someone - I think my mom - what it meant. She refused to tell me, maybe because she thought it would scare me, maybe because she just didn’t want to talk to me about something involving sex. Kids NEED to know that rape is a thing, because kids can be raped. It’s a thing that happens. And if a kid is old enough that the word “rape” has entered their consciousness, they are old enough to be told what it is. You don’t have to go into graphic detail and give them nightmares. All you have to say is that rape is when someone does something sexual to another person without that person’s permission, and talk about how that relates to what you’ve (hopefully) already taught them about how people shouldn’t touch you without permission.

This is one big reason, by the way, why I am vehemently anti-spanking and anti-other forms of coercion in childcare. Teaching children to never say no to an adult, teaching them that their bodies are the property of people who are bigger than them, etc. - this is a big part of rape culture. I would rather see children who aren’t “well-behaved” but have an understanding of personal boundaries than children who believe it’s acceptable for a bigger person to push a smaller person around. Everything you do to a kid influences the values they internalize, and I want kids to know that shit doesn’t fly. Not only because they need to know they deserve to be safe, but also because someday THEY will be the big people who have the power to abuse someone else.

Bolded, yes, THAT.

This is so incredibly true and important.

assortmint:

brogifting:

In regards to the shit-show going down over on Noelle’s tumblr! Should you (a professional illustrator) work for free? I’ll give you a hint: the answer is probably no. And I’ll give you a second hint: if the “client” is a stranger on the internet who wants you to draw a picture of their cat and/or significant other, the answer is definitely no.

(chart by Jessica Hische, illustration rock-star)

can i please kiss the person who made this

(Source: shouldiworkforfree.com)

roachpatrol:

thedailywhat:

Resentment of the Day: On Fake Geek Girls

YouTuber albinwonderland speaks out against the Idiot Nerd Girl meme in response to the recent buzz surrounding the “fake geek girls” phenomenon.

PREACH. 

dedmerath:

“Your style does not define your skill.”

See that one down there? That’s my usual at 6:00 am.

m0ny:

idunwin:

I want to play a game.

(Source: trixter-jake-english)

kinomatika:

ceruleancynic:

vastderp:

In which the President of Ireland shows the world how to handle a Tea Partier.

I closed my eyes and just sort of smiled at the utter devastation he left in his wake. Dissed and dismissed.

FUCK. YES. 

Goddamn this is gorgeous.

Sláinte!

colinmochrie:

buffalo-:

the-real-kanikkers:

jennamarbles:

Some Idiot/How Sports Bras Work 

oh hey don’t mind me i’m just a 12-year-old boy man girl lady here to ruin femininity

fucking

oh my god jenna marbles i don’t even care if you’re apathetic about her this video is fucking golden

Jesus Christ, I love her. I think I cry really easily when I’m laughing, you guys, but omg.

wOW I LOV U

littleturtleduck:

danielefton:

ruiniscrazy:

lebanesetoaster:

melodiesintheair:

jarpadd:

I suggest all females watch this.

*i suggest all humans watch this.

If you haven’t watched this yet, you really should.

This is a must, girls and boys.

I agree that everyone should watch this. This is one of the few videos on female representation in the media that at least tries to point out that the way females are represented has a negative effect on everyone, not just women. 

I love that this touches also on how media affects men, but wow. Stereotypes are perpetuated by television more than in reality, and they are so skewed because they have to be provocative or funny or any number of things that aren’t complete or real enough.

This affects not only women and men, but race, gays and lesbians, trans people, all people.

We all struggle against what we are supposed to be, what we are told we should be, and yet when positions in media and PR change, the image doesn’t. Because people get those positions by conforming to that image, and breaking out risks loss.

This is why it is so hard for anyone to be who they really are, because they are so busy being what other’s expect so as not to be harassed for not being what they are supposed to be.

Oh man, Geena Davis. I love her with all my heart.

(Source: dave-bowman)

How You Can Have a Bunch of Great Ideas but Still Fuck Up Real Bad: A Korra Essay

chirart:

Hahahaha ever since Saturday the Korra finale seems to make me angrier and angrier. As a storyteller and as a fan of solid storytelling, it is an atrocious mess! I stand by the creators are amazing directors, amazing concept artists, amazing producers, but wow are they terrible writers. They have absolutely no understanding of dramatic convention, and so the first season of The Legend of Korra suffered greatly from terrible execution, and the core ideas were so good it should’ve been a gamechanger. It should’ve been the most brilliant thing on television and instead we were given a 12-week narrative case of blue balls.

