The following day, I attended a workshop about preventing gender violence, facilitated by Katz. There, he posed a question to all of the men in the room: “Men, what things do you do to protect yourself from being raped or sexually assaulted?”

Not one man, including myself, could quickly answer the question. Finally, one man raised his hand and said, “Nothing.” Then Katz asked the women, “What things do you do to protect yourself from being raped or sexually assaulted?” Nearly all of the women in the room raised their hand. One by one, each woman testified:

“I don’t make eye contact with men when I walk down the street,” said one.
“I don’t put my drink down at parties,” said another.
“I use the buddy system when I go to parties.”
“I cross the street when I see a group of guys walking in my direction.”
“I use my keys as a potential weapon.”

The women went on for several minutes, until their side of the blackboard was completely filled with responses. The men’s side of the blackboard was blank. I was stunned. I had never heard a group of women say these things before. I thought about all of the women in my life — including my mother, sister and girlfriend — and realized that I had a lot to learn about gender.

Why I Am A Male Feminist (via newwavefeminism)

(via crookedindifference)

Source: newwavefeminism

29003 Notes/ Hide

  1. lunatoday reblogged this from newwavefeminism
  2. frozenchaos reblogged this from whenzombiesattack
  3. killingqueen reblogged this from anwynisbrownajah
  4. anwynisbrownajah reblogged this from dropitlikef-scott
  5. dropitlikef-scott reblogged this from dent-arthur-dent
  6. dent-arthur-dent reblogged this from hanniebananiehasthebooth
  7. morethancupcake reblogged this from journaliere
  8. tika-tiponi reblogged this from zmilesaway
  9. ilyatoujourslesoleil reblogged this from journaliere
  10. journaliere reblogged this from annieelainey
  11. abandonthesirens reblogged this from failing-idiotic-nutcase
  12. failing-idiotic-nutcase reblogged this from i-know-you-judge-me
  13. moonderp reblogged this from fozziebearman
  14. inspiredwarriorkitten reblogged this from wilwheaton
  15. violetfuel reblogged this from littlemiss
  16. fozziebearman reblogged this from kierongillen
  17. rakeyyy reblogged this from madnessfillsmyheartandsoul
  18. obligatory-fish reblogged this from robaemea
  19. z-i-e reblogged this from engenderandendear and added:
    … Okay, So I wrote this thing dissing “feminism” the other day. I guess if this falls under the category of “feminism”...
  20. vanbesta reblogged this from getinthehandbasket
  21. marialuisa-pr reblogged this from personalvision
  22. renam2 reblogged this from getinthehandbasket
  23. getinthehandbasket reblogged this from sanityscraps
  24. thunderwishes reblogged this from neil-gaiman and added:
    I love Neil for this so much
  25. youaremyhighesthigh reblogged this from somejigganigga
  26. autographthis reblogged this from swiftglee
  27. swiftglee reblogged this from iamateenagefeminist