You saw the headlines: “Global Online Global Rape Academy”
Organized and mass-produced sexual violence, fueled by deeply rooted cultural norms that perpetuate misogyny and violence against women:
- A global network where men share detailed tips on how to drug and sexually assault women while avoiding detection.
- More than 20,000 videos of women who appear unconscious or drugged.
- 62 million visits in a single month.
- Men reportedly selling live streams of assaults for $20 a viewer.
There is a reason women “choose the bear” over men. There is a reason many women respond to the sentiment of “not all men” with “but always a man”. There is a reason we all know a survivor, but rarely do we seem to know a rapist or an abuser.
Too often in our society, men’s violence against women is covered up, dismissed as “locker room talk”, excused as “boys being boys”, reframed as miscommunications and misunderstandings, defended with “but he’s a good guy”, or simply accepted as “just the way that it is”.
But what if we lived in a world where girls weren’t taught “safety tips” like “never leave your drink alone” or “carry your keys in your fist at night”? A world where our daughters, sisters, mothers, nieces, granddaughters, and aunts didn’t have to navigate violence and knew it wasn’t theirs to prevent.
What if we lived in a world where boys were rewarded for cultivating empathy, collaboration, and emotional intelligence? A world where our sons, brothers, fathers, nephews, grandfathers, and uncles understood that violent misogyny is unacceptable and equity is the norm.
A different world is possible, but it requires all of us to channel the outrage fueled by these headlines into necessary, meaningful action. To commit to personal accountability and a collective cultural reckoning. To hold ourselves, our neighbors, our colleagues, and our loved ones to a standard that treats equity, peace, connection, and mutual liberation as the norm. And to act, in every way, as if a radically different future is possible.
If you or someone you know needs help, free and confidential help is available 24/7/365 at the Virginia Statewide Sexual and Domestic Violence Hotline:
- Call: 800-838-8238
- Text: 804-793-9999
- Chat: vadata.com/chat/
You can also find your local sexual and domestic violence agency using the interactive map at the bottom of every page of our website.
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