Blog

Allie writes about her experiences and approach to prevention education in a culture where violence is accepted and denied at the same time. Read to the end to gain knowledge on our role as a collective in interrupting harmful narratives that lead to these cultural phenomena. This narrative piece punctuates the MCVP’s Instagram series over the last month that analyzes justifications of violence on Reddit (a popular social media platform where users can post anonymously asking and responding to questions, stories, etc.).

Holding power is something we all do and have in all aspects of life. Power is omnipresent and can shift in dynamics. It is important to recognize this as we navigate romantic relationships. Read as our Center Director, Elaine Newton, about her experience of realizing when she held power in one of her relationships. She applied this realization to avoid hurting her partner.

“I would never do that” can make harm feel like something only other people cause. But violence prevention starts with honest self-reflection. Everyone has a role in noticing power, respecting boundaries, listening to feedback, and taking responsibility for their actions. Safer communities grow when people move beyond denial and choose accountability, care, and change.

Purity culture can teach shame, fear, and silence around sex, bodies, and desire. These messages can make it harder to talk about consent, boundaries, harm, and healing. Healthier relationships come from honest education, respect, choice, and care instead of control or judgment. Everyone deserves to understand their body, name their needs, and make decisions free from pressure or shame.

Virginity is often treated like a measure of worth, but it is a social idea shaped by shame, pressure, and control. People deserve to make choices about sex at their own pace and for their own reasons. Healthier relationships grow when communities respect boundaries, reject judgment, and value people for who they are, not their sexual history.