The Reflection of Respect - How They See Us

Every day, the internet is flooded with tips for women and girls on how to survive.  Lock your doors, watch your drink, don't walk alone at night. We are constantly provided all of this survival information daily, but what is the missing piece, when do we talk about teaching boys and men to move accordingly in this world? Safety should not depend solely on how well women navigate; it must depend on how well we raise boys to respect boundaries.

As the founder of Guardian Circles, a service dedicated to women, I see the reality of modern safety needs every day. But I am also a mother of sons and I have intentionally taught them how to actively look out for and protect women. Just as they would their sister, auntie, family and friends they care about. Most importantly, I given them a fundamental truth, consent isn't complicated: no means no. Consent must be freely given, it must come without pressure, guilt, manipulation, or threats.

At Guardian Circles, we love the men in our lives. We value them, they are our friends, partners, and family members. But we want the assurance that we will remain  protected around them. That they are the ones we can comfortably "just be", the ones we can trust and know deep down that a simple text to hang out doesn't carry the underlying fear of violence.