Women: I want to go for a run.
Society: You can’t go alone. You’ll get raped.
Women: I want to walk to my car in the parking garage.
Society: Alone? You better get someone to escort you, or you’ll get raped.
Women: I want to live alone.
Society: You need a gun, an alarm system, a dog and probably a gun for the dog too.
Women: What about going to the park?
Society: Dangerous.
Women: Okay, I’ll just go out for a drink then.
Society: Don’t take your eyes off your drink. Watch out for predators spiking your drinks. Stay alert at all times.
Women: I was raped.
Society: Are you sure? That just seems impossible.
Today at a shopping mall , I watched a 5 year old boy ask a little girl if he could hug her because he liked her sweater. She said, "No.” He smiled, "Okay! I like your sweater. Bye!" and ran back to his dad. To his dad, he proudly said: "I didn't hug her because she said no... but I told her I liked her sweater!" His dad replied, “Cool, buddy!" ...and they went on shopping.
If a 5-year-old boy can understand consent and respect a "No," then so can every adult