Disclaimer: if you enjoyed/love/fanatic about Korra, by all means continue to do so! I enjoyed a lot about Korra. In fact that is why I am so frustrated. But that aside, this is meant as a critique and a dissection and as such you can take it or you can leave it. Nothing I have to say will change the show, nor will anything I have to say will have any effect on what season 2 will bring. Mostly I have been ranting about it to everyone on a daily basis since Saturday and this is my way to finally just. get. it. all. out. So this is me shouting into the ether for my own cathartic glee.

Cool? Cool.

Read More

the four types of comments you get when drawing non-white homestucks

mulattafury:

1. The “You’re Wrong and Here’s Why”

rattled by the portrayal of a beloved character as a PoC, the commenter feels compelled to grasp at straws (that may or may not actually exist) in the canon to argue that the artist is wrong for what they’re doing and that they’re only allowed to draw the characters one way. This applies to any headcanon regarding any aspect of a character’s appearance, but shows up a disproportionate amount when discussing issues of race. Especially where Striders are concerned.

2. The “I Demand An Explanation”

the commenter simply asks why the artist chose to portray a character as a PoC. bonus points for swear words and sad/angry emoticons. because choosing to draw a non-white person apparently warrants a reason, explanation, or justification, this commenter feels cheated when they don’t get one, leading to at least one “why the hell is john black!?” or “why does tavros look like that :(” on every pocstuck drawing in the history of forever

3. The “Grudging Approval”

the (presumably white) commenter feels the need to let you know that they approve of your choice to represent a character as a PoC. This invariably includes some kind of left-handed compliment, such as “I don’t usually like black homestucks but this one is good” or “wow this character is still really hot” or “I find this strangely appealing,” as though PoC characters aren’t usually attractive, appealing, or acceptable and the art in question is some type of surprising exception. It’s alternate form, “I don’t see the characters this way but I guess it’s okay if you do,” is just as prevalent and just as bullshit

4. The “This Is A Joke, Right?”

the commenter thinks that the artist’s portrayal isn’t intended to be serious, and gratuitously applies racist or racially-charged “humor” in their discussion of the art in question.

5. Bonus: The Unsolicited Critique

this devilish little detail tends to show up alongside one of the previously mentioned types of commentary. the commenter refuses to acknowledge that their negative reaction to a piece is entirely because of racism, and insists on finding some technical fault in the artwork that will absolve them of guilt/blame for their irrational hatred. this usually comes in the form of an unsolicited, patronizing critique of the artwork or artist, often something nonspecific and vague (“the legs are off” or “I don’t know if perspective”) that may or may not even apply to the artwork being discussed.

This is an incredibly powerful secret weapon, rendering the artist immobile, as negative reaction to critique (or hate framed as critique) is one of the most surefire way to open up the troll floodgates just about anywhere art is posted.

dapper-malarkey:

daunt:

emmyc:

tohaheavyindustries:

notasenator:

nemesismess:

bonnienoire:

jsmooth995:

ALL THESE SEXIST GAMER DUDES ARE SOME SHOOK ONES.

i don’t understand why i wasn’t following this guy a thousand years ago

A great video which also shows from a guy’s perspective on the issue

And there it is.

This. I’m so tired of being forced to resent my own gender for the shit other men say and do.

This is so amazing. He gets it.

This guy… should be the Internet’s Dad. He should be the Dad of the Internet and he should yell at us all the time super eloquently and teach us actual grown-up real world things

Oh my god.  Who is this perfect gentleman and can I shake his hand?

GOD

BLESS

YOU

SIR

acciobenedictcumberbatch:

obsidiantea:

PREACH

Why can’t all Christians be as good as this amazing person?

“I believe that the reason that it’s difficult for the gay community to be integrated into the society at large, the way they should be, is because there are no champions for them in Congress or in the White House. And that is the way every group of people has basically been integrated into the society. That’s the way it works. Instead, you have people like Rick Santorum, a senator from Pennsylvania, who says things, that he should think… and shut his fucking mouth. You can go ahead and think it, that’s fine, but you don’t say aloud that homosexuality is a threat to the American family. Because that’s prejudice. That’s complete and utter prejudice and ignorance on a level that is staggering at this point in time.”

- Lewis Black

(Source: ohvegeta)

sweetlittlekitty:

PLZ ACCEPT THIS HUMBLE OFFERING

(Source: pokec0re)