BreakthroughU

Meet Norm, Norma, Sam, and Oscar, college students at BreakthroughU.

In this three-part narrative video series featuring puppets, you will follow Norm, Norma, Sam, and Oscar as they navigate their lives, identities, relationships, and activities on campus. The videos deal with gender-based discrimination and violence in the very tangible ways they occur in the lives of the characters.

Culture Change 101 Gender Norms 101 Intersectionality 101

Culture Change 101

Oscar’s boyfriend is abusing him, and reaching out for help hasn’t been easy. Sometimes we feel powerless as a result of our overlapping identities – as though it is impossible to change our circumstances. But the parts of his identity that make it difficult for Oscar to seek help actually make him a powerful ally in other contexts. Through an intersectional view of privilege and oppression we can all access power in ways we never knew were possible!

The intersectionality video asks us to think about all kinds of issues – which makes sense! Learn more about intersectionality here, and check out Breakthrough’s other resources on thinking beyond bystander intervention, why everyone needs to be involved in the fight to end gender-based violence, and how you can challenge common practices of GBV on campus.

Gender Norms 101

Meet Norm and Norma. They’re two totally normal students at BreakthroughU who happen to hook up. Gender norms like “act like a lady” and “boys will be boys” may seem harmless, but watch how these attitudes about gender embolden Norm to share intimate photos of Norma – and how she is shamed for his decision to violate her consent. Not cool – and yet: it happens on campuses all the time.

The gender norms we learn and enact through culture feel really rigid, but we know that it is possible to interrupt, challenge and transform them! Learn more about gender norms here, and check out Breakthrough’s other resources on non-consensual photo sharing, sexual scoring, and how to transform it.

Intersectionality 101