Understanding Our Power to Harm

We don’t talk to boys about sexual violence with the same intensity and regularity that we talk to girls. It’s no wonder, then, that many grow into men with limited understandings of how to ensure the safety of themselves and their partners. Chapter 7 provides a deeper dive into sexual misconduct policies. It identifies common misunderstandings that boys have of policies and provides some practical tips on how to correct those deficiencies. Particular emphasis is placed on the common understanding that alcohol usage absolves one from fault. The chapter also provides tips on how boys can better navigate a sexual arena where they perceive themselves to have a lot of risk. Chief among these tips is the suggestion that boys are free to hold themselves to standards that exceed what laws and policies expect of them.