Rant warning. Unless you've been hiding under a rock, then you've heard about the Nigerian schoolgirls who were stolen. From their school. In the dead of night. By men who at first said they were there to rescue them from nearby fighting.
If you've not read about the Nigerian teenage girls that were stolen, then you can read about it on Yahoo! News. Then, you can read about how the leader of the terrorist group plans to sell the girls. Go ahead. Don't worry. I'll wait.
As many as 276 girls are missing. These girls aren't numbers. Each one has a name, a family, people who love them. People who may never see them again.
Their names are listed below.
Showing posts with label violence against women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label violence against women. Show all posts
4/08/2011
Stop Berea College victim blaming - An update
Good news! I just came from the Change.Org petition about the Berea College sexual assault victim blaming. Signatures have doubled since my last post! There is still a long way to go. If you haven't been over to sign it yet please do. It says "alumni" but supporters can and are signing it.
After you sign it, could you help spread the word? The more people who sign it the stronger the message will be that's sent to the college.
Here's some background on the Berea College sexual assault.
One of my earlier posts links to the original source document that was used. Basically, this Berea College sexual assault issue is about the stupidity of blaming the victim.
According to the Richmond Register, a student came forward after being sexually assaulted by a professor. The professor was originally indicted on sex abuse charges. He pleaded guilty in January to a lesser assault charge.
Then the student filed a lawsuit against the school for a whopping $4,000. (Yes, $4,000 you read that right.)
Legal counsel for the college is trying to get the school out of paying. In doing so, the legal counsel said that the victim is responsible because she "did not take action to prevent her injuries". The Berea College sexual assault victim should not be punished for being injured by anyone; much less by a school professor!
You can get the full scoop on the news reporting by the Richmond Register. Just click here to read more.
After you sign it, could you help spread the word? The more people who sign it the stronger the message will be that's sent to the college.
Here's some background on the Berea College sexual assault.
One of my earlier posts links to the original source document that was used. Basically, this Berea College sexual assault issue is about the stupidity of blaming the victim.
According to the Richmond Register, a student came forward after being sexually assaulted by a professor. The professor was originally indicted on sex abuse charges. He pleaded guilty in January to a lesser assault charge.
Then the student filed a lawsuit against the school for a whopping $4,000. (Yes, $4,000 you read that right.)
Legal counsel for the college is trying to get the school out of paying. In doing so, the legal counsel said that the victim is responsible because she "did not take action to prevent her injuries". The Berea College sexual assault victim should not be punished for being injured by anyone; much less by a school professor!
You can get the full scoop on the news reporting by the Richmond Register. Just click here to read more.
1/26/2011
There's still time to participate in Stalking Awareness Month
There's still time to participate in Stalking Awareness Month. How are you going to help?It's not unusual for someone to underestimate the scope of the problem. Stalking stats from the National Center for Victims of Crime tell us:
- Among people who are over 18 an estimated 3.4 million people are stalked annually.
- Weapons are used to threaten or harm victims in 1:5 cases.
- 89% of femicide victims who had been physically assaulted had also been stalked in the 12 months before their murder.
Since January has been designated as National Stalking Awareness Month there isn't any better time to raise awareness. Tools on the National Center for Victims of Crime website make it easy to get the word out like this article does. They have suggested daily messages to go out on Twitter or on our Facebook status. Stats and facts give us bloggers a starting point to begin the discussion.
Beginning a blogosphere buzz is what bloggers do. Is there any better time than National Stalking Awareness Month to do that?
12/31/2010
New Year's Eve Safety Tips for Women
An open letter to my daughters,
It's time to ring in 2011. You've got a big night with friends all planned out. Your're in your best little black dress and ready to head out the door. There's just one more thing that you've got to do. Take a moment and think about safety.
I know. I know. This isn't the time that you want to think about that. After all, you're all set to go out and have fun and I'm sounding like an old mother hen. The truth is that taking a few minutes to review some basic safety precautions can make a good night out even better.
We all know the obvious. Thou shalt not drink and drive is a mantra that we've heard over and over. The thing is that New Year's Eve is prime time for it to happen. Unfortunately, New Year's Eve can be prime time for sexual assault. Nothing is 100% safe but there are a couple of things that may help reduce your risk.
By now, you've already memorized every word on the websites of Realistic Female Self-Defense and National Self-Defense. Thank you for that. It makes me feel much better. There's just a couple of things that I want to remind you about:
1. Trust your instincts.If you feel like something is wrong it probably is. Get out or call for help. Do both if you need to. Make up an excuse if you need to or pretend to be sick. Don't worry about being embarrassed.
2. Keep your drink in your hand. Don't let anyone else (even a friend) watch it. If you need to leave it for any reason don't drink from it when you get back. It only takes a split second for someone to spike it. Make an excuse that it's flat, warm or whatever and order another one.
3. Keep your cell phone fully charged and ready to go. Don't leave home with a low battery.
4. Watch out for thieves and riffraff at public events. One bump and your purse (or contents) may be gone.
5. Keep $20 and the number of a cab company on you. In case your date or friend becomes inebriated you have a way home.
6. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be home. This way if you are extremely late we'll know about it and start calling you. (See tip #3.)
There are some other tips from the Keene Police Dept. and Mobile Police Dept. that you may want to read.
Thanks for being safe!
Love,
Mom
It's time to ring in 2011. You've got a big night with friends all planned out. Your're in your best little black dress and ready to head out the door. There's just one more thing that you've got to do. Take a moment and think about safety.
I know. I know. This isn't the time that you want to think about that. After all, you're all set to go out and have fun and I'm sounding like an old mother hen. The truth is that taking a few minutes to review some basic safety precautions can make a good night out even better.
 |
| Fireworks in LaFollette |
By now, you've already memorized every word on the websites of Realistic Female Self-Defense and National Self-Defense. Thank you for that. It makes me feel much better. There's just a couple of things that I want to remind you about:
1. Trust your instincts.If you feel like something is wrong it probably is. Get out or call for help. Do both if you need to. Make up an excuse if you need to or pretend to be sick. Don't worry about being embarrassed.
2. Keep your drink in your hand. Don't let anyone else (even a friend) watch it. If you need to leave it for any reason don't drink from it when you get back. It only takes a split second for someone to spike it. Make an excuse that it's flat, warm or whatever and order another one.
3. Keep your cell phone fully charged and ready to go. Don't leave home with a low battery.4. Watch out for thieves and riffraff at public events. One bump and your purse (or contents) may be gone.
5. Keep $20 and the number of a cab company on you. In case your date or friend becomes inebriated you have a way home.
6. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be home. This way if you are extremely late we'll know about it and start calling you. (See tip #3.)
There are some other tips from the Keene Police Dept. and Mobile Police Dept. that you may want to read.
Thanks for being safe!
Love,
Mom
3/18/2010
Domestic Violence 101 - Tension Building
As we discussed in the first installment of this series, domestic violence is a cycle. It is all about the attempts of an abuser to control a victim. It's not love. It's not infatuation. It's control and it gets worse over time instead of better. Stage I is the Honeymoon Phase.
This article focuses on Stage 2 - Tension Building in Domestic Violence 101
In this stage the abuser begins reacting to real or imagined stresses. The abuser is tense and finds fault with everyday occurrences. The freshly cleaned house may not be clean enough. The steaming hot dinner is too hot or too cold. There may be minor explosions or medium sized flare ups in the tension building stage. Doors may be slammed. Names are being called. Put downs are increasing. Phone calls may be monitored. Odometer readings may be recorded. Controlling behavior is increasing.
The couple may argue. There is intimidation. There are threats.
The abuser may say things like:
• You are nothing without me.
• I can’t believe I ever saw anything in you.
• You wouldn’t have anything if it weren’t for me.
• If you leave me I will kill you.
Or alternatively they may threaten suicide, claim to be dying of cancer or similar illness or accuse the victim of having an affair.
Victims feel afraid and helpless to stop the cycle from escalating. They start to blame themselves for the abuse that is to come. Often, they will report the feeling of “walking on eggshells”. They may become compliant and try to do anything to keep the next stage from happening or they may do something that they feel will trigger the next stage of the cycle to “get it over with”.
Note: This stage is often equated to a “simmering pot”.
Pressure builds and eventually there is an explosion.
Resources:
Domestic Violence 101 - The Cycle
National Domestic Violence Helpline
US Department of Justice
CDC - Intimate Partner Violence
This article focuses on Stage 2 - Tension Building in Domestic Violence 101
In this stage the abuser begins reacting to real or imagined stresses. The abuser is tense and finds fault with everyday occurrences. The freshly cleaned house may not be clean enough. The steaming hot dinner is too hot or too cold. There may be minor explosions or medium sized flare ups in the tension building stage. Doors may be slammed. Names are being called. Put downs are increasing. Phone calls may be monitored. Odometer readings may be recorded. Controlling behavior is increasing.
The couple may argue. There is intimidation. There are threats.
The abuser may say things like:
• You are nothing without me.
• I can’t believe I ever saw anything in you.
• You wouldn’t have anything if it weren’t for me.
• If you leave me I will kill you.
Or alternatively they may threaten suicide, claim to be dying of cancer or similar illness or accuse the victim of having an affair.
Victims feel afraid and helpless to stop the cycle from escalating. They start to blame themselves for the abuse that is to come. Often, they will report the feeling of “walking on eggshells”. They may become compliant and try to do anything to keep the next stage from happening or they may do something that they feel will trigger the next stage of the cycle to “get it over with”.
Note: This stage is often equated to a “simmering pot”.
Pressure builds and eventually there is an explosion.
Resources:
Domestic Violence 101 - The Cycle
National Domestic Violence Helpline
US Department of Justice
CDC - Intimate Partner Violence
3/15/2010
Domestic Violence 101 - The Cycle Stops Here
Sometimes people don't understand that nature of domestic violence. They may have heard that the abuser "snapped" or "lost it" when committing an act of violence. In reality, the cycle can stop with each of us who makes a decision not to abuse. No one makes the decision to become a victim or survivors. In the next few days we're going to look at domestic violence to try to understand it as part of a cycle.
Typically what happens is that as the cycle continues the abuse escalates. It can end in disfigurement, death, sexual assault or suicide.
There is no room in our society for domestic violence. If you are being abused it is ok to get help. Contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline. They can help you find the resources you need to heal.
Tomorrow we'll start with learning about the Honeymoon Cycle of abuse. It's important to understand this stage. Often, when survivors of domestic violence consider leaving an abuser they think of this stage. It is one of the barriers that keeps survivors from getting help.
Resources:
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Hope for Healing.Org
Tips for Helping Survivors - This Blog
Typically what happens is that as the cycle continues the abuse escalates. It can end in disfigurement, death, sexual assault or suicide.
There is no room in our society for domestic violence. If you are being abused it is ok to get help. Contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline. They can help you find the resources you need to heal.
Tomorrow we'll start with learning about the Honeymoon Cycle of abuse. It's important to understand this stage. Often, when survivors of domestic violence consider leaving an abuser they think of this stage. It is one of the barriers that keeps survivors from getting help.
Resources:
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Hope for Healing.Org
Tips for Helping Survivors - This Blog
1/11/2010
Human Trafficking Awareness Day - Jan 11.
The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution ended slavery in 1865. At least, that was the intent. Over a century later we are fighting the latest form of slavery, human trafficking. Awareness Day is January 11, 2009. Bloggers will post about it. Local organizations will talk about it. Honest cops and governments will fight it. Peole will die from it. For some human trafficking victims death will come as a friend; not as an enemy. This Time News article paints a brutal and savage picture.
In this war, it is churches who lead the fight while governments negotiate. Human Trafficking is complex. Victims are often misled into thinking that they are being offered legitimate jobs. Then they are beaten, raped, humiliated, sleep deprived and given drugs. The profit for the captors can be enormous.
Fullstop estimates the current number of trafficked persons to be 27 million. Many of these are forced into the sex trade.
What can you do to help in the fight? The Polaris Project has some suggestions.
Other resources in the fight against human trafficking:
Evangelical Covenant Church
National Council of Churches
United Methodist Church
National Council of Catholic Women
In this war, it is churches who lead the fight while governments negotiate. Human Trafficking is complex. Victims are often misled into thinking that they are being offered legitimate jobs. Then they are beaten, raped, humiliated, sleep deprived and given drugs. The profit for the captors can be enormous.
Fullstop estimates the current number of trafficked persons to be 27 million. Many of these are forced into the sex trade.
What can you do to help in the fight? The Polaris Project has some suggestions.
Other resources in the fight against human trafficking:
Evangelical Covenant Church
National Council of Churches
United Methodist Church
National Council of Catholic Women
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