“But What Were You Wearing?”
By: Sierra Voorhies Trigger Warning: rape culture, victim blaming, and sexual assault. I’m not quite sure how to start this blog, but I think I will start with the phrase, “What were they wearing?” This…
Two Months of Change
by Ann Varner Two months ago, I started working at the UMKC Women’s Center. I had no idea how much I was going to learn in such a short period of time. I knew that…
Reflecting on Rape Culture
by Matiara Huff Last week, we celebrated Denim Day by raising awareness about rape culture at UMKC, complete with a denim display and information about rape culture. But if this topic is new to you…
Audrie and Daisy: Let’s talk about rape and the pursuit of justice
By Ann Varner Audrie and Daisy is a documentary that aired on Netflix. The film examines the ripple effects on families, friends, schools and communities when two underage women find that sexual assault crimes against…
What Normalizes Violence in our Culture?
by Thea Voutiritsas In the U.S., April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Though sexual assault seems like a clear no-no, our culture enforces social norms that condone violence and negative power relations. Sexual assault…
What Happens to Women Matters to Men, Too!
By Morgan Paul “Women are part of men’s lives, and what happens to us matters to men too.” In welcoming everybody back to class and back to the Women’s Center after a long cold break…
The Prevalence of “Rape Culture” in Today’s Society
By Amber Charleville After the recent events of Maryville, a story so close to home (Maryville is an hour and a half north of Kansas City), I thought it might be a good idea to…