Last January, a young man named Brock Turner sexually assaulted an incapacitated woman behind a dumpster. While this particular case has garnered national headlines and impassioned editorials, sadly it’s not an isolated incident.
In fact, 1 out of 6 American women and 1 out of 33 American men will be the victim of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime, according to the anti-sexual violence organization RAINN. These cases hardly ever make the evening news, and most perpetrators walk away free. Out of every 1,000 rapes that occur, only 6 rapists will end up incarcerated.
As fathers, we know that we need to talk with our kids about sexuality and consent. One of our most important jobs as fathers is to instill an awareness in our children of what it means to respect boundaries, and that violating someone's boundaries has serious consequences -- physical, emotional, mental and societal.
This Father's Day, please join us and parents across the country and pledge to #TalktoYourKids about consent and sexual assault. Here are some basic points you can start with:
For sons:
- Sex isn't a conquest, it's an act that is done with full participation and agreement from both parties.
- Consent should be enthusiastic, ongoing, and unambiguous.
- Consent is fluid, and people are allowed to change their minds.
- First, be someone's friend.
- You are responsible for your actions, and that is a great responsibility.
For daughters:
- You have ownership and autonomy over your own body.
- Your autonomy extends beyond your body to your ideas, your decisions, your feelings, and beyond.
We urge you to sign this pledge and join the movement to #TalktoYourKids and have those tough, critical conversations now. Together we can work toward a future without sexual assault.