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Ending Child Marriage in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, there is currently no minimum age to get married. A child of any age can get married if they meet certain requirements....
May 29, 2019


The Historical Roots of the Sexualization of Black Women and Girls
Last week, we explored how the way that our society views Black girls as more mature and less innocent than their white peers may allow...
Feb 20, 2019


Who Is Truly Responsible for Sexual Violence?
In 2018, we have seen substantial change when it comes to how allegations of sexual harassment and assault are handled. Unfortunately,...
Dec 5, 2018


Why Victims Don't Report
There are many reasons why a victim of sexual assault may not report the crime to law enforcement, or ever even discuss it with family,...
Sep 26, 2018


Examining Sexual Violence Through the Lens of Race
In early February, Tarana Burke, the original founder of the #MeToo movement, spoke in Pittsburgh. Several members of Blackburn Center’s...
Feb 28, 2018


Why We Need to Acknowledge the True Founder of the #MeToo Movement, Tarana Burke
For most Americans, the #MeToo movement started in the fall of 2017, with the bombshell New York Times story that Harvey Weinstein had...
Feb 6, 2018


Believing Victims When Someone You Know or Admire Is Accused of Sexual Violence
We are at a critical moment in American history. Time Magazine just named “The Silence Breakers” as its person of the year for 2017,...
Dec 13, 2017


Why Some Women Defend Abusive Men
This fall, we have experienced what seems to be a turning point in our national conversation about sexual violence. Powerful men are...
Dec 6, 2017


The Many Paths Forward for Victims of Sexual Violence
The news has been full of stories recently of women and men alike coming forward to tell their stories of being sexual assaulted or...
Nov 29, 2017


Have We Reached a Moment of Truth?
Over the past several weeks, women and men alike have come forward to speak out against powerful men who have sexually abused and...
Nov 15, 2017


Why It’s OK If You Don’t Say #MeToo
In the wake of the revelation that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has sexually harassed and assaulted women for decades, a social...
Oct 25, 2017


On Harvey Weinstein, and Why We Must Believe Victims
Over the weekend, the New York Times published an exposé of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, which ultimately led to him being fired...
Oct 11, 2017


Boys Can Be Raped, Too: How the Media’s Coverage of Teacher-Student Sexual Assault Scandals Hurts Bo
In recent weeks, two news stories have broken involving younger teachers sexually assaulting their students. These teachers were...
Oct 4, 2017


Details of Cosby Juror Deliberations Show We Have a Long Way to Go
Recently, the sexual assault trial against Bill Cosby ended in a mistrial, with the prosecutor vowing to seek a retrial. After a judge...
Jul 12, 2017


The Cosby case Reminds Us to Focus on Victims
This piece was originally published on Lancasteronline.com. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------...
Jul 5, 2017


Cosby Trial: Why Victims Wait to Report
On June 17, 2017, jurors in the Pennsylvania sexual assault trial of Bill Cosby reported that they were hopelessly deadlocked, and the...
Jun 21, 2017


It Isn't Hazing: Calling Out Sexual Assault in Youth Sports
Recently, the Associated Press ran a series on the phenomenon of "hazing" in youth sports that has largely been dismissed by coaches,...
May 16, 2017


"Stealthing" Is Just Another Name for Sexual Assault
The concept of “stealthing” has been a hot topic in the news lately, with various media outlets describing it as a sort of “sex trend”...
May 10, 2017


Reframing the Conversation
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the perfect time to address how we talk about sexual assault and rape. Over the years,...
Apr 4, 2017


The Impact of Gender-Based Violence on Women of Color
We know that domestic violence and sexual assault can affect anyone, regardless of race, age, gender, religion or sexuality. Most...
Feb 8, 2017
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