If nothing else, hoax or no hoax, Franco's recent media moment prompted significant discussion about the meaning of consent. While I think there is general agreement here about what actual verbal consent (and other forms of active consent), there seems to be more disagreement about what age can you consent to sexual…
Shitstorm ahoy! A leading British Sex Educator suggested that kids shouldn't be forced to kiss adult relatives, and that maybe a high five, or a firm handshake would suffice instead. Great Britain's Great Aunts are fucking livid.
So I saw The Wolf of Wall Street last night. And it was a pretty good movie! The rest of this post is going to be full of spoilers, so if that bothers you, stop reading.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--FD_J2Rlo--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/196n50i20ydkhjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--I9Qs3Hf7--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/196n50i20ydkhjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vg0wPSuy--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/196n50i20ydkhjpg.jpg, (large)])
The UK's president of the Faculty of Public Health has called for a national debate on lowering the age of consent from 16 to 15, arguing that, um, in case British lawmakers haven't realized it yet, lots of teenagers are having sex before they reach official consenting age, yet their status as ineligible sex-havers…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--_m-wXciv--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/194bmr1smxgzhjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--j02JZlsJ--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/194bmr1smxgzhjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--XBBwfrqN--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/194bmr1smxgzhjpg.jpg, (large)])
Hey gals, gather around for some Real Talk: did you know that America's college rape epidemic is all in our jungle juice-addled slutty imaginations? At least, according to a column posted by US News & World Report, it is.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7YzWvAQR--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/190gppqhddclspng.png, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7YB9vBSh--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/190gppqhddclspng.png, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--T33sKMSI--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/190gppqhddclspng.png, (large)])
On Tuesday, Playboy got major press and for the first time in awhile, it wasn't because they were selling off parts of their company or moving their headquarters from Chicago to Los Angeles or going private, things that would all individually spell trouble for legacy organization, but when pushed together look…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7bbas8iD--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18zu3p3o7s9czjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--rY1BJFix--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18zu3p3o7s9czjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--quiW2U1a--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18zu3p3o7s9czjpg.jpg, (large)])
A massive new UN survey has found that in some parts of Asia, more than half of the men admit to forcing a woman to have sex. Throughout the countries involved in the research, one in four men admitted to rape. Congratulations, UN Rape Survey. You found a thing to make even 9/11 seem worse.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--DsWpEPEH--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/1888lo8qs461yjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ZIZpnYXT--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/1888lo8qs461yjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--D-eXkqc5--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/1888lo8qs461yjpg.jpg, (large)])
Last week, feminist group FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture tried to convince everyone that Victoria's Secret's PINK line was launching a line of consent-themed underwear. The company's legal team nipped their satire advocacy in the bud, so now FORCE is actually placing thongs that say "Ask First" next to real VS panties…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--_rk3sOj7--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/187bj9j5s2meejpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--FO3Lr8VD--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/187bj9j5s2meejpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--lxwT_YGG--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/187bj9j5s2meejpg.jpg, (large)])
Yesterday, we determined that Victoria's Secret was most definitely not behind a new official-looking yet dubious "PINK Loves CONSENT" line, which featured some certifiable babes (who, refreshingly, did not look like Gisele) rocking underwear with phrases like "No Means No" next to a list of sexual assault statistics.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--_XbrhcNL--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/1878xjgd0lnkwpng.png, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--nQFKaENX--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/1878xjgd0lnkwpng.png, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--AjneGbju--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/1878xjgd0lnkwpng.png, (large)])
This morning, I got a press release from "pr@pinklovesconsent.com" announcing a new Victoria's Secret line that "promotes consent to fight rape in new panties."
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--yDxprfn0--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/180ewmv8tbbhzjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7M7ORuy9--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/180ewmv8tbbhzjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--LhttV4Zp--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/180ewmv8tbbhzjpg.jpg, (large)])
So here's some good news about the ongoing battle over Reddit's Creepshots forum: it seems that the teacher who was posting photos of his underage students to the internet without their knowledge has been caught, and fired. And, to add insult to perv injury, he's been banned from Reddit. Even worse! But here's some bad …
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--kKddUkW_--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17i267579erjljpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--U3AS0VSs--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17i267579erjljpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--yIrPWxzW--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17i267579erjljpg.jpg, (large)])
The Arkansas Supreme Court upheld a law prohibiting sexual contact between teachers and underage students. In a 3-4 decision, Chief Justice Jim Hannah wrote, "We cannot abandon our duty to uphold the rule of law when a case presents distasteful facts, and—"
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--IecYK8Xm--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18k28dbuwt8egjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ey8QUvcD--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18k28dbuwt8egjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5Az2zMbY--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18k28dbuwt8egjpg.jpg, (large)])
Last week, a truly stupid bill authored by Arizona Republican Trent Franks passed out of committee. PreNDA, formerly known as the Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenantal Nondiscrimination Act, purports to address the rampant American nonproblem of sex and race-selective abortion. But it seems that the purpose …
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--g9hniSEz--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18ivygfu08922jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--lcAdqMit--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18ivygfu08922jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--D3Az7Ud1--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18ivygfu08922jpg.jpg, (large)])
A court ruling has provoked outrage in Turkey, and in a minute you'll be fuming too. Last week, judges from Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals agreed that the sentences of 26 men convicted of having sex with a 13-year-old girl should be reduced because the girl consented. Now feminist and human rights activists are…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4TvSbjFP--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18iwiuv457i08jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--AoPO_hQe--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18iwiuv457i08jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Gdq5niWu--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18iwiuv457i08jpg.jpg, (large)])
A letter to my brother, and all his college friends:
College is awesome, right? No parents, no curfew, no rules, and there are girls everywhere. It is an alcohol-fueled, school-spirit-enhanced buffet of ladies, and it's hard not to want to sample everything on the menu. So you should!
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4-6duN0L--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18iwtfzx53k1ejpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ljzmcR7C--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18iwtfzx53k1ejpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--iJWEGiJY--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18iwtfzx53k1ejpg.jpg, (large)])
Patrick Kirkland, a juror who voted to acquit former NYPD cops Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata of almost all charges in the notorious rape trial, has written a long piece on the experience for Gothamist. In it, he defends the jury from charges that they let a rapist go free, somewhat explains why they doubted the…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--yso6VBBe--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/18eqgtu0adkxnjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Ct1CqYjt--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/18eqgtu0adkxnjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--9tHLfIwq--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/18eqgtu0adkxnjpg.jpg, (large)])
A few years ago, a friendly acquaintance came up to me at a fairly lively party and asked me if I remembered attending another event, years before. I told him I did; he said he remembered it too, and also the tank top I wore, because he'd been jerking off to the memory.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Lg4ENW_B--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18n5s8imt6ftxjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--BVlkdw8r--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18n5s8imt6ftxjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5uzW5VJa--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18n5s8imt6ftxjpg.jpg, (large)])
Defenses of Dominique Strauss-Kahn keep pouring in — an anonymous source says his encounter with a hotel maid may have been consensual, and his ex-wife says he can't possibly be guilty.
One policeman's case of the law's inconsistencies: He was legally allowed to have sex with two sixteen-year-old girls, but not consensually record himself doing so, since the cutoff for child pornography is 18. He was sentenced to 15 years.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--kX-Utc7r--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18iz6k8w3pp83jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--jOg5gXMr--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18iz6k8w3pp83jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--wW3hUZYL--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18iz6k8w3pp83jpg.jpg, (large)])
The legal age of consent varies widely around the world — and even within the United States, it's way more complicated than we thought. Let's take a tour.
