How do we end rape illiteracy?

More importantly, how do we shift our society’s views of rape?

Recently, feminist author/blogger Jessica Valenti posted a piece on this issue and I think her points are incredibly spot on. I was discussing with someone last week about a fraternity they had heard of who committed hundreds of rapes and they didn’t even realize that what they were doing was rape.

How can we fix this? How can we be clear that rape is rape, despite the modifiers others may attempt to add onto the word? 

We start by each recognizing our own innate ability to make a change in our society. Change doesn’t just happen. And it isn’t just done by those “crazy, die-hard activists”. Change involves everyone, in the field of activism or not, pulling their weight.

So here’s a moment of encouragement on your Tuesday evening: if there has been something you’ve been wanting to do regarding social justice (or while we’re at it, something in general), you can do it. I’m sure a lot of you out there have ideas and projects and ways you want to get involved, but you’ve allowed fear to control you and stop you. Maybe you thought that it’s over your head. Or that someone would judge you. Or that you simply just couldn’t do it. I want you to let that fear go. Let’s change the world together.