The Role Cis Men (Can) Play

Sexualized assault will continue to be an issue of staggering proportions if it is labeled a “women’s issue.” Ending sexualized assault is everyone’s issue. Men need to be on the frontlines with women and non-binary folks, fighting this issue and actively integrating awareness into their everyday lives.

Gender scripts are the rules we learn growing up about how to interact with the opposite sex. They teach us things like women are emotional, men are not, men are supposed to chase and women are supposed to hold the line. They teach us that not conforming to gender norms is wrong. These gender scripts and attitudes colour how we see the world and can be so embedded in us that they are hard to see - but we live them out every day in ways that harm people.

Gender scripts are not an excuse for behaviour that hurts others.

We must all do the work of becoming aware of the gender scripts that are guiding us, to question them, to see how they hurt others and to do to the work of changing our perspectives.

We all have an important role to play when it comes to making our community a better and safer place to live.

What IS Sexualized Assault?

Sexualized Assault is a multi-faceted issue, where people use power and control to harm others in a sexualized way.

It can be rape. It can also be catcalling, harassment, groping, or pressure to have sex or do a sexual act that the individual does not feel comfortable with. It can be supporting gender norms that devalue some genders over others.

#HowIWillChange

Noticing our blind spots and questioning how we think about the world is not easy, but it is how we end sexualized assault. Being an ally means thinking about the beliefs that guide your actions. It means exploring some uncomfortable truths, becoming accountable and committing to making a change: changing how you see the issue, changing how you act as a bystander and changing how you behave towards women and non-binary individuals.

Deal with Rejection

Rejection hurts, so we often don’t ask, we assume. 'Cause it’s easier right? And she knows the deal.

But is it really easier to wake up the next morning and realize fear of rejection caused you to harm someone? Is it really easier to wonder and worry if you something you said or did crossed the line?

Consent and respect are all about vulnerability. Learning to be ok with what we want, to be ok with asking, and to be ok with getting a no.

Be an ally! Take some adult sex ed, practice consent (aka asking for what you want before you do it) and learn to respect a no when you hear it.