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AirTalk

What does the Aziz Ansari story tell us about modern sexual culture?

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 07:  Actor/producer Aziz Ansari attends the Official Viewing and After Party of The Golden Globe Awards bosted by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.  (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images)
Actor/producer Aziz Ansari attends the Official Viewing and After Party of The Golden Globe Awards bosted by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.
(
Greg Doherty/Getty Images
)
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What does the Aziz Ansari story tell us about modern sexual culture?

On Saturday, Babe.net published the account of a woman monikered as Grace who went on a date with comedian and actor Aziz Ansari. The story has sparked controversy about sexual ethics, the nature of consent and whether the outing of this incident is a continuation or a derailing of the #MeToo movement.

Some writers have come to the defense of Ansari, saying he wasn’t at fault for not understanding the nonverbal cues of his date and that she had the responsibility of clearly vocalizing her discomfort. Others have called the story indicative of a toxic sexual culture in which men are taught to pursue women, even if they resist, and women are taught to be polite and privilege the desires of men above their own.

We want to hear from you. What did you think of this incident? How does it sit in the #MeToo movement? What does it say about our sexual mores, and does it point to generational differences in approaching sex and consent?  

Call us at 866-893-5722.

Guest:

Anna North, senior reporter at Vox covering gender; her recent piece is "The Aziz Ansari story is ordinary. That’s why we have to talk about it."