School Dress Codes and Gender/Sexuality Bias
I have always struggled with what to do when it comes to rules about dress codes. Whether that was when I was working in state-based juvenile facilities that required girls to wear over-sized, donated men’s t-shirts to “cover up” and not distract the boys or in youth group banning...
Sharing our Values: Parenting and Sexuality Education
For local Shoreline Connecticut folks. Join me . . . Monday, April 20th 7:15-9:00pm, Griswold Hall First Congregational Church Guilford (Corner of Church and Broad St.) Parenting in today’s world is a complex and courageous task, especially when it comes to issues of sexuality. As parents, it can be...
It Takes More than One Talk: Continuing the Conversation After Chris Herren Speaks
On March 23rd, the town I live in joined Chris Herren, former NBA player turned advocate for youth substance abuse prevention, in Project Purple. The event was a success by measure of attendance and sponsored by a group called It’s Worth It, D.A.Y of Guilford (Developmental Assets for Youth)....
Talking about Violence: A Lenten Response
On Ash Wednesday, I was serving as the choir parent volunteer. The parent brings the snack, serves as the second adult in the room, and helps out as needed. With 10 minutes left in practice, the Junior Choir Director stops and informs the children (3rd – 8th grade) that...
Gift-giving as Christian Practice
I love giving and getting presents. I am the person who wears or uses a gift immediately after receiving it. I put time and effort into choosing gifts for close friends and family. That said, I am uncomfortable with a Christmas season that inspires economic excess. As a parent,...
From Thanksgiving Tables to Ferguson Streets
As a white parent, I struggle with how to talk about the racialized history of our society with my white children. From the history of Thanksgiving to the events in Ferguson (and so many other cities), I wonder what I can say to my children that won’t be yet...
Stephen Colbert is an Ask-able Adult
Many sexuality educators emphasize to parents and other care-givers that kids need “ask-able” adults. Hopefully as parents many of us are working toward being an ask-able adult that our child can turn to with difficult, embarrassing or even mundane questions. As a faith-based sexuality educator and parent, I have...
Internet, Endless Memory and the Practice of Forgiveness
When the Internet never forgets, the practice of forgiveness is all the more important. In response to the ubiquity of the Internet and its incomparable ability to remember, a recent European Union Court ruled in favor of a man who requested that Google remove references to a financial issue he had...
What about boys?
As a sexuality education and feminist ethicist, I am often asked why I spend so much time talking about girls empowerment. First, I think that is a false statement. When parents, students, Christian educators, and so on hear me talking about gender equity, they often assume it is only...
Be Bossy or #BanBossy
Lately, it seems the news is plagued by stories of sexism and violence related to young women and girls globablly and in the U.S. While I think we all need to express collective outrage at such blatant and systemic acts of gender-based oppression and violence, we...