harassment

ROAR: The game-changing safety device that’s going to keep women safe

What if there was a way to ensure that every woman could go through her life feeling secure and fearless? Imagine a world where women could go about their lives without having to consciously avoid unprovoked attacks or attention. Yasmine Mustafa wants to create that world. Last November, women throughout Philadelphia were shaken when a 29-year-old woman was beaten and raped in a Center City neighborhood. She had gone outside to feed the meter and man came up behind her, dragging her into a nearby alley and sexually assaulting her. She was less than…

Read More

Minnesota Vikings Kicker Harassed for Stance on Marriage Equality

One sports organization that seems to have the biggest problem with marriage equality is the NFL. I guess it’s because the sport is seen as a somewhat modern day gladiator match, men putting their bodies through the ringer in hopes of achieving a shiny trophy. Bigotry and bullying isn’t really anything new in the sports world as of late. Stories of teammate hazing in the NFL and using racial and gay slurs in the NBA all made the headlines last year. So Chris Kluwe, former Minnesota Vikings kicker, wrote an…

Read More

The women of cosplay speak up: the creepiest thing they’ve heard while in costume

Women who cosplay, a performance art in which participants wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea, are often subject to harassment and sexist remarks. This isn’t news to any woman who has dressed up previously at a cosplay event. Thankfully, this is getting more attention outside of the cosplay community. Recently at a New York ComicCon, BuzzFeed asked female cosplayers to share the creepiest thing that’s ever been said to them while they were in costume. Some if it is actually really awful. Women shouldn’t have to endure these kinds of remarks.   Cosplay harassment has become…

Read More

Project Unbreakable: Male Survivors of Sexual Assault Speak Out

“Men can’t get raped.” It’s a horribly sexist and insensitive thing to say, especially to someone who has been sexually assaulted. Yet, it’s a common response, regardless of how wrong it actually is. It is estimated that one in six males are victims of sexual assault. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), 54% of incidents are not reported to police, so it could even more. Although most sexual assault victims are female, males are much less likely to come forward and seek help and support. Male survivors often…

Read More

Growing up, Ricky Martin was a homophobic bully

It’s hard to believe, right? This talented singer and father of two boys was once in denial and bullying others for their own sexuality. I think this says volumes about how self-hate and denial can manifest into abusive, unhealthy behavior. Ricky said anti-gay sentiments in society and his faith ‘crushed’ his self-esteem. Before officially “coming out” in 2010, his self-loathing for being gay manifested itself in outward anger and bullying. According to his cover interview for GQ Australia: “I was very angry, very rebellious. I used to look at gay men and think ‘I’m…

Read More

Top