My sons are grown up (18) and almost grown up (16). However, it was one of my dad’s aunts (who is a RN so she has seen some stuff) that first introduced me to teaching my kids about consent. She asked my then 18 month old for a hug. When he shook his head no, my dad starting gently moving him toward her for a hug. She…

I’d be willing to bet several hundred dollars this guy is some kind of sexually deranged pervert based on how blithely and willingly he shows leniency to the defendants in such cases.

Oh my god. I am seeing so many black men defend him. It annoys me to no end because black women will end up being thrown under the bus for the shit that they pull.

PREACH! The “suspicious timing” argument irks me to the core. I remember when the debacle around Bill Cosby began to unfold and the conspiracy theorist were talking nonsense that the “accusations” only came out because he was “about to purchase a network”. NO, these are not instances of social stratification and…

(Just want to say how much I love that you’re doing that. The idea of a girl raised with it being totally a given that she’s comfortable when she’s being touched or kissed, so anything else would just feel bizarre [and not like ‘...I feel uneasy; is this normal?’ level weird, but ‘whoa, wtf? Knock it off, dude, you’re…

It’s amazing how many of my friends/family try to force their kids to hug me or kiss me when the kid doesn’t want to. I always tell the kids they do not have to if they don’t want to, and offer a high-five instead. Parents probably think it’s because I hate kids, but it’s because I love consent.

You sound like an amazing parent and I wish you all the best xxx

My best friend’s little girl started denying me kisses and hugs, mostly good byes and hellos. Mostly she was playing coy, but whenever she said no I always backed off. My friend would aways press her, but I think it's a good lesson on both ends. Say what you mean and mean what you say, if you don't want a hug that's…

I would suggest printing out a stack of these kinds of stories, each time your parents go against your house rules you can give one to them to read, or read it to them if they refuse to. This is what you are fighting against and they need to understand.

good for you. Teach her too that nobody can touch her in the bathing suit area without her okay. (And of course that she shouldn’t keep a secret from you - surprises are good things, like a birthday present. )

Its great that you are trying. At least the concept is being introduced to her. I think a lot of child rearing avoids or ignores it. I am not parent, so I can imagine that on top of everything that we are supposed to teach our children, it can all get confusing.

As someone who was raped and then let down by the justice system, these cases bring up so much rage. And it’s been 12 years for me. Maybe it’s awful to say, but if the Internet naming-and-shaming ruins these guys’ lives, good. They’re fucking trash.

Most sexual assailants are repeat offenders. That’s why being lenient with convicted rapists, and allowing rape kit backlogs to mount, makes me BOIL with rage.

Mine (father) wasn’t. Nor was he complacent about women’s pay being lower - it affects the entire family when half of the wage-earners are paid for shit. And men with critical thinking skills should come to that understanding on their own - if only for selfish reasons.

As a victim of rape (and a woman of colour), I was unable to get through the whole transcript. I feel like throwing up, to be perfectly honest.

As a black woman I have to get this off my chest. If I see one more black man say this shit was brought up because of Birth of a Nation I am going to scream! I have known about this for at least 3 or 4 years you didn’t want to know don’t start with the conspiracy theories.

I was chatting with a non-American friend over the weekend who was appalled when I said I haven’t set foot in a doctor’s office in about 7 years. I’ve heard a lot of Republicans go on about how awful socialized medicine is because OMG YOU MIGHT HAVE A BIT OF A WAIT TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR. It just makes me laugh (cry)…

Why the fuck is health care an INDUSTRY in the first place??? I know, America, capitalism, profits etc. but wtf!!! No way to reconcile care and the best interests of a human being with the bottom line. Ffs.

Yeah people who think it’s that easy didn’t have a kid who would scream and refuse to nurse if you tried to cover them. Some babies don’t care, others hate it. Mine needed to stare at my face the whole time so she would rip the cover off as soon as she was able.

It happens. It’s awkward.