Beyond Consent: Rethinking Sex, Power, and Justice - a conversation with Danielle Tumminio Hansen

Content Warnings: This episode discusses rape, sexual assault, purity culture, childhood sexual harm, and childbirth trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

In this deeply moving and thought-provoking conversation, EDJ is joined by theologian and author Danielle Tumminio Hansen to explore how our language, theology, and justice systems often fail survivors of sexual harm. Drawing from her groundbreaking book Speaking of Rape, Danielle discusses the need to reframe how we talk about rape, the myths of the "perfect victim" and the "obvious perpetrator," and the damaging intersections between purity culture and rape culture.

This episode also tackles the importance of sex education, why impact matters more than intent, how restorative justice offers an alternative to punishment-based systems, and what it means to raise children with justice and empathy in mind. Danielle shares from her own story with remarkable vulnerability, offering theological, psychological, and cultural insight that’s both challenging and deeply hopeful.

Topics Discussed:

• Why our words around sexual harm often fall short

• The myths of the "perfect victim" and "clear perpetrator"

• How purity culture contributes to victim-blaming

• Redefining rape through agency, power, and desire

• The role of sex education in prevention

• Restorative justice vs. retributive justice

• Why survivors' stories reshape culture

• Teaching justice through parenting

• Autonomy, agency, and interdependence

• Understanding impact over intent

Resources Mentioned:

• Speaking of Rape by Danielle Tumminio Hansen

• South of Forgiveness by Thordis Elva & Tom Stranger

• Know My Name by Chanel Miller

• Works by theologian Sally McFague and philosopher Linda Alcoff

• Research on contact theory and restorative justice

 

🇦🇺 Australia

• 1800RESPECT Australia’s national sexual assault, domestic, and family violence helpline.

  • 📞 Call: 1800 737 732

  • 💬 Online chat: 1800RESPECT.org.au

  • 🕒 Hours: 24/7

  • 🧑‍⚕️ Services: Counselling, information, and referrals Full Stop AustraliaFindaHelpline+351800RESPECT+35White Ribbon+35Health and Ageing Department+31800RESPECT+31800RESPECT+3NASASV

• State-Based Services

  • Victoria: Sexual Assault Crisis Line – 1800 806 292 (5 pm–9 am weekdays; 24/7 on weekends)

  • Queensland: Sexual Assault Helpline – 1800 010 120 (7:30 am–11:30 pm daily)

  • Western Australia: Sexual Assault Resource Centre – 1800 199 888 (24/7)

  • South Australia: Yarrow Place – 1800 817 421

  • Tasmania: Sexual Assault Support Service – 1800 697 877

  • Northern Territory: Sexual Assault Referral Centres – 08 8922 6472 (Darwin)

  • Australian Capital Territory: Canberra Rape Crisis Centre – 02 6247 2525

  • New South Wales: Full Stop Australia – 1800 FULL STOPOCRCC+2au.reachout.com+2Healthdirect+2Healthdirect+1au.reachout.com+1Full Stop Australia

🇺🇸 United States

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) Operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline.

  • 📞 Call: 800-656-HOPE (4673)

  • 💬 Online chat: RAINN.org

  • 🕒 Hours: 24/7

  • 🧑‍⚕️ Services: Confidential support, referrals, and information OCRCC+5RAINN+5FindaHelpline+5CSA Centre+12Verywell Mind+12Glamour+12The Guardian+9The Hotline+9Verywell Mind+9

• Other National Helplines

  • Love Is Respect: For teens and young adults experiencing dating violence.

    • 📞 Call: 1-866-331-9474

    • 💬 Text: Text "LOVEIS" to 22522

    • 💬 Online chat: loveisrespect.org

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: For domestic violence support.

    • 📞 Call: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

    • 💬 Text: Text "START" to 88788

    • 💬 Online chat: thehotline.org

  • Crisis Text Line: For general crisis support.

    • 💬 Text: Text "HOME" to 741741

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

• Rape Crisis England & Wales Provides the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line.

  • 📞 Call: 0808 500 2222

  • 💬 Online chat: rapecrisis.org.uk

  • 🕒 Hours: 24/7

  • 🧑‍⚕️ Services: Emotional support, information, and referrals NASASV+1Full Stop Australia+1endingviolencecanada.org+2Verywell Mind+2TAASA+2survivorsnetwork.org.uk+10Rape Crisis England & Wales+10Sexual Abuse Support+10Verywell Mind+1324/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line+13Rape Crisis England & Wales+13

• Other Support Lines

  • Samaritans: Emotional support for anyone in distress.

    • 📞 Call: 116 123

    • 💬 Online chat: samaritans.org

  • Childline: For individuals under 19.

    • 📞 Call: 0800 1111

    • 💬 Online chat: childline.org.uk

  • The Survivors Trust: For survivors of sexual violence.

    • 📞 Call: 0808 801 0818

    • 💬 Text: 07860 022 956

    • 💬 Online chat: thesurvivorstrust.org

🇨🇦 Canada

• Sexual Violence Helpline (Canada) Provides confidential support and referrals.

  • 📞 Call: 1-888-933-9007

  • 💬 Online chat: sexualviolencehelpline.ca

  • 🕒 Hours: 24/7

  • 🧑‍⚕️ Services: Support for survivors and their supportersassaultservicesknowledge.org+5thesurvivorstrust.org+5endingviolencecanada.org+5Verywell Mind+4Info-aide violence sexuelle+4Info-aide violence sexuelle+4CIUSSS Centre-Sud+1Info-aide violence sexuelle+1

• Other Support Lines

  • Kids Help Phone: For individuals aged 5–29.

    • 📞 Call: 1-800-668-6868

    • 💬 Text: Text "CONNECT" to 686868

    • 💬 Online chat: kidshelpphone.ca

  • Trans Lifeline: For transgender and gender-diverse individuals.

    • 📞 Call: 1-877-330-6366

    • 💬 Online chat: translifeline.org

  • Victim Connect: For general victim support.

    • 📞 Call: 1-855-484-2846

    • 💬 Online chat: victimconnect.org