What should I tell my child if they feel uncomfortable during a medical exam?
You can always say out loud if something at the doctor feels uncomfortable, and you can also ask more questions about the exam and why you are getting it. You can also ask if there are any things that can be done to make you feel more comfortable, like having a nurse in the room […]
Can sexual violence happen if both people are intoxicated?
If someone is unable to consent because they are incapacitated, then it would be considered sexual violence. If there are two people who are incapacitated, it would be unlikely that they would physically be able to engage in any sexual behavior. However, if two people were equally intoxicated, it becomes a gray area. In these […]
How should I explain social media age limits to my child?
Different families have different rules about what age you can use social media. Even though these apps say you have to be 13 to use them, this is because that’s the age when advertisers can promote products to young people–it doesn’t always mean that that is the age when someone is ready. Different people might […]
Can boys and men experience sexual assault?
Yes, men can be raped. Though statistics often show women having reported more sexual violence than men, it still occurs against men. It’s also important to remember that societal pressures may limit men from coming forward about having experienced rape, so we may hear about it less.
Are requests for photos of body parts like feet something I should be concerned about?
Even though feet are not usually considered private parts of the body, some adults want pictures of feet for adult reasons. No one should ever ask a young person for pictures of their feet, because it is for adult activities.
What should my child do if they receive an explicit image?
Encourage them to come to you if this happens. Reassure them that they will not get in trouble if they do (and follow through if they do). If the photo is of a peer and there are no concerns about harassment of your child, they should delete it right away. You or the two of […]
What should I do if my child is being sextorted?
If someone is sextorting you, you should keep everything, including any photos you may have sent. Bring all of this to a trusted adult. The photo can be uploaded to NCMEC’s Take It Down feature to help get it removed across the internet.
How can I talk to my child about flirting without crossing boundaries?
One of the ways you can tell if something is sexual harassment is if the behavior is unwanted and repeated. Are you constantly flirting with someone, and they aren’t flirting back? If so, that would be an example of sexual harassment. A good way to avoid this is to think about your intentions and expectations […]
What should I do if my child reports harassment or assault at school and nothing happens?
Sometimes the rules and processes in place don’t work the way they’re supposed to. You can think of the other trusted adults in your life to talk to, and approach them to discuss this.
How should I explain consent changing over time?
Someone cannot give consent and take it back at a later date (this does not apply to withdrawing consent during a sexual act); however, it is important to understand the dynamics of consent to understand that just because someone might have thought they had consent in the moment, they might have ignored or not been […]