Abuse
Is objectification always bad? No, objectification is not always bad. Like so many other things in life, it is how it is used, how people feel about it, and whether or not someone is consenting.
In our culture, people are constantly bombarded with images and messages that tell them their worth is based on their appearance and their ability to please others. Cis-gendered women, in particular, are constantly surrounded with images and messages that promote the idea that their value lies in their physical appearance and their ability to please men. This is called objectification, and it’s a real problem. Not only does it lead to unrealistic expectations and body image issues, but it can also have a serious impact on our mental and physical health. It’s time to start talking about objectification and how it can impact us.
When a loved one tells you they were sexually assaulted, how do you create safe and supportive space? It’s never easy to hear stories of pain and struggle. It can be even harder to hear when it comes from someone we love. But what can we do? How do we react? How can we support […]
Out of all the different types, the tantalizing emotional blackmailer is the most subtle. This type of abuser manipulates through the use of promises of great rewards for jumping through their hoops. The rewards can be anything from promises of money, career advancements, material possessions, or even the promise of their undivided attention, acceptance, and […]
For many of us, it’s hard to witness suffering, particularly if it’s someone we love. Some kinds of emotional blackmailers take advantage of that and use it to manipulate us to their will. Enter the suffering emotional blackmailer. This type of emotional blackmailer really focuses on feeling miserable. They can seem sick, unhappy, or just […]
Who would use the threat of self-punishment to get what they want? The truth is many people have tried it in various forms. Have you ever seen a kid in the middle of a tantrum who’s threatened to hold their breath until they turn blue unless the parent gives in? Did you ever do that […]
Emotional blackmail can happen in a number of different ways. Different abusers have different styles and well as strategies that go with those styles. One of the most blatant styles is that of the Punisher. We are definitely not talking about the avenging comic book character but a type of abuser who uses aggressive anger, […]
We all want to believe that a rapist is an undeniable monster. A person who is so easy to pick out in the crowd for being an undeniable creep. They are that stranger in the dark alley or lurking in the bushes. Some despicable man with no semblance of soul or care for other human beings that lives to attack women because he couldn’t be with a woman otherwise.
Emotional blackmail is a form of emotional abuse. It’s a powerful type of manipulation where people directly, or indirectly, threaten to punish us for failing to do or give them what they want. It can occur between any two people, regardless of what kind of relationship they have. It can happen between friends, lovers, co-workers, […]
Rape culture is a toxic set of beliefs that are commonly held about the way the world is. It is a culture that normalizes sexual violence and just sees rape as inevitable, unavoidable and a totally normal thing. Rape culture supports and encourages male sexual aggression as well as violence against women and other groups. […]
We are starting to learn much more about the impact of different types of drugs. In recent years, a lot of research has gone into the impacts of psychedelics on mental health. We have some solid research showing success in treating PTSD and depression with mushrooms. As we continue to explore the use of psychedelics […]
Creep Off is a brand new pilot reporting tool to track harassment and catcalling on the street. It is launched by a Vancouver non-profit, Good Night Out Vancouver. This text-based service collects information about incidents of harassment. The hope is that collecting this information will lead to better support for women, members of the LGBTQ+ […]
Sexual assault can take many forms. The legal definition will change a bit from place to place but it is generally defined as any action that is sexual in nature and violates the sexual integrity of the victim. It is an unwanted and non-consenting action performed by one person on another. In many cases, sexual assault is defined by its lack of freely given consent. It is used as more of an umbrella term that includes a wide variety of unwanted actions…
The #MeToo Movement has sparked a lot of debate and conversation across the globe. It has challenged a lot of common conceptions about the current standards around consent, gender bias, and power imbalances. We are exploring deeper into personal autonomy and how that relates to other people. The movement is giving a voice to many victims/survivors that never felt they had a voice before and highlighting some of the injustices people have endured. The movement is bringing a lot of things to light, many of which have never really been discussed before.
Sexual violence is an ongoing problem for many communities across the world. It is a very complex issue that is influenced by a variety of different factors. There is a common perception that sexual violence only happens towards women but this is not always the case. People of any gender can experience sexual violence. Research has confirmed that those who belong to the LGBTQ2S* community tend to experience more sexual assaults and violence than the heterosexual population. The CDC conducted a national survey in 2010 and found that rates are significantly higher for those who identify on the LGBTQ2S* spectrum.
How can we help those who have survived a sexual assault? It’s important that we start to move more towards supporting those who have been through such an experience. It’s only by taking these steps that we can start to make real change