When to start talking to our sons about rape and consent | Affirmative Consent / Stopping Campus Sexual Assault.

Washington Post
12.21.16 | Carolyn Hax

Dear Carolyn: There’s been a lot of public discussion surrounding sexual assault lately, and one thing I keep reading/hearing is, “We need to teach our sons not to rape.” Do they mean literally sit down with a child and tell him that it’s not okay? Do they mean raise the child in such a way that rape would never be something they are capable of?

I have a 10-year-old son and only last year talked to him about where babies come from. What age is appropriate to discuss rape with kids? Clearly this shouldn’t come out of the blue, but should include a discussion of respect, boundaries, etc., but I’m at a loss as to how this should happen.

Teaching Sons Not to Rape

Teaching Sons Not to Rape: I could write up the answer that explains how I’m talking to my kids, and have been since they were little — thanks in part to some really important programs through their elementary schools, yay for these enlightened educators — or I can save myself the typing and send you to a blog post by Jessica Birthisel (bit.ly/Ask1st), an assistant professor of communications who seems to be working from the same set of bullet points I am.

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