By accepting this behaviour is wrong, you’re choosing to change.
How you can change
- Put yourself in their place
- Always treat women and girls as your equal, not as people to be controlled.
- Accept that women and girls don’t appreciate acts you might not recognise as wrong, e.g. wolf-whistling at them in the street.
- Give women and girls space. Women are often on constant alert in public, so this can help them feel safer.
- Don’t assume that you’re entitled to sex – you’re not. Having sex without consent is sexual assault or rape. Consent can only be given with a clear and enthusiastic ‘yes’. Anything else – including silence – is a ‘no’ that must be respected. There is No Grey Zone.
- Remember, porn is not real sex. It often shows damaging behaviour towards women.
Look at the ‘lads’
- Are your mates or family a bad influence? Don’t get drawn into abusive behaviour, just to be ‘one of the lads’.
- In many situations you won’t be the only one thinking something’s wrong – but it takes one person to call it out. Be that person.
Got kids?
- Bring them up to be respectful of all genders and see them as equal in society.
- Teach them to stand up against harmful behaviour and explain the importance of consent